Flip Lock Repair/Replacement
 

I just ended up buying a really nice 16800.....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...L:COSI:US:1123


One thing that will have to be taken care of is the flip lock on the bracelet. If you look at picture #15 you will see what I mean. Unlike the bracelet links, which are easily added or removed just by removing a screw, the flip lock is held in by a rivited pin.

A few questions..... where can I source a proper Rolex flip lock, and can I remove and replace the old one without any specialized tools? Is this a do it yourself project or something that has to go to someone with the proper tools?

Thanks.....

I was in the middle of creating a duplicate new post on this subject! My issue is on a Gold Sub Fliplock. Can the "peened" in pins at the end of the Clasp be replaced?

Cheers, hope you don't mind I tagged on to your post!

Nobody?

Well.. there hasn't been a photo there for quite some time...

Generally, any good jeweler can take out and replace the rivet, or if you are a handy hobbyist, it is a common item... Usually when Rolex replaces a clasp, or when you buy a replacement, you make sure that it has the coupling link attached and it is a simple bolt on procedure...

I took a (bad) cellphone pic here at the office. It is the pin that goes through the actual flip-lock mechanism. You can see that the pin has a slight "U" shape. It also is allowing the flip-lock to come off. So, I would imagine it needs to be peened?

Lesson Learned: Don't hit golf balls with watch on.

What generally happens is the rivet hogs out the whole on the foldover and no amount of peening will fix it. Depending on how big the wholes are best repair without replacing the fold over is clip the rivet on one end pull through have someone solder the holes and redrill to proper diameter and put a new rivet. The rivet is just a solid piece of gold wire and usually a good brass hammer will do the trick you would need a steel ball peen for the stainless rivet. It takes about 5 to 10 minutes of tap tap tap tap to round out the rivet head. Rikki