Strap Change Question

I have a Chronometre Bleu without QR springs bars. I am in the process of ordering a smaller strap and am concerned about damaging the lugs while removing it. These straps are super flush with the lugs and seem like it would be hard to fit my spring bar tool in there without damaging the strap or scratching the case (I know tantalum is pretty hard). Any advice for attempting this myself and not going to a watchmaker? I don’t have any boutiques in my state, but have some experience tinkering with watch straps and own the necessary tools.
On the subject of the new strap- I want to order it with the QR spring bars, but was concerned that the tabs might rub against the case(scratching the case and possibly restricting the movement of the strap) because the 12 o’clock side of the strap is pulled nearly at a 90 degree angle on account of my small wrist. The sharp angle of the strap being pulled down coupled with the very flush fit that FPJ straps have with their respective cases have me second guessing whether I should get the QR spring bars. Can anyone confirm if this occurs with their QR spring bars when pulling the strap down?

Springbars - I found a source!

By: hub6152 : June 13th, 2019-21:24

So whenever getting a bespoke strap made by any of the strap makers as Camille Fournet or the OEM Jean Rousseau the answer to the request for quick release springbars is always no because they don’t have them, and when Rousseau makes the OEM straps (or yo...

And after curving!!

By: hub6152 : June 13th, 2019-21:25

...

Great info.

By: ChristianDK : June 13th, 2019-21:49

Thank You so much. It is highly appreciated! Could you please tell us about the tool used for curving the springbars? Thank you Cordially Christian

Cheap tool that I have in my shop.

By: hub6152 : June 13th, 2019-23:52

Needs some extra hand bending as well as the tool cannot curve enough. Just be careful not to kink the tube and check the plungers are free to move. ...

They are the producer of Patek straps

Sorry but they certainly do not supply them.

By: hub6152 : June 14th, 2019-01:53

Camille Fournet are a company I use regularly for my customers bespoke straps, and they’re making my own FPJ strap right now, and they told me they’re not able to supply them. They do supply standard straight QR springbars but not curved.

Ooops I didn't see curved 😬

By: Maltie : June 14th, 2019-05:05

Sorry

Great post ... Thank you for sharing this information [nt]

By: Cpt Scarlet : June 14th, 2019-00:58

Thank you! [nt]

By: galt : June 14th, 2019-02:58

Thanks and a few questions

By: kkwn98 : June 20th, 2019-07:30

Thanks very much for this very useful information, much appreciated! A question, however: do you know of anyone who supplies these springbars in precious metals? I ask as I understand that you should match the springbar material with the case material, so...

The risk is an overstated one, esp considering the price of gold spring bars

By: cazalea : February 16th, 2023-19:35

I have serviced many precious metal watches that are of considerable age, and rarely are there damaged holes in the case. There's not that much load on a spring bar in most cases, especially with dress watches. A more likely scenario is the once-common us...

Great but have you tried it on your Journe watch?

By: CL : June 20th, 2019-11:17

JR does provide curved spring bar but they claim that they are not able to curve the spring bar the way Journe's does so it doesn't fit quite correctly on Journe's watches. That's what they told me when I was in their NYC store.

So my bespoke strap just arrived and my QR springbars fit perfectly

By: hub6152 : July 11th, 2019-19:07

I help customers choose bespoke straps and fit them for a living and I was very confident that I had shaped the curve correctly that they’d fit just fine so I’m not sure why J Rousseau would even say that! My understanding is JR cannot supply the same typ...