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#1 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 43
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Bergeon 7825 killer - Mini Review!
I decided it was time to try the rubber strap on my trusty Pelagos, and knowing the reputation of this bracelet I started researching springbar tools.
My usual go-to is my Bergeon 6262, which has served me faithfully for years but clearly isn't up to the task. The two tools that are most often recommended are the Bergeon 7825 tweezers (~$150) and the Horofix springbar pliers (~$90). The consensus seems to be that the 7825 is superior, so I planned on picking these up. I had some free time this Saturday afternoon, so I headed over to my friendly neighborhood watchmaking supply shop, Nam Hing Watch Material & Tools. These guys are the real deal, they mostly serve the professional watchmaking community in HK. No Chinese discount tools here, only the good stuff from Bergeon, Horotec, etc. I asked for the 7825 and they brought one out for me. Out of curiosity I asked if they could suggest any better alternatives, and the owner smiled and asked me to wait a minute. He came back with this: He popped open the little box and this was inside: It turns out they manufacture their own tool in Hong Kong. ![]() It's not cheap, costing around $125, so price-wise it sits between the other two tools. He showed me how it works, having a couple of advantages over the other tools, and I was sold! The design is quite novel so I thought the folks here might enjoy a mini-review ![]() Overview The body of the tool is manufactured from anodized aluminum. On one end is a pair of replaceable stainless steel springbar tips, and on the other is a pair of plastic projections. There is a spring in the main body of the tool which forces the two sides apart. The maximum width can be adjusted with the screw knob on the side. As you might have guessed, the end with the springbar tips is used to remove the bracelet, and by flipping over the tool the plastic projections can be used to easily compress the springbar when re-attaching the bracelet. Build Quality Manufacturing tolerances are tight. Sharp edges and corners are slightly beveled. The anodizing is not the thickest, but is silky to the touch and has excellent consistency. Both the springbar tips and plastic 'tweezers' are replaceable and secured with hex bolts. There is a small amount of play between the two halves, so the action is best when squeezing near the center of the tool. Squeezing too far off center can cause binding. The steel springbar tips are as far as I can tell unique to this tool, and have a nice frosted finish. The tips themselves are the perfect size for Rolex/Tudor and have a geometry very similar to the 7825. Usage I used the tool to remove the bracelet on my Pelagos. I started by adjusting the screw so that the width of the tips matched the springbar perfectly. The tool supports springbars up to approximately 24 mm wide, an can support wider straps if the tips are moved to the outside of the body. This adjustment made it simple to avoid scratching the lugs/end-links. The design of the tool makes it very easy to insert the tips while avoiding contact with the bracelet. I applied a bit of downward pressure and squeezed, and the bracelet popped off with ease. The whole process probably took 10 seconds and couldn't have been easier. Using the opposite end to re-attach the bracelet took a bit more effort since the bottoms of the lugs are slightly concave and the plastic tips on the tool couldn't sit perfectly flush. I found it easier to squeeze the springbar and slide the end link in from the tips of the lugs rather than the bottoms. The tool compresses the springbars perfectly flush with the edge of the bracelet so it can slide in easily without scratching the lugs. Conclusion This is a clever alternative to the Swiss tools on the market and offers several advantages. The tips remain perfectly perpendicular throughout the motion rather than on a slightly variable angle with the tweezer-type tools. It also allows adjustment of the maximum tip width and provides the plastic tips for re-attaching the bracelet. Overall I think it's a very nice effort from Nam Hing! ![]() |
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#2 |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: New England
Posts: 3,704
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I’ve review. Thank you for doing this. I’ve also been evaluating spring bar tools, but haven’t pulled the trigger on a set yet. I just have a single ended tool that I only use on my breitling, doing one side at a time.
One question about your tool, when re-attaching the bracelet, are the springbars compressed until they line up with the case holes or are you just sliding them around (non-compressed) inside the lugs until the find the holes. If it’s the latter, I’d expect scratching on the inside of the lugs next time the bracelet is removed which isn’t desirable. Based on the use of the flat tips on this tool, that’s what seems to be occurring, but I’m not sure if I’m misinterpreting. If it were me, I’d use the same end of the tool to reattach the bracelet as was used to take it off and keep the springbars compressed until they’re over the case holes (or as closely as possible)
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Current watches: 116718ln, 116500 black dial, 40mm Breitling Chronomat MOP dial “A man with one watch always knows what time it is. A man with two watches is never sure.” |
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#3 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Europe
Posts: 5,641
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Nice little tool, thanks for sharing. Great pics as well !
