Actually, TD, just to pick up on the description "service" for the second bracelet.
I read somewhere that both bracelets were used during the original one-year production of the watch, rather than V2 being a later "service" bracelet. This is just info I've gleaned from the Internet (and we know how unreliable that can be!) - I'm certainly no expert!
Do you have any additional info/resources/notes to confirm one way or the other?
(This would be just out of interest - your earlier comment about the quality of V2 has satisfied me completely regarding this BCT).
Hi Ken
I am reasonably well rehearsed on these watch having owned a dozen or so, the V2 was produced as a more light weight and affordable (to manufacture) bracelet shortly after the production run for the Chrono-Quartz ended (only around 15000 units produced of which it is likely 2-3000 were 'spares watches'). It wouldn't be unreasonable for people to assume the watches where produced with these bracelets but I think it is unlikely as they were all manufactured between late 1975 and late 1976, at this time Omega were still using the standard 'interlink' heavy bracelet, which was far more costly to produce and manufacture. The only caveat to this I could have been if any of the bracelets were manufactured in Mexico but this wasn't that 'type' of watch and bracelets (unlike the Mexican produced or British produced ones) couldn't be used on a wide array of other omega models so why bother?
So, on to the 'bracelet' issue, the original 12XX/2XX bracelet line was introduced to the market towards the last quarter of 1972 and originally seen on Megaquartz's Marine Chronometer and Stardust lines, it later became an addition in other incarnations on the Megaquartz, F300, Speedmaster etc lines.
The bracelet was of excellent quality however was fundamentally flawed, firstly it was made up of a series of huge stainless steel links which were heavy, bulky and costly to make as they required machining and drilling for each individual and individually sized tapered link. Secondly (and the crux of the issue) was that they were interconnected with one another via a series of double spring bar tubes known as 'interlinks'. the weight of the bracelet links with the weakness of the interlinks resulted in it being quite easy to stretch the links apart and thus impacting on both the performance of the bracelet and the cosmetic appearance.
See below image of an 'original' 125 BCT and note the stretching between the links and the obvious exposure of the interlink
The terminology around 'service bracelet' really applies to the fact they usual when watches of this ilk was/is sent back in for service the bracelets were stretched (the critical flaw of the interlink structure) and as such replaced with one of the later style bracelet such as your own. For affordability purposes replacing the interlinks is not viable, it is timely, painful and costly, I know because I have done it on over 20 bracelets. The interlinks are now £10 a pair, usually the bracelet required 10 pairs, you need to stretch the bracelet out, either bench drill or cut the interlinks out and careful fit the new ones in, the results are superb but the last time I did it I put a spike tool through my hand!!!!!!!.
It is not outside of the realms of possibility that one left the factory with this bracelet but IMHO it would have needed to be manufactured at later date than the original batch (of which I can find no evidence via the factory).
My other logic indicating it is a possibly later service replacement is that you will note the case tubes attaching the bracelet on your example are in excellent condition but slightly bowed out at the peak ends, this is due to the much heavier original bracelet and the heavy case having little or no give so 'stretch' happening in the tubes and not the bracelets (again the common issue with the original interlink bracelet)
I know this was a fundamental issue for Omega as they still manufacture and supply the interlinks (I am probably their best customer for these). Hence there is a whole plethora of more costly, light and robust replacement bracelets for all of the above mentioned models.
The information I have gathered over the years has been complied here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omega_Chrono-Quartz
By no means is that a definitive history of this remarkable watch but a bite sized introduction to budding enthusiasts and collector.
However I have good connections at the factory and one of the worlds most established omega service centres who specialises in these watches and have been in business for well over 20 years, our joint consensus when I was researching was that the V2 was indeed a replacement bracelet manufactured after the initial run to allow longevity of service.
I cannot confirm one way or another that your dial is lumoniva, as mentioned I have a factory serviced (they no longer support these only Swiss Tec/ Swiss Time Services in the UK do) which has a factory fitted lumoniva dial, I know it is luminova as it has the same glow intensity and longevity as a planet ocean, I also own a NOS 1977 example which is untouched and the two illuminations are a world apart, its like comparing the headlights of a 1977 911 to those of a 2015 911 HD system.
I hope this information is useful? you have a lovely example of what I class to be a very rare/ special Omega and one that is far more unique than many of my forum freinds coveted Speedmasters etc in that unlike even calibre 321 chronographs and one could say also even the 125 (which has a derivative of the 1040) the 1611 movement was developed at huge cost and only ever used in this one single wrist watch.
I love them
Thanks Tom
