Hi OF so.... just picked these up from eBay, delivered from Italy. In original packaging but already opened. Feels extremely cheap and flimsy, I mean look at the stretch? Can anybody tell me if the parts are genuine or not?? Any advise would be greatly received
It is an original, modern, service Omega 1171 bracelet. I have it and the ‘70 vintage one. I don’t see big differences.
Looks similar to the one I had. It’s the modern version with square Omega logo rather than trapezoid. Stretch and flimsiness is part of the charm and character
Looks fine to me. Based on the date code on the end link package it's about 11 years old. The current packaging is a little different - the one shown here was made this year, and is shipped all in one package like you see here: BTW there is no such thing as bracelet "stretch" as it's wear rather than stretch. I don't think yours is worn at all, but when they do "stretch" it's the parts that connect the bracelet wearing that causes the increased gaps between links. In the replaceable link sections it's the folded link pin that wears - here is a photo of one of those pins from an older 1171, and you can see the top pin has worn substantially when compared to a new pin: The corresponding holes in the links can also wear, so keeping the bracelet clean will go a long way to help prevent excess wear over time. When dirt and grit get in there, they act as an abrasive that accelerates wear in these parts. This kind of "flimsy" bracelet was the norm when these watches were made, and the massive chunks of steel that are common today are a fairly recent thing. Personally I hate the newer bracelets that are very heavy, and much prefer something like this one, or an older Rolex bracelet. Many people equate weight with quality, but the 1171 is far stronger than your wrist is, so there's not much chance of it failing before your hand gets ripped off... Just keep it clean and it will outlast you likely. Cheers, Al