Nautilus, Strap to Bracelet & Vice Versa

[endo]

Since a few people have asked following pics i’ve posted

A local collector i know, fairly recently, ordered a brand new bracelet from Patek, and after the local watchmaker couldnt fit it, went home…..and with a light touch of a file between the lugs managed to fit a bracelet to strap version of the 5726, following that I bought his strap endlinks of him, so i could abuse my 5990…….

So time to bust the strap/bracelet interchangeability myth (kinda)
However i take no responsibily if you f-up your watch, this is purely for informational purposes.

Strap > Bracelet
-you’ll need really big cojones.
-The endlink of the Bracelet is ever so slightly wider than those on tbe strap, enough to cause interference so the bracelet won’t fit, however the amount is a fraction of a mm, the lightest touch with a file will remove enough material for a perfect fit
-original Pin and Collar strap connector is compatible with bracelet
-Once fitted there is no visual cue of modification, plus the inner lug surfaces have basic finishing so fine file marks blend in.
-easily reversible as the width differnce is negligible.
-Bracelet is not a restricted part and around 4-5k

Bracelet > Strap
-No modifications required, the endlink will fit due to the wider space between the lugs
-despite the endlink width difference there isnt any side to side slop with the strap.
-original Pin and Collar bracelet connector is compatible with strap.
-Strap endlinks, are restricted parts / exhange basis… so unobtanium (i was just lucky to obtain 5726 ones)
-Strap itself and buckle standard parts

Other useful into

5711/5712 - thinner bracelet, 5726/5980/5990 - thicker bracelet
At least on steel the bracelet thickness does not affect endlink width, there is a thread on here where a member recieved a 5980? On the thinner 5712 bracelet.
So with that logic that the bracelts are interchaneable between bracelet models, its safe to assume that all current steel models share endlink widths, so theoretically any strap nautilus could be modded to take a bracelet.

I’d assume gold models would have the same endlink dimensions as steel, but not having one to hand, that just an assumption.

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Some pics… (otherwise it didnt happen)
Switched back to the bracelet last night, so thought it would be worth taking measurements while i had everything apart.

Strap Endlinks


Bracelet Endlinks


Quite possibly the only 5990 on a Rubber B in the world…. For now a piece unique.


https://www.instagram.com/p/CRyggv3rk5F/