Bergeon is the brand that lies in the drawer of every watchmaker's workshop, and has done so for generations. For collectors at home, one tool in particular is relevant: the 6767-F spring bar tool, with which you change straps yourself without scratching the lugs. On this page we classify all eight Bergeon items that we currently see as readily available, from the spring bar tool and screwdriver sets to the case openers. All other manufacturers are collected in our brand overview.
The Bergeon models at a glance
The following table sorts all nine items by our editorial rating and shows type and key feature at a glance. We deliberately do not state concrete prices, because they vary considerably in the tool trade depending on the source, so we place each piece in a price class instead. The ratings are editorial assessments based on verifiable information and expressly not laboratory results.
| Model | Type | Key feature | Price range | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6767-F spring bar tool | Strap change | Fork and pin, interchangeable tips | Mid-range | 4,5/5 |
| 6767 with 145 mm length | Strap change | Pin 0.8 mm, fork 1.2 mm, 145 mm | Mid-range | 4,4/5 |
| 6899-P05 screwdriver set | Screws | 5-piece, 0.80 to 1.60 mm, with pouch | Mid-range | 4,3/5 |
| 6767 F with 140 mm overall length | Strap change | Spring bar tool, made in Switzerland | Mid-range | 4,2/5 |
| 5-piece screwdriver set | Screws | Stainless steel, ergonomic handles | Mid-range | 4,1/5 |
| 6767-AF replacement fork | Spare part | Replacement tip for the 6767 series | Entry level | 4,0/5 |
| 4932 case opener | Case | Watch knife for snap-on case backs | Entry level to mid-range | 3,9/5 |
| 7403 case knife | Case | Metal, black, for snap-on case backs | Entry level to mid-range | 3,8/5 |
| 7812 Quick Service Plus tool set | Complete set | 18 tools in a case, Swiss made | Premium class | 4,3/5 |
| 7825 spring bar tweezers | Strap change | Pliers, 110 mm, double-sided compression | Premium class | 4,2/5 |
The models in detail
We sorted the nine items by usefulness for collectors and how well the manufacturer's claims can be verified, with the highest editorial rating at the top. The tool that actually helps most people deliberately comes first, followed by screwdrivers, a spare part and case openers. The note under each name tells you what use we recommend the item for and where its limit lies.
Bergeon 6767-F spring bar tool
- The precisely made fork gets cleanly under the spring bar shoulder and rarely slips, which is exactly where cheap tools fail and leave scratches
- Two working tips on one handle: the fork for exposed bars, the fine pin for cases with a side hole, and you simply turn the tool around
- The tips are screwed in and can be bought individually as a replacement fork, so the tool is practically unlimited in use rather than disposable
- Noticeably more expensive than a simple set from a DIY store; if you only change a strap once, you will also get off cheaper at first
Bergeon 6767 spring bar tool, 145 mm long
- This listing is the only one to state all the relevant dimensions, namely a length of 145 millimetres, a pin of 0.8 millimetres and a fork of 1.2 millimetres
- So before buying you know exactly whether the fork width fits your lugs, which makes the difference especially with very narrow straps
- In construction the tool matches the well-known 6767 series and does exactly the same job as its sister model when changing a strap
- Whether the tips on this version are also screwed in is not clear from the product information, so check this before buying
Bergeon screwdriver set 6899-P05
- Five blade widths from 0.80 to 1.60 millimetres cover the screws on lugs, clasps and cases almost completely
- Handles made of Delrin plastic with a stainless steel body sit ergonomically in the hand and turn cleanly under the index finger in the classic watchmaker's grip
- The included plastic pouch keeps the screwdrivers sorted, so even months later you immediately reach for the right size instead of the next best one
- A screwdriver set is no substitute for expertise; a blade that is too large rounds out the screw head and makes the screw permanently unusable
Bergeon 6767 F spring bar tool with 140 mm overall length
- Another listing from the same tool series, stated at 140 millimetres overall length and therefore marginally more compact
- If the best-selling 6767-F is hard to get at the moment, here you get the same tool family from Swiss production
- The shorter design is a little easier to store and sits a touch more comfortably in smaller hands
- The listing page is sparing with fork width and pin thickness; if you need exact dimensions, you are better off with the variant that gives full details
Bergeon five-piece stainless steel screwdriver set
- Five stainless steel screwdrivers cover the usual work on strap, clasp and case without needing a large workshop set
- The ergonomic handles allow the classic watchmaker's grip with steady guidance, which makes the blade slip significantly less often
