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20 year old Midsize Quartz Seamaster - Strap Required

M
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Afternoon all. I've been quoted £585 for a stainless steel replacement (possibly refurbished as well.!) strap by Omega in the UK - it's worn and scratched?. I cant justify that. I'd love to know if there are any alternatives I might try? Are good condition straps about? The watch is valuable only to me so I'd be happy to receive any advice. Kind Regards. Mike ( Cardiff, South Wales)
 
Omega Seamaster.jpg
Modernism
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When you say 'straps', do you mean you want another bracelet, not sure what you're saying, because you can put on rubber and or NATO etc
 
wilderbeast
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Hello Mike
The above question from @Modernism is a good start to work out what you want, but if it’s the latter, here are a few alternatives I’ve tried on my midsize Bond. Especially good in the summer, as I find that the original bracelet can be a bit heavy and bulky:
71BC835E-DAC5-46DF-88FF-46B4845F5D61.jpeg 16CD0FD9-8C91-4321-A14C-FC914CA6A4C7.jpeg B39E69F1-4878-462D-8A97-76C812B64FD2.jpeg 3AFB735B-9F96-4A88-B3AB-B266E66FDE1E.jpeg
 
dennisthemenace
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Send the watch to Omega for a full service.
Will cost less than the new bracelet and the watch and bracelet will be returned looking like new.
 
M
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Modernism Modernism
When you say 'straps', do you mean you want another bracelet, not sure what you're saying, because you can put on rubber and or NATO etc
Preferably another bracelet, sorry for the confusion.
Cheers Dennis, I did, that's where I got the quote from.
 
M
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dennisthemenace dennisthemenace
Send the watch to Omega for a full service.
Will cost less than the new bracelet and the watch and bracelet will be returned looking like new.
Cheers Dennis, I did, that's where I got the quote from.
 
M
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wilderbeast wilderbeast
Hello Mike
The above question from @Modernism is a good start to work out what you want, but if it’s the latter, here are a few alternatives I’ve tried on my midsize Bond. Especially good in the summer, as I find that the original bracelet can be a bit heavy and bulky:
71BC835E-DAC5-46DF-88FF-46B4845F5D61.jpeg 16CD0FD9-8C91-4321-A14C-FC914CA6A4C7.jpeg B39E69F1-4878-462D-8A97-76C812B64FD2.jpeg 3AFB735B-9F96-4A88-B3AB-B266E66FDE1E.jpeg
Cheers Wilderbeast, I hadn't thought of that, I guess I was still in shock at the £585 😀 , any pitfalls to avoid or preferred brands you've had success with?
 
dennisthemenace
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M MikeT
Cheers Dennis, I did, that's where I got the quote from.
Omega service price for a three hander quartz is less than £400. What else did the quote include?
 
M
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dennisthemenace dennisthemenace
Omega service price for a three hander quartz is less than £400. What else did the quote include?
Hi Dennis, they sent me this quote
upload_2021-11-3_11-52-47.png
 
dennisthemenace
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M MikeT
Hi Dennis, they sent me this quote
upload_2021-11-3_11-52-47.png
I'm sure that if you opted for a FULL service Omega would look at the worn bracelet issue differently.
 
Archer
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dennisthemenace dennisthemenace
I'm sure that if you opted for a FULL service Omega would look at the worn bracelet issue differently.

I doubt they would really. Not sure if you realize, but this is a quartz watch, so there isn't much else to do with a service, as they have apparently determined that the movement is fine.

The text at the bottom isn't some typical text like when they say they everything is scratched when they receive the watch for servicing. The bracelet is worn to a point where Omega is saying they can't guarantee it. So the OP could continue to use it as is if he wants, but the risk is on him, not on Omega. It's very unlikely you will get Omega to reverse that stance once they have already put it in writing.
 
dennisthemenace
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Archer Archer
I doubt they would really. Not sure if you realize, but this is a quartz watch, so there isn't much else to do with a service, as they have apparently determined that the movement is fine.

