MichaelC
[AP Moderator]
21924
Strap change on the 25770 Royal Oak Offshore
I decided to try an old strap on my silver dial 25770 Offshore that I had not mounted before. The strap was used and came with one of my very first 25770 acquisitions. Based on when I bought the watch, the strap is likely 8 years old +/-. It is an original Audemars Piguet gator strap in a mustard color.
I have had a few emails and messages over the years asking about the strap attachment and change procedure on a 25770 case. I always recommend letting authorized Audemars Piguet points of sale handle such work, but if you have the right tools it is not so difficult.
Of course the first step is to remove whichever strap is on the watch. I have always found the velcro kevlar strap to be most unique, best looking, and most comfortable strap on the watch. So that is what I had to remove first.
Each strap side is secured with two small screws. Those screws center a bar that spans through the strap and extends slightly into each lug. After I remove the screws with the proper screwdriver, I just open up a paper clip and push the bar from one side until it slides out of the other side. It slides out easily.
So each side of the watch case has two screws and 1 bar.
You don't realize how heavy this hunk of steel is until you have removed the strap and hold it alone. Really an impressive mass. Next time I have it separated I'll see if I can throw it on a scale.
If you have never seen the caseback... pretty typical. One minor side effect of using the kevlar strap is that it can cause some minor scuffing and blemishes on the brushed caseback. Certainly this does not bother me. Some of it occurs over the stitching that holds the leather patch that the watch sits on (you can see that area a few photos up).
For attaching the new strap, you have to hold it against the case and then feed the bar through. This photo shows the bar partially inserted without the strap; the bar needs to be out of the way to align the strap and then gets pushed in.
Same thing here - you do not put the bar into the strap first, but I snapped this shot to show how little the bar will extend into each lug when properly centered.
AP makes a small block that helps center the bar correctly. I have changed straps on 25770s a good handful of times and I do not use it, and am not sure it is entirely necessary. Once everything is mounted, the screws that go into the lugs recess a little bit and are not flush. I always give a visual check to make sure the reveal is not noticeably different on either side, which would of course indicate that the bar is not properly centered.
And the finished result.
For these older AP straps I use the simple AP pin buckle. I have heard it criticized for being a bit dainty, but it does the job.
The combination is certainly unique here. I like it and will roll with it for the Fall season.
So that is all there is to changing the strap on a 25770 cased Royal Oak Offshore. Again, it is always advisable to have an authorized AP point of sale handle this sort of work, but if you are careful and have steady hands it is not too difficult.
And the finished result.
For these older AP straps I use the simple AP pin buckle. I have heard it criticized for being a bit dainty, but it does the job.
The combination is certainly unique here. I like it and will roll with it for the Fall season.
So that is all there is to changing the strap on a 25770 cased Royal Oak Offshore. Again, it is always advisable to have an authorized AP point of sale handle this sort of work, but if you are careful and have steady hands it is not too difficult.
Strap change on the 25770 Royal Oak Offshore
I decided to try an old strap on my silver dial 25770 Offshore that I had not mounted before. The strap was used and came with one of my very first 25770 acquisitions. Based on when I bought the watch, the strap is likely 8 years old +/-. It is an origina...
I like this combo very much!
It makes the lum on the dial pop out a lot! Very nice and I think it suits it very well!! Thanks for posting this! S
Love this post, Michael!
Thank you for the tutorial. Of course, I welcome any excuse to see that particular 25770. ;-) Interesting about the effects of the Kevlar on the caseback. That kind of thing does bother me, but I am fussy/borderline OCD. I was warned about the effects of ...
Good comments and questions Respo
Regarding the caseback and wear it acquires from the kevlar strap. it is a bit surprising to me. On the one hand, you have this material in constant contact with the back. So if any little particles or debris gets stuck in there it is a source for rubbing...
Deja vu!
I remember my first go at a 25770 strap change, Not Good! Great post and nice new combo. Best regards Victor Can't resist posting a "naked" 25770. They look so nice. ...
Aah, my 25770 Compadre! A few more nudes here...
I'll admit...when I first changed the strap on a perfectly mint End of Days, I was nervous as heck! But you have to breathe, get rid of those "what if" thoughts and just concentrate. Best to you, Victor. ...
Best to you too,
Sorry for the late response, but I had not seen your post. Best regards Victor
Thanks for the step by step detail Michael
Strap changes on the Offshore are a tad more tedious than on a Panerai but it's pretty easy once you know how to do it. Thanks for the pictorial report! Cheers, Anthony
My pleasure Anthony.
PAM changes are much easier overall, but you're right, once you have worked on APs a little you learn some tricks that facilitate the process.