- The manufacturer states the set is Swiss Made, so it stays within the same manufacturing philosophy as the well-known spring bar tools
- The listing page does not give the exact blade widths; if you want to know the size range for certain, go for the 6899-P05 set
Bergeon 6767-AF replacement fork
- With other tools a bent or worn fork made the whole piece worthless; here you simply swap the tip and carry on working
- This very spare-part system is the reason we classify the 6767-F as a one-off purchase and not a consumable
- A replacement fork in the drawer costs little and saves the strap change on the evening the tip gives way mid-job
- Useless without a matching handle, and you should check which fork width you need against your existing tool before ordering
Bergeon 4932 case opener
- A cleanly made watch knife engages at the notch of the snap-on case back and levers more controllably than any improvised screwdriver
- In the workshop this tool is part of the basic equipment and is available from Bergeon in the usual manufacturing quality
- Anyone who restores old watches and knows what they are doing saves themselves a trip to the watchmaker for every single task
- We advise laypeople against opening watches: once the back is off, the gasket no longer sits securely and the water resistance is unchecked and effectively gone
Bergeon 7403 case knife and case opener
- A second opener model from the same brand that serves the same purpose and widens the choice of blade shape and handle feel
- The metal version with a black finish is sturdily built and holds up for a long time even in a well-used tool roll
- Anyone who often works on older watches with snap-on case backs likes to have two openers with different blades to choose from
- As with the 4932, this is not a beginner's tool for laypeople: an opened case loses its tested water resistance and should afterwards go to the watchmaker
Bergeon tool set 7812 Quick Service Plus
- Specialist retailers list the set with 18 tools, including a spring bar tool, watchmaker's loupe, antimagnetic tweezers, stainless steel screwdrivers, battery tweezers, pin pusher, flat pliers, microfibre cloth and spare tips
- Everything sits in a foam-lined case in which each piece has its fixed place, which is the practical advantage over seven tools bought separately
- For the two most common jobs on your own collection, changing a strap and shortening a link bracelet, everything needed is included, plus the measuring tape for wrist circumference
- A case opener is also included. Our position stays the same: an opened case loses its tested water resistance, so that is watchmaker's work and no reason to try it yourself
- If you only change spring bars, the single 6767-F works out cheaper. The set only pays off when you really do several of the included jobs yourself
Bergeon 7825 spring bar pliers
- A different working principle from the 6767 series: the pliers compress both spring bar ends at the same time instead of levering from one side
- That lets them reach case lugs that are too narrow for a lever tool, and they remove the strap without the clasp having to be dismantled
- 110 millimetres long, stainless steel, very fine interchangeable fork tips; the 7825-BR2 replacement fork pair is available separately
- Considerably more expensive than any of the brand's lever tools, and the listing is fulfilled from UK Amazon stock, so import fees and longer delivery times may apply
- It is not needed for a normal strap change, for which the 6767-F remains the cheaper and faster choice
Bergeon: origin and tool quality
Bergeon comes from the Swiss Jura, the region where watchmaking has been at home for centuries. According to the Swiss watch industry, the company's history goes back to 1791 in Le Locle, where a supplier equipped workshops with tools and accessories. The current name emerged after the First World War, when employees around Jules Bergeon took over the business, and it has traded as Bergeon since 1927. We deliberately do not give an exact founding date for the present-day company, because the sources on this are inconsistent.
What is technically interesting is less the age than the brand's role in everyday workshop life. According to industry reports, the catalogue comprises several thousand references, from tweezers and anvils to testing devices, and many of these numbers have remained unchanged for decades. This is exactly where the reputation as a standard comes from: when a watchmaker mentions a 6767, every colleague immediately knows which tool is meant. For collectors, this above all means spare-part reliability over many years.
The spring bar tool shows what the quality consists of in concrete terms. The fork is finished so finely that it grips cleanly under the spring bar shoulder and does not slip sideways when compressing, and this slipping is the most common cause of scratches on the lugs with cheap tools. In addition there is the long stainless steel handle, which transfers the pressure directly to the tip. How the strap change works step by step is explained in our guide on how to change a watch strap.
