Good evening, I'm Vincenzo from Italy. I'm now the proud owner of my Dad's Speedsonic, bought new in 1970something. The crystal is in poor conditions and I have to replace it, anyone knows what I have to search for? What about the bracelet? No lobster, that's a 1170, and I remember it has always been this in the last 40 years. In internet I find Speedsonics with lobster bracelet (mainly) and this bracelet too, but I also find different side buttons. I want it perfect, the watch runs perfectly and... it's my Dad's watch. Here you have some photograph. Any effort and suggestion on this project is highly appreciate, even if I'm not unaware about watches this is a tough one. Thank you very much!
Well, congrats on getting an heirloom watch. first things first is getting a service - as there is a lot of detritus on the movement and case back, presumably from a perished seal (gasket). Not sure what you can do with the hybrid bracelet - maybe put it on a leather strap ( if that possible)? Cheers paul
Thanks! Anyone knows something about this strange bracelet? Do you think I can find a crystal for this watch?
Well i can only assume the original lobster bracelet broke and was beyond repair, so either your father or his watchmaker cobbled together the 2 largest links from the original lobster bracelet with the 1170 they had lying around? Just a guess, but never seen this assembly before
The lobster bracelet is pretty complex, the end links (seen here) sort of a hide a mesh that holds the rest of the bracelet. They sometimes come up on eBay...at a cost ! Some people have had leather bracelets made to replicate the original corfam strap it also came on, see here https://omegaforums.net/threads/omega-speedsonic-lobster.2009/
Hello LaCordobesa Congratulations to your Speedsonic! It is an iconic watch with a spectacular design that still waits for the deserved appreciation amongst us collectors. I wish Omega were as audacious in designing new watches as they were at the time. The service at Bienne is not cheap for these, nevertheless I think it is worthwhile. Then take your time searching for a lobster braclet. No rush! I slip a slim narrow plastic sheet between the battery and its clip when I don't wear it for a prolonged time. Enjoy! Richard
I think i read dome good advice somewhere, that with quartz, hummers etc watches that use a battery, thats its best to remove the battery from the watch completely when not using it, as these batteries do have the tendency to split and leak. I certainly do that for my f300hummers
Hello again, gentlemen, I'm in the process to replicate the original strap with some very skilled Italian craftmen. Does anyone have reliable photographs of the actual strap? I find quite different designs... Can you help me?
I remember that "Tom Dick" thought of having that done at one point but I'm not sure he did it in the end, if you look at the link in my previous post you'll see some good pictures of a leather strap. AFAIK and according to period pictures/catalogues there was a "ribbed" corfam version but I've never seen an original leather version.