Bracelet Options for 36mm Railmaster & Aqua Terra

sathomasga

I think this question has come up a few times—if not here then on other forums—so perhaps it might be worth documenting my experience.

TLDR: Uncle Straps bracelets for the Speedmaster FOIS work well; Forstner bracelets for the FOIS do not work.

As a baseline, here is the OEM Omega bracelet:

The Forstner end links (in this case for the Flat Link Bracelet, do fit within the lugs without a gap, though their curvature isn't a great match for the Railmaster's lugs.

The problem with the Forstner bracelet is the first proper link. It's 20mm wide instead of 19mm. Since the Railmaster's lugs extend just a tiny bit past the end links, the bracelet link needs to fit between the lugs. It won't.

The Uncle Straps end links (in this case for the US1450 model) also fit the lugs without a gap. Their curvature, though not perfect, is a better match for the lugs than Forstners'.

Crucially, the Uncle Straps' proper links are 19mm rather than 20mm, so there is no problem fitting them to the watch.

I'm personally not a fan of Omega's OEM bracelet. The clasp is fiddly in the wrong way: it's too hard to close reliably, and it's too easy to open (e.g. inadvertently). The lack of micro adjustment also makes it difficult for me to maintain a comfortable fit for the entire day. Switching to the Uncle Straps US1450 has significantly increased my enjoyment of the watch.

I IcyMammoth

Which configurations of the US1450 did you get that works well with the 36mm case? I see it’s 20mm.

I’ve been searching forever for a way to add on the fly micro adjust to my first gen AT 36mm forever so this is very promising if you found one that fits great!!

sathomasga

The one linked in my post. It's 19mm.

I IcyMammoth

Which configurations of the US1450 did you get that works well with the 36mm case? I see it’s 20mm.

I’ve been searching forever for a way to add on the fly micro adjust to my first gen AT 36mm forever so this is very promising if you found one that fits great!!

502 to right

The clasp to the Apollo 11 50th anniversary bracelet can be fitted to this bracelet. The only real downside is that connecting links to the clasp have a 10mm spacing and the AT bracelet has a 9.5mm spacing. So there is a gap of 0.5mm you can see. It doesn't bother me though because it's on the underside of my wrist 99% of the time.

Also, the Apollo 11 50th clasp only has 2 micro adjust spots. Better than the OEM AT bracelet, but I'd love to have one more. There's room to drill out a third hole though. I just need to find a jeweler or watchmaker who has the proper tools to do it. My regular watchmaker said he does not have the drill to it, but said most jewelers (that make jewelry) would commonly have the proper set up.

I will also say the connecting links to the clasp are 15mm wide and the AT links are 16mm wide. But in my eyes it looks normal since links taper smaller toward the clasp. And I fully brushed the connecting links to match the AT bracelet but left the clasp as is.

ErichPryde

Can be fitted to the 1450? Ironic that this thread popped up today because I have an Apollo 11 50th bracelet sitting around and I was wondering if it fit on the 1450 bracelet.

ErichPryde

The clasp to the Apollo 11 50th anniversary bracelet can be fitted to this bracelet

ErichPryde

Which bracelet does the Apollo 11 50th clasp fit to?

And edit: is it the second generation heritage clasp you're talking about?

Further: looks like you swapped the Apollo 11 50th class into an Aqua Terra bracelet? But if the measurement on the A11 is 10mm, I guess it would fit the 1450?

502 to right

Current gen Heritage 300 clasp is what I use.

The Apollo 11 50th clasp will connect with the 1450 from Forstner and US. Both have 10mm wide middle links. No spacers are needed. The Apollo 11 50th connecting links are 15mm total, and the Forstner and US bracelet links are 16mm total, which is fine because the look steps down toward the clasp.

ErichPryde

Thank you for that info. Is there any difference at all in finishing quality or build quality between the two bracelets?

502 to right

at said, there is more room in the clasp for a third and perhaps fourth hole. I've heard of people on the forums who have had their clasp drilled to add another hole

ErichPryde

Yep, I did this. I posted some pics of it a while back.