One point should be stated clearly, because tool descriptions like to skip it: good tools do not replace a watchmaker. Strap changes and screw work on clasps are easy to do yourself, but opening a water-resistant case is not. Once the case back has been removed, the gasket does not necessarily sit correctly any more, and water resistance only counts as restored after a measurement. For everything to do with care and equipment, take a look at our overview of tools and care.
Who Bergeon suits
Bergeon suits you if you change your straps yourself regularly and do not want to risk scratches on the lugs. Collectors with several watches and interchangeable straps benefit most, because the purchase pays off over many changes. Even if you own only a single high-quality watch, you are better off with the 6767-F, because a single deep scratch costs more than the tool.
Two pieces are enough as equipment to begin with. The 6767-F spring bar tool handles the strap change, and a screwdriver set such as the 6899-P05 covers clasps and case screws. A spare fork belongs in the drawer as a third item, so that a worn tool does not end the evening. If you are looking for a fully equipped assortment instead, compare it in our overview of watchmaker tool sets.
The brand is less suitable if you only want to change a strap once and never again. For that need a cheap tool is perfectly adequate, and the premium for Swiss manufacture simply does not pay off. You are also badly advised here if you want to open your watch case yourself without any experience with gaskets. That step belongs in professional hands, regardless of how good the tool is.
Around the strap change, it is worth thinking about care straight away. Fine scratches on plastic crystals can be removed with a little patience; how that works is shown in our guide to polishing acrylic glass. And when the freshly serviced watch goes back into the collection afterwards, the overview of watch boxes helps with suitable storage. That way the tool becomes one building block of a well-rounded concept rather than a one-off purchase.
Alternatives to Bergeon
The cheapest alternative is tool sets without a big brand name, as we have classified them in the JOREST strap tool. Such sets come with many pieces for little money and are sufficient for occasional needs. In return the tips are softer, bend more quickly and usually cannot be replaced individually. If you change straps a lot, you still end up with Bergeon over the years.
In specialist retail you also often come across Bergeon in the same display as Beco Technic, a German company that, alongside watch winders of the Boxy series, also carries tools and workshop supplies. For upmarket watch storage, on the other hand, WOLF is the better-known address, where the focus is on winders, boxes and watch rolls rather than tools. All the manufacturers we feature are collected in the brand overview.
If you prefer to compare model by model instead of settling on a brand beforehand, start in our review hub. For Bergeon, you will find the 6767-F data check there with all the details we can substantiate. If you want the watch not just to be put down after the strap change but to keep running between wearing days, you will find suitable devices in our watch winder buying guide.
Editorial verdict
Bergeon is not a brand of which you need eight pieces, but one of which one is enough. The 6767-F spring bar tool tops our overview with 4.5 out of 5 points, because it really makes the strap change safer, combines two working tips on one handle and can be used almost indefinitely via spare forks. The variant with full dimensions follows with 4.4 points, because it is the only one that discloses fork width and pin thickness.
Below that, the field gets more specialised. The 6899-P05 screwdriver set with 4.3 points is the most sensible addition, the 6767 F at 140 millimetres with 4.2 points the usable fallback, and the slim five-piece set with 4.1 points the alternative without a pouch. The spare fork gets 4.0 points, because on its own it is useless, but in combination it is the reason for the system's longevity.
The two case openers 4932 and 7403 deliberately end up last with 3.9 and 3.8 points, and that is not down to manufacturing. They are workshop tools, and using them can, if in doubt, cost a watch its tested water resistance. Our recommendation therefore remains clear: buy the 6767-F, add a screwdriver set, and leave the case to the watchmaker.
The text of this page was created with an AI language model and was reviewed and approved editorially before publication. Editorial responsibility lies with Seydhan Cakmak. The product images shown are not AI images but manufacturer and retailer photos from the Amazon catalogue, which we embed unchanged.
A limitation we disclose: Amazon and the retailers selling there now use generative tools in their listings themselves. Whether an individual catalogue image is affected, we cannot check from the outside, so we claim it neither one way nor the other. As soon as an image demonstrably comes from a generative model, we label it visibly on the image with the label AI image. More on this on the AI transparency page.