I was browsing eBay last week and found this interesting Omega bracelet produced by JB in the United States. It looks like a classic Flex bracelet but has fixed ends and non elastic links. It also has a very cool adjusting clasp. Naturally I thought it would be a good match for my plank dial chronometre. The ends were marked 11/16" which is around 17.5mm - the watch has 18mm lugs so I thought it would be a close fit. Well, the bracelet arrived and the ends were filed down to 10/16" (around 16mm) so there is a big gap. Does anyone know if it is possible to affix some other sort of endlinks to make this bracelet work? The seller said he is happy to accept a return, but I like how the bracelet works so I would rather get the links fixed.
As I have learned from @TLIGuy the JB master, there’s no JB that can’t be fixed, so I’ll do some digging and see if I can find a substitute. (unless this was a one-off...) What is the side links width length? Also, how is this fitted to the watch? It doesn’t look like it is via a compression method?
Thanks for taking a look! The side links are just a tad over 16mm. It is fitted via standard spring bars - there is a small tube inside, so the curved ends meet the watch nicely.
Ok- thanks for the info! When the endlinks will be full width though, how does one access the spring bar then?
I found something similar on end shape, but not on the parts where it attaches to the bracelet. But things are looking good so far, worst case probably this part should be modifiable to be useful I think.
Ahh I see! That makes sense. Here’s another similar piece. I’m not really sure how the end pieces are attached to the omega bracelet right now, so I have to think more on if these would be acceptable donors. The two last tabs on either side of the bracelet end would be openable with a wedge, but maybe I’ll find an exact donor before that needs to be done.
OK, so here's what I would do. So here is the most similar thing I could find. https://www.ebay.com/itm/233283641938Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network But that's for a Hamilton apparently. There are similar unbranded JB ones: https://www.ebay.com/itm/382667755029Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network https://www.ebay.com/itm/382521408602Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network https://www.ebay.com/itm/261268267122Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network https://www.ebay.com/itm/382516381987Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network https://www.ebay.com/itm/382562590982Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network There's a high chance one of these would work. But the seller didn't take pics of the endlink part, so probably best to confirm before buying. And then I would try to take apart the current endpiece on the bracelet to be fixed (it's gonna be taken apart to get fixed anyway, right?) to ascertain how to go about using the donor on it. If all else fails, I'd be happy to take a shot fixing it for you!
Thanks for all the info - I will take this conversation to PM. I'll post an update here when I get it fixed!