Watch Pins Question
So, while changing the strap from a nato to a leather one on my Oris Chronoris watches, one of the pins shot across my fly tying table, which is a mess. After 5 minutes of looking, and cursing, I figured that I would just go on amazon and see about buying an assortment pack of different size pins. There are many different ones as I'm sure most of you know already.
My question is, which brands would you suggest? Which ones should I stay far away from? Many thanks in advance. I am only about a year into this wonderful, crazy hobby of watch collecting. As if I need another hobby. 😜
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This is my personal order of springbars available:
Marathon Shoulderless > Marathon traditional (flanged) > Seiko "fat bars" > Barton > Curved > everyone else
Keep in mind for Shoulderless style, if you don't have drilled lugs, the only way to remove is cut/snip them out with shears/dikes/etc.
But it's basically like making a regular watch have fixed lugs, especially if it does NOT have drilled lugs.
YMMV.
This is my personal order of springbars available:
Marathon Shoulderless > Marathon traditional (flanged) > Seiko "fat bars" > Barton > Curved > everyone else
Keep in mind for Shoulderless style, if you don't have drilled lugs, the only way to remove is cut/snip them out with shears/dikes/etc.
But it's basically like making a regular watch have fixed lugs, especially if it does NOT have drilled lugs.
YMMV.
I am also a fan of Marathon's springbars, but I will say, their regular springbars are about as long as possible. When you place them, you'll have to be compressing both sides about as far as they will go. That's pretty easy to get out with drilled lugs, but it can take some force. It's also possible a watch that says 20mm lug width when it really is like 19.5mm might just not accept them at all. They feel very well build and are secure, but they're not playing any games. I could definitely see them giving people with smaller than advertised lug width or low quality springbar tools a solid fight.
In general, I've had poor results with the very affordable bulk options I've come across, but I do imagine there are some good brands people will be able to recommend. I don't think I'd penny pinch too much on springbars though. They're like tires for your vehicle. It doesn't matter how well built or capable the rest of the watch/car is if your springbars/tires suck.
I am also a fan of Marathon's springbars, but I will say, their regular springbars are about as long as possible. When you place them, you'll have to be compressing both sides about as far as they will go. That's pretty easy to get out with drilled lugs, but it can take some force. It's also possible a watch that says 20mm lug width when it really is like 19.5mm might just not accept them at all. They feel very well build and are secure, but they're not playing any games. I could definitely see them giving people with smaller than advertised lug width or low quality springbar tools a solid fight.
In general, I've had poor results with the very affordable bulk options I've come across, but I do imagine there are some good brands people will be able to recommend. I don't think I'd penny pinch too much on springbars though. They're like tires for your vehicle. It doesn't matter how well built or capable the rest of the watch/car is if your springbars/tires suck.
Barton's stuff seems to be pretty good for just a basic, well made, length as stated option.
And yea Marathon doesn't screw around, but as stated they are made very well.. which shows in price and manufacture.