Ceramic Chrono 26240 Bracelet and Strap change

[APjumbo]

So after my bracelet broke on my Ceramic Chrono I ordered a few bits to try to swap to a strap.

Previous post with how to remove bracelet ect.

New AP 26240 with 4401 Super Clone movement is coming

Yes. Rubber B costs $300! Which is like half of my rep watch costs. And the Rubber B isn’t even an accurate dupe. It’s an expensive copy that costs them $3 to make. Aliexpress charges $10 for the strap and $17 for the FULL METAL genuine prongs/fangs. It’s a full 1:1 replica of the AP design for...

forum.replica-watch.info

What I ordered from Ali X (that didn't work well)





The case of the Ceramic is unlike the steel ones.
Steel cases have threads in the side to screw in some short screws to hold the plots in place.

The ceramic case uses a straight pin, with tiny hollow tubes to create friction.
To remove the bracelet you gently hammer the pin out from either direction. I found hammering it on a block worked to get it started but after that hammering on it while the watch was in my hand was adequate and I think lowered the risk of chipping anything.
Once the punch was about to bottom out I switched to a small drill bit. Pulling with pliars could work but I worry puts sideways pressure on the case and could cause a chip.





This is a JF plot from a 41mm 15400
The hole in the plot is too small to fit the fatter bar that is from the ceramic case.


You could use 3.5mm plots


This is the wrong 4.5mm plot from a diver


JF rose gold plot compared to cheap AliX press black plot.

 

[APjumbo]

Ali Xpress plot leaves a horrible gap.
I used the 28mm screws to hold it in place
The good news is those screws fit great, wide at the ends while fitting through the plots ok
These are the screws that usually go between the plots and the actual strap.



JF plots fitt no better, big gap


So I decided to try to re use the plots from the ceramic bracelet.
Use a springbar tool to pry the springbar out that holds the plots in place.
I used a screwdriver through the hole in the plot to give leverage to pull the plot out, while using the pry tool to retract the springbar thing.



Pieces




Hammer the plots back in.
Make sure they are right side up, One of mine was upside down and sat too low, it was a bitch to punch the pin back out and reverse it.
Don't lose the little steel barrels that go in the hole of the plots to create friction.

 

[APjumbo]

Ok, great, you might want a whisky at this point in celebration, but hold off, we arn't done yet.

This rubber strap still has gaps, the plots are too short

Son of a ..............



What idiot designed this thing



Grab a trusty file and shave that thing down.
I was eager to get this back on my wrist and this was a very cheap strap, so I just went for it.



Screw in those bars that came with the AliX kit, screw on that little nut, and there we go.

 

[APjumbo]

Now I've got the worlds most expensive Casioak homage

 

[elusive1]

I felt my heart rate elevating with each additional picture

Great job, you have incredible patience and steady hands.

 

[OffshoreNL]

That’s why I love the rep game. Creativity wins in the end haha. Great job man! Like the look!

 

[suppish]

Hahahaha great read mate
Well done persevering and it looks really good

 

[samsoniteman]

Awesome post! And looks great!

 

[Swiss_goupil]

All APFS case / plot combo suck as you can’t use ANY aftermarket or GEN parts

 

[ProperGains]

how did your bracelet break?

 

[cotti-rottie]

looks mint

 

[APjumbo]

how did your bracelet break?

I knew it was fragile from hearing about others breaking. At first I just wore it around the house a couple of evenings.
Then I said screw it I want to enjoy it and took it with me for the day. Left a building and threw on a heavy coat and felt it come loose. It must have had too much pressure when putting on my coat sleeve too fast.
I had even sized it on the loose side so that my wrist flexing didn’t cause unnecessary pressure.

Anyways. The rubber did look a bit bland and too much like my Casio so it’s on croc now which looks killer.
The rubber now lives on my gold 15400 which I really like.

 

[corgitime]

I knew it was fragile from hearing about others breaking. At first I just wore it around the house a couple of evenings.
Then I said screw it I want to enjoy it and took it with me for the day. Left a building and threw on a heavy coat and felt it come loose. It must have had too much pressure when putting on my coat sleeve too fast.
I had even sized it on the loose side so that my wrist flexing didn’t cause unnecessary pressure.

Anyways. The rubber did look a bit bland and too much like my Casio so it’s on croc now which looks killer.
The rubber now lives on my gold 15400 which I really like.

That looks amazing! Where's the croc bracelet from?

 

[OffshoreNL]

This looks amazing. Regular 41mm strap that will fit the 15400/15500 and such?

 

[APjumbo]

That looks amazing! Where's the croc bracelet from?

I don’t know the maker unfortunately.

My other leather 15400 are too tight of a fit but this one worked. The ceramic plots are quite short.