Good evening, gentlemen (safe to assume, I reckon).
I do believe this problem has been mentioned here before a few times, but I'm starting a new thread as this here is a definitive solution - you are welcome.
Bellmatic case 6040 has a shape which does not allow for installation of normal replacement bands or straps. When I got a new one here a few days ago (a beauty, wouldn't you agree?) I did not take this fact into consideration. The original bracelet was in decent shape, but for all it's vintage originality and nice link design in terms of appearance, what a weak and nasty piece of manufacture! There was no way I could use it as received, so I faced two choices - either turn this Bellmatic into a pendant around the neck on a beautiful ribbon or to be a man and cry all night. Or just figure this one out.
And figure I did. I present you with the troubled 6040 case mounted to a band like nobody's business. Clean, becoming and appealing in austere kind of way, in my humble opinion. Who am I kidding with "humble"? Shout it from the rooftops - the days of misery are over!
Now to the nuts and bolts. I went with 22 mm lug end size on the new strap and it's right on. Few strokes of X-acto make the notch for the stub-out on the case. The pin to hold it in is a 22 mm screw lug, billed as "Gucci Type" and sold by WatchBandUSA E-bay store. I have used 1.3 mm thick shaft, but I have a feeling that 1.8 mm bar they have will fit in the hole on the case lug as well. I'll likely try another strap also (and something needs to be done about the bieberly clasp on this one, for sure), but as a proof of concept this approach is clearly a success.
Behold the outcome and let me know what you think.
By the way, if anyone here needs the original bracelet, please let me know - I'll let it go for S&H. It is pictured here as well.
I do believe this problem has been mentioned here before a few times, but I'm starting a new thread as this here is a definitive solution - you are welcome.
Bellmatic case 6040 has a shape which does not allow for installation of normal replacement bands or straps. When I got a new one here a few days ago (a beauty, wouldn't you agree?) I did not take this fact into consideration. The original bracelet was in decent shape, but for all it's vintage originality and nice link design in terms of appearance, what a weak and nasty piece of manufacture! There was no way I could use it as received, so I faced two choices - either turn this Bellmatic into a pendant around the neck on a beautiful ribbon or to be a man and cry all night. Or just figure this one out.
And figure I did. I present you with the troubled 6040 case mounted to a band like nobody's business. Clean, becoming and appealing in austere kind of way, in my humble opinion. Who am I kidding with "humble"? Shout it from the rooftops - the days of misery are over!
Now to the nuts and bolts. I went with 22 mm lug end size on the new strap and it's right on. Few strokes of X-acto make the notch for the stub-out on the case. The pin to hold it in is a 22 mm screw lug, billed as "Gucci Type" and sold by WatchBandUSA E-bay store. I have used 1.3 mm thick shaft, but I have a feeling that 1.8 mm bar they have will fit in the hole on the case lug as well. I'll likely try another strap also (and something needs to be done about the bieberly clasp on this one, for sure), but as a proof of concept this approach is clearly a success.
Behold the outcome and let me know what you think.
By the way, if anyone here needs the original bracelet, please let me know - I'll let it go for S&H. It is pictured here as well.
