Can you help me upgrade this clasp?

[phil1979]

OK, first world problem.

I have recently purchased the Longines below, which has a non-adjustable butterfly clasp:



I can't get a decent fit - too loose, take out a link, too tight.

So, I would like to somehow retrofit a similar clasp like this:



Is this feasible and, if so, do any watch people know the best place to go to try to find a clasp that will fit the existing bracelet links?

For info, Longines don't offer any half links etc for this particular bracelet. Seems a big oversight.

Thanks
Phil

[gregs656]

Need to measure the width of the end links as a started. The male ones that attach to the clasp.

The other move would be to hunt for an appropriate Longines bracelet.

What is the watch?

[Barchettaman]

I owned a Longines Conquest with a similar (awful) butterfly clasp.

I bought a Longines HydroConquest bracelet from AliExpress with a milled ‘standard’ folding clasp, reused the end links from the original Conquest bracelet and got round it that way. Worked like a charm.

The knock-off Longines bracelet was about €20 IIRC.

[phil1979]

Interesting, thanks. I really like the existing bracelet, so don't want to swap the entire thing out.

Model is this one for info..

[gregs656]

Do you know the model number?

[phil1979]

L2.629.4.51.6

[r159]

I’d pop into a Longines dealer and ask to have a look.

Then get an AliExpress bracelet. The do sell milled clasps but the bracelet will need to have spring bars at either end.

Pity there are no half links unlike the Conquest.

Edited by r159 on Monday 3rd October 20:06

[liner33]

I wouldn’t be putting an aliexpress clasp on there . Looking at the bracelet there look to be some similarities to the Seamaster , might be able to get one of those as links and clasps are easily available

Edit Speedmaster

[phil1979]

Definitely some similarity with the speedmaster strap. They're both past of the same Swatch group, so maybe the dimensions are the same?

Watch Doctors in Tring are near me, so may pop my head in there, and see if they can offer it up against something they're already working on in the shop.

[liner33]

I bought the updated adjustable clasp for my speedie and still have the old one as I’m sure have many owners , happy to put the callipers on it tomorrow if it helps

[phil1979]

Would be interesting to know the dimensions of the inner and outer bracelet links - thanks!

[gregs656]

liner33 said:

I wouldn’t be putting an aliexpress clasp on there . Looking at the bracelet there look to be some similarities to the Seamaster , might be able to get one of those as links and clasps are easily available

Edit Speedmaster

The cost of a Speedmaster bracelet will shock you, the clasps alone are not cheap.

If you measure the end links we can look. I did look up the model number but couldn't find much about the bracelet other than the 20mm lugs.

Not all Aliexpress parts are made equal, there are some excellent milled clasps (and bracelets).

[phil1979]

My bracelet is 20mm at the lugs, but tapers to 18mm at the clasp.

[gregs656]

So those end links are less than 18mm, are they 10mm? Basically how wide is the centre link.

[phil1979]

[phil1979]

Bang on 11mm

[liner33]

gregs656 said:

The cost of a Speedmaster bracelet will shock you, the clasps alone are not cheap.

If you measure the end links we can look. I did look up the model number but couldn't find much about the bracelet other than the 20mm lugs.

Not all Aliexpress parts are made equal, there are some excellent milled clasps (and bracelets).

I know how much they are as I said I bought the adjustable one and links there are lots of used clasps for sale from other owners who have done the same

[gregs656]

phil1979 said:

Bang on 11mm

I think you're going to struggle unless someone has done this before, you might find something on watchuseek or reddit with some careful googling.

What you need to identify is a watch with an 11mm centre link (or links, in your case) that you can take the end links and the clasp from - not dimensions which are commonly advertised.

The speedmaster centre link is 9mm (on mine anyway) so that isn't going to work as delivered BUT if you buy something like this - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004224574289.h...

1. You might get lucky and the dimensions are different from the original so it fits
2. it wouldn't be so much work if you are careful with a file to make the end links fit your bracelet (take it from a 9mm cap to an 11mm gap)

Not a lot of money to find out.

[phil1979]

Interesting. Thanks!

[gregs656]

phil1979 said:

Interesting. Thanks!

That’s probably not the best example bracelet as it’s missing micro adjust holes. Let me look again.