The text at the bottom isn't some typical text like when they say they everything is scratched when they receive the watch for servicing. The bracelet is worn to a point where Omega is saying they can't guarantee it. So the OP could continue to use it as is if he wants, but the risk is on him, not on Omega. It's very unlikely you will get Omega to reverse that stance once they have already put it in writing.
So Al, are you saying that a water resistance service costing £105 is just as good as a full service and would usually include bracelet renovation?
Why would anyone pay over three times that amount for a full service if Omega won't touch the bracelet?
Incidentally Al, have you ever come across one of these bracelets that has been beyond repair?
 
Archer
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dennisthemenace dennisthemenace
So Al, are you saying that a water resistance service costing £105 is just as good as a full service and would usually include bracelet renovation? Why would anyone pay over three times that amount for a full service if Omega won't touch the bracelet?

A "full service" on a quartz watch would include replacing the movement if there was a problem. If there is no problem, the only thing Omega is going to do to the case is to replace the parts for water resistance, as the quote states. The bracelet will always be a part of the service, if it's a full service or partial. Do you really think Omega is just going to ignore the bracelet on a watch when it comes in, and risk having the bracelet fail, and them be liable?

If the determine that the bracelet is in bad enough shape, they won't replace the worn parts, and will tell you that the bracelet needs replacing - that isn't going to change based on the type of service.

dennisthemenace dennisthemenace
Incidentally Al, have you ever come across one of these bracelets that has been beyond repair?

I've had Omega condemn bracelets on watches I have sent to them for service - these were older quartz watches that had to go to Bienne, so yes I've had this exact same thing happen.

There are two areas in bracelets that wear...the pins and tubes is the first...this first one is from an 1171:



Now a more modern bracelet:





Those last 2 are from this watch, where the bracelet failed in two spots, and the watch hit the floor:



The second area of wear are the links themselves. On that same watch:



These are worn, and honestly even replacing the pins and tubes when the bracelet is like this is a real pain, because nothing lines up the way it should when you are trying to insert the pin. Is this bad enough that Omega would call it unrepairable? To be honest I don't know for sure, but my gut would say it's certainly possible.

Now on this one, I don't think there's any doubt, Omega would condemn this bracelet:



It's nearly breaking through the link...
 
M
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Much appreciate the comments Archer, thank you. I had no idea the bracelet was worn of course. My first thought was to ask if there was a market for a refurbished strap. But another helpful gent suggested I could change it for a NATO strap which might be the way to go if a refurbished bracelet is not worth the bother. The watch has sentimental value only to me and has been well worn.
 
dennisthemenace
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Ok Al, thanks for clarifying that a partial water resistance service costing less than a third of the price of a full service includes refurbishing the bracelet so long as it not too worn.
 
padders
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dennisthemenace dennisthemenace
Ok Al, thanks for clarifying that a partial water resistance service costing less than a third of the price of a full service includes refurbishing the bracelet so long as it not too worn.
Dennis I think you might be being a tad optimistic about how effective changing a few pins and collars can be. The Bond bracelet is in my experience* very prone to extreme wear and even Omega themselves can only do so much if the link holes are worn out of round. The Speedy type 1610 bracelet is better in this regard but still can wear to the point if being unsalvageable. It’s not as bad as the Rolex Jubilee types but it isn’t too far off. If all it needs is a good polish then a full service will sort it but if it’s sloppy and stretched then it won’t.

*that experience includes having owned 10 SMPs at the last count (it might be more) and having handled literally dozens. You’d be surprised how many are knackered beyond repair. It’s because people don’t clean them and the wrist crud acts as grinding paste.
Edited:
 
wilderbeast
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M MikeT
Cheers Wilderbeast, I hadn't thought of that, I guess I was still in shock at the £585 😀 , any pitfalls to avoid or preferred brands you've had success with?
To be honest, if you have a strap changing tool and some spare spring bars, changing straps on the midsize is easy and 18mm straps are plentiful. I like changing up the look of my watches with strap options. I do think perlon (the braided straps) work particularly well. They’re available from many aftermarket suppliers.
 
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