[constant change]

Hello! A few questions:

Can you use traditional leather straps on curved lug bars or do you need a strap that has a curve?

If a special strap is required are they hard to find?

Is it hard to find 19 mm spring bars? 20mm?

If curved bars are 20mm, is that 20mm before having a bend or after?

One long shot question - I just got a Raymond Weil Maestro and I think it has curved bars, any idea if straight bars will work or is the curve needed to clear the case? Photos below.

Thanks!

 

[candyhandcraft]

Curved end Lug use curved spring bar. It means the perfect strap for curved lug watches must be curved end strap.
Go custom for a strap if you want a perfect fit.

Phoenix

 

[gregspitz]

Curved spring bars work with straight straps as leather will conform


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[mike0023]

Good timing, I've been wondering about how these work too.

 

[Watchology101]

Any non-metal band will curve to fit the spring bar. I don't think I've ever seen any strap made exclusively for curved spring bars.

 

[heboil]

Any non-metal band will curve to fit the spring bar. I don't think I've ever seen any strap made exclusively for curved spring bars.

There are definitely straps that take curved spring bars exclusively. However, my experience is most standard straps will work.

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[ho_moon_ar]

Well, you can pretty much just bend the spring bars with pliers. I use curved spring bars quite often. Either for gaining lug spaces for a thicker seatbelt straps or just lessen the stress on a normal nato.

If you are really scared of bending them yourself, you could just buy spring bars on eBay where they are professionally curved.

 

[Pallet Spoon]

Wow ... a lot of .... interesting info in this thread. If your watch came with a strap made for curved springbars (and straps) there is likely a reason. I'll use my JeanRichard watches as an example. The straps are definitely special. They will take a straight strap, provided they are thin, but REQUIRE curved springbars. You can tell because you can not install a straight springbar on the watch WITHOUT a strap - it interferes with the case. A curved strap is recommended and yes, they can be made that way.

Springbar dimensions are given as the space between the lugs. A 20mm springbar should fit a watch with a 20mm opening.

That being said, your observation about losing length when bending is correct. When I make bent springbars for my JR watch with a 25mm opening, I start with a 26mm springbar.

Lastly, if you want to make your own bent springbars instead of paying the inflated prices they want for them, pick yourself up a 10 dollar pair of springbar pliers off of EBay. They put a gentle curve across the entire length keeping as much of the structural integrity as possible. Standard pliers are not recommended as, unless you really know what you are doing, you will put a definite "kink" in any springbar you attempt to bend, making it very weak.

 

[CrownAndBuckle]

Those spring bar pliers work well. I would just suggest sizing up to the next size spring bar when you curve them yourself. The curvature will shorten the spring bar a little bit. For instance, if you have 20mm lugs, and want to curve your bars, start with 21mm spring bars.