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#4 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Real Name: Steve
Location: Georgia
Watch: All of them
Posts: 569
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Seems to be similar process to using the 7825 style tweezers.
Bracelet removal is a cinch, the trick is reattaching it. As you mentioned, it is a bit easier to accomplish inserting the end link from the end of the lug vs the bottom. All in all, a nice alternative. The only disadvantage might be the bulk of the tool for travel vs the much smaller tweezers.
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Rolex Daytona 116500 | Rolex Submariner 116610 | Zenith El Primero 03.2150.400/69 Past: Rolex Sea Dweller 126600 | Rolex Sea Dweller 116600 | Rolex Sea Dweller 16600 | Rolex Submariner 16610 | Rolex Submariner 1680 |
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#5 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 43
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Quote:
I should try your suggestion of using the metal tips when replacing the bracelet as well. You need to apply some downward force to compress the bar so it's possible there could be some marking on the bottoms of the lugs. |
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#6 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 12,412
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Wow...hot tool....I hate the tweezers myself actually.
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#7 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Hong Kong
Watch: Me go
Posts: 426
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Nice review....think I’ll go there and get me one of those!
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#8 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Malmö
Posts: 3
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Don't find it on their website?
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#9 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 43
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#10 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: CA
Posts: 94
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Nice review and demo pics, thank you!
Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk |
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#11 |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Real Name: Brian (TBone)
Location: canada
Watch: es make me smile
Posts: 76,237
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Very cool, thanks for posting this. How much did this cost, if you don’t mind me asking ?
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#12 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: May 2014
Real Name: Steven
Location: Norway, Europe
Watch: PP - 5726
Posts: 25
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It seems like their webpage is down, does anyone have their email address?
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#13 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 43
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#14 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 43
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Quote:
![]() I don't actually have their email but I'm sure the site will be back soon. |
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#15 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 43
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Quote:
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#16 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Real Name: Peter McCann
Location: Houston, TX
Watch: Daytona 116520
Posts: 13
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Tried that email, & it bounced. I wouldn't mind trying one out, but I'm not really having any trouble using my standard Bergeon stick type tool.
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#17 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 23
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Thanks very much for the post. has been very helpful. I don't regret joining this forum at all
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#18 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: USA
Watch: 5 digit models
Posts: 1,515
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Great review.
Awesome looking tool. Would love to try it. |
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#19 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: California
Posts: 1,250
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Clap, Clap, Clap. Great review and such vivid pictures! Well done. Thanks.
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#20 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Real Name: Kenny
Location: northern ireland
Watch: SDs, Subs & GMTs
Posts: 5,132
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Certainly looks like a very useful piece of kit!
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#21 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Malmö
Posts: 3
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Has anyone ordered it? Can't get in contact with them..
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#22 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 6
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Wanted to bump this thread as I went into Nam Hing today to pick up one of these.
Helpful guys in the shop, happy to demo and discuss how it worked. They asked how I knew to ask about the tool and seemed pretty happy when I showed them this thread. Price doesn't seem to have changed in almost 3 years, I paid 980 HKD (~125 USD). On my receipt the tool is described as FH338. They also provided a little photo card with a QR code that takes you a YouTube video (watch?v=_sZIDILYUK0) that demos how the tool is used. Hope this helps those who aren't able to go see it in person. |
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#23 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 1,005
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This is the first time I've come across this tool. After watching the video clip and reading this thread, I'll have to try and get one too! Looks like a great alternative to the 7825.
Thanks for bumping it!
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#24 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: singapore
Posts: 79
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excellent review and your photos are very good too. Too bad i'm not staying in HK.
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#25 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Mar 2020
Real Name: Chris
Location: Nampa, ID
Watch: Tachymeter
Posts: 696
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This is NOT on there website for sale?
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#26 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 6
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I can’t find it on the website and it’s not on display in the physical shop. Seems you have to know to ask.
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#27 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: New York
Posts: 6
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Thanks for this review! I'll have to get one if I'm ever in HK.
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#28 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: new york
Posts: 1
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Esslinger now carries the Nam Hing spring bar removal tool.
They confirmed it was purchased from Nam Hing, Item FM338. |
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#29 | |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Real Name: Brad
Location: Purdue
Watch: Daytona
Posts: 9,238
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Quote:
Have a link? I see this different sku which is out of stock. https://www.esslinger.com/premium-sp...-removal-tool/
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#30 |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Real Name: Brad
Location: Purdue
Watch: Daytona
Posts: 9,238
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