How to remove vintage bracelet with uncommon attachment mechanism from watch case

femtosecond · January 31

I purchased an old Tressa "laser beam" 17 jewel automatic watch with the plan to service and restore it. However, I'm somewhat ashamed to say that I am not entirely certain how to remove the bracelet from the case. To be fair, this watch is older than I am.

Under inspection with a microscope, it doesn't appear to have the typical spring bar release mechanism that modern watches have (I could be wrong about this). Instead, it seems that there is a rotating lock bar mechanism on the back of the bracelet that is used to release the bracelet from the case. Although this "bar" moves freely a couple of mm, I didn't want to pry it away from the case with such force that I could potentially break it, in case my understanding is incorrect.

What is the proper way to release the bracelet? Do I pry the folding/rotating bar away from the case, or am I imagining something that doesn't exist?

femtosecond · January 31

Ok, upon closer inspection, I realized that it is a 1.8mm diameter, one sided spring bar of length 17.5mm. There is no notch for pulling back the internal plunger, you just stick a spring bar tool between the plunger and the case on the smaller diameter side and push in.

By the way, do not bend back the shroud. It's not meant to be bent back, but rather to fill in the case.