Strap me up!

[Voldemort]

Got a couple of watches I'd like to get new straps for.

What do I need to know? Who does the best quality kit? Is it worth getting the £20 bag of watch tools that ebay always lists?

[yeti]

Get an account at Cousins and then get some Bergeon tools. Quality doesn't come cheap though. I also recommend a loupe, it's amazing how much easier it is to change a strap or screw a bracelet back to gether at 10 x magnification - even simple jobs become much safer for the watch!

[yeti]

Oh, and everything you could want here: http://www.watchobsession.co.uk/collections/hirsch...

If you want to go custom, my chap is here and is very reasonable considering the quailty of materials and workmanship: http://www.jean-rousseau.com/index_en.html?country...

[andy tims]

DO NOT BUY A CHEAP TOOL KIT off ebay, or anywhere else.

Just for changing straps or removing & fitting bracelets, you need a couple of spring-bar tools - One with a fine fork for bracelets & a one with a wider fork for straps. I have Bergeon with a few spare pins & forks.

Once you start getting more into working with watches, IMHO you need

A few decent screw drivers 1.6, 1.4, 1,2 & 1.0mm - I have Bergeon (and a few replacement blades), but A&F are not bad. Don't buy cheap, it's false economy.

For collar & pin bracelets you need one of these

http://www.amazon.co.uk/A-F-Bracelet-Pin-Remover/d...

This kit will allow you do all the strap & bracelet changes / adjustments yourself at your convenience.

Other useful stuff includes

A loupe
A magnifying glass on a stand
Garryflex blocks for dealing with scratches on brushed finishes - 60, 120 & 240 grit
Cape Cod cloths
A leather hole punch

Edited by andy tims on Tuesday 4th March 13:30

[ecain63]

Loupe.

[andy tims]

ecain63 said:

Loupe.

Noted - obviously I'm not here for my spelling.

Edited by andy tims on Tuesday 4th March 13:32

[mikeveal]

This chap is also very good:
http://www.watchworx.co.uk/pages/lwb/elite.html