Noob LMPO Bracelet

[necro123]

I purchased my noob lmpo sometime ago with the intention of using it as a base for a franken po.

While waiting for the franken po to be assembled by my watchmaker, I decided to fiddle with the bracelet and improve it. Here are some of the things I've learned:

1. LMPO bracelet is good despite all the flak it gets. You just have to make sure you have the right tools to resize the bracelet

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2. The clasp spring mechanism is not the same as in the gen clasp, SO learn from my mistake and don't waste your time and money.

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Image 20231010 151540 hosted in ClickPix.org

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I bought a gen clasp spring thinking I could improve the feel of the clasp by swapping out the spring. But to my surprise, as I removed the spring cover of the lmpo clasp, I could see that there's an entirely different spring mechanism in there.
The noob spring mechanism is built into the cover and the attachment points of the spring to the buttons are also unlike the ones found in gen clasp - so modifying it out of the question.

So my conclusion is, if you want to upgrade the clasp that is, as follows:
i. replace the clasp entirely with a gen clasp.
ii. maybe, just maybe you could replace the buttons with gen buttons, and have a gen spring cover ready, then the gen spring could be installed in - this options seems like it's a lot of work and you may even end up with a clasp that's worse than what you started out with

Well, good luck and have a nice day

 

[eddieo]

with your familiarity with the bracelet parts and assembly, think you might be able to school me on how to put mine back together??

need help reassembling "Bond" 5-piece link style bracelet....

The clasp release buttons were stuck so the only way I could get the watch off was to remove some screws. I started with a single link but I couldn't get the pin out; ultimately the clasp assembly came apart. Anyone so familiar with the assembly they could walk me through it?

forum.replica-watch.info

 

[necro123]

with your familiarity with the bracelet parts and assembly, think you might be able to school me on how to put mine back together??

need help reassembling "Bond" 5-piece link style bracelet....

The clasp release buttons were stuck so the only way I could get the watch off was to remove some screws. I started with a single link but I couldn't get the pin out; ultimately the clasp assembly came apart. Anyone so familiar with the assembly they could walk me through it?

forum.replica-watch.info

What you need are these two items, the bracelet pin tool & a mallet/hammer.

1. position the bracelet right, insert the pin in connecting to links, and screw the pin in with the pin tool.
2. in case, the pin can't go all the way in because the pin tool can't screw in far enough, you can use the hammer to hammer the rest of the pin in - carefully, and on a cushioned/wooden surface so you won't scratch the bracelet

Get the right tools for the job if you don't have them yet, they're cheap, and will save you from a heart & headache further down the road. Good luck

 

[eddieo]

What you need are these two items, the bracelet pin tool & a mallet/hammer.

1. position the bracelet right, insert the pin in connecting to links, and screw the pin in with the pin tool.
2. in case, the pin can't go all the way in because the pin tool can't screw in far enough, you can use the hammer to hammer the rest of the pin in - carefully, and on a cushioned/wooden surface so you won't scratch the bracelet

Get the right tools for the job if you don't have them yet, they're cheap, and will save you from a heart & headache further down the road. Good luck

I have those tools actually; my watch has been with a jeweler since just before Christmas. He said I'm missing a piece, but he doesn't know it's a rep, although he may suspect it since taking it to his watchsmith who said two things: 1. the z-spring is missing and 2. the serial number says this is a rose gold watch. I've ordered the z-spring, but looking back at your original post in this thread I may be duplicating your failed efforts. Can you please look again at my "need help reassembling "Bond" 5-piece link style bracelet...." thread

 

[eddieo]

[continued] Can you please look again at my "need help reassembling "Bond" 5-piece link style bracelet...." thread and tell me whether I have the "Impo" clasp spring among my parts/pieces? If so, I won't wait till the z-springs arrive; I'll instead tell my jeweler that my bracelet has an "alternate" spring, and tell him how it comes together, with your help of course.

 

[eddieo]

....adding on, when I removed the watch using a screwdriver, I did so over a tray so as not to lose any parts. I kick myself that I didn't just focus on removing a link screw instead of also removing a clasp screw, because I was unprepared for the clasp to completely come apart. When I couldn't figure out how to put the "puzzle" back together I brought it to the jeweler. He called me after several days and said I was missing a piece, which I doubted because of how careful I was collecting them, but when I read about z-springs breaking on gen bracelets, I accepted that maybe I was. Again, looking back on your original post in this thread I'm thinking I do have all the pieces, but I (and my jeweler" still don't know how they all go together. Are you able to detail for me what goes where?

 

[eddieo]

....are these photos of the same part?

 

[eddieo]

sorry; man, I wish I had editing privileges! ....are THESE photos of the same part?

 

[necro123]

sorry; man, I wish I had editing privileges! ....are THESE photos of the same part?

Ah Ok, from what I can see, the spring mechanism seems similar. the dimensions of the structure that holds the spring mechanism look different, but spring mechanism looks the same.

I can't guarantee just from eyeballing these pictures that the spring from lmpo would fit in your clasp, but the chance is there and I think it's worth trying.

 

[eddieo]

I can't guarantee just from eyeballing these pictures that the spring from lmpo would fit in your clasp, but the chance is there and I think it's worth trying.

TBH, I'm not proposing that; I haven't had any luck Googling "IMPO watch spring" to determine availability, and I'm having a hard enough time finding a replacement clasp assembly or even entire bracelet (I'm currently going back and forth with Andrew from Trustytime). What I was hoping you might do is show me how a properly assembled clasp looks, using your bracelet, not my mixed up jumble of parts. There are some great shots on the Omega website but as I've now learned from you, the rep clasp parts may not be identical to gen, and I likely wasted my time and money buying "z-springs" that won't solve my problem.

 

[necro123]

I see what you mean now.
I don't have my watch readily available right now, but this photo comparison should be enough I think.



in the gen clasp (left), the spring mechanism is different, but in the lmpo clasp, the spring mechanism is the same as your clasp (or any of the new adjustable ones). However, as you can see the dimensions are completely different - square on the lmpo clasp, and smaller and rectangular on yours. It's safe to conclude that you don't have to waste time and money looking for this lmpo spring as it wouldn't fit in your clasp.

maybe you can try ebay? there's a seller from HK who sells replacement clasps that is very probably built the same way as yours. You either take parts from one such clasp or if the clasp comes with the logo on, then you can just swap it in.




All the best!