Good evening all - I'm in the fortunate position to have a -78 Speedmaster on it's way on what appears to be the correct 1171 bracelet. I fully expect to need to remove some links on account of my small wrists.

MWO indicates the removable links are held in with screw fastening. Are these easily removed DIY (and does anyone happen to know what size screwdriver one would need) or is this a take it to an OB/AD job?

 

Actually yes, when they are screw in you only need some patience and a fitting screwdriver. If they have been sitting in the bracelet for decades, you might need to be even more patient and slow, don't f** up the screw head.

 

Good to know, thank you. Any merit in using a small amount of penetrating oil to help things along if the screws are stuck?

I'll do a full thread when it arrives

 

A caveat: If it is a later 1171 the pins knock out. If you see directional arrows on the inner part of the band that's what you do.

 

Never tried that but that shouldn't do harm. You just need to get that stuff out of the Threads afterwards..ever tried to oil a thread on a diver bottle ?

 

I posted on the subject recently — see photos at

https://omegaforums.net/threads/omega-1171-bracelet-surprise.65305/

BTW — just used a small eyeglass screwdriver, kept downward pressure to keep blade firmly in the slot when turning.

 

Great stuff - thank you!

 

Just for reference, I have a couple of 1177/177 bracelets on a couple of constellations from the mid '70s, they have screwed in pins. They are a bugger to get out when they are dirty, but once they are out and the bracelet spends a bit of time in an ultrasonic cleaning tank they are a delight to work with.

If anyone happens to have any 1177/177 links going spare, I am in need one.

I have an older, damaged 1177/177 partial bracelet and these are so hard to find I am thinking of drilling and tapping some of the links to use as an extension link.