Hi, I looked around on the forum (and other forums) but couldn't really find any solid information on what the difference is between these two.

It vaguely seems like the ref.1499 came out first to replace the ref.1479 bracelet in about 1997 then around the millennium it was replaced by the ref.1498 until 2003-ish when the ref.1998 bracelet came along.

Is that correct?

If so why did Omega go backwards and make the 1499 first then change to the 1498 afterwards and what actual difference is the between them, they look exactly the same.

 

Same links, slightly different clasp and end links.

 

Thanks, I managed to check out a copy of Moonwatch Only and it says they're both 20mm at the lugs with a taper to 16mm and 17mm clasp.

The 1499/842 was made from 1996-1998 and the 1498/840 was made from 1998-1999.

It says "Bracelet 1498 is visually identical to bracelet 1499. It nevertheless has internal technical improvements on its predecessor that are invisible to the naked eye".

The only difference I can even see is the text on the 1499 clasp looks a little soft and blurry whereas on the 1498 clasp it's clear and sharp like on a 1998/840, 1998/849 or 1958/957.

So basically exact same bracelet but the 1498 has clearer looking text.

 

I believe the endlinks are different as well.
The 1499 had the 842 endlinks of which the first run were sometimes not marked as 842 and were milled very roughly. The later run became much nicer, with smooth finishing and no cutout edges. They are virtually identical to the 840 end links. This may have been an improvement aligning with the clearer looking engraved text on the clasp - maybe their machining technique or equipment underwent an update in the late 90's.
See post here:
https://omegaforums.net/threads/is-this-speedy-bracelet-real-1499-842.17408/

I have both sets of endlinks and the later 842s and 840s are indeed much nicer than the ragged early 842s

 

Thanks for your reply - I just picked up a 1499/842 online and wondered why some parts of it looked different to every other version of the 1498/1499 I've seen. It has ends that look a bit rough and with what appear to be cutouts and the clasp doesn't say Swiss made. I clicked the link you attached and my bracelet looks exactly like the one in that thread and is the same as the one here -

http://forums.watchuseek.com/#/topics/3771482?page=2

I'm guessing this was probably a version from 1996 used during the 3590.50's last year of production or on the 3570.50 during its first year of production from 1996-1997 before it went from tritium to super luminova. After about a year (1997-1998) they probably added Swiss made and tidied up the end links a bit before it eventually became the 1498 (1998-1999) which had the same links but 840 stamped on them rather than 842 and the engraving was crisper, then the 1998/840 bracelet came out in 1999 and replaced it.

Did I do badly by getting the very first initial run of the 1499? Part of me finds it cool that it's unique and in some way a flawed initial design which is rarer and had an extremely limited production time of a few months or maybe a year at best but the other part just thinks I got a mediocre version of the 1498/1499 with dodgy finishing.

 

Only you can decide that. I'm not as much a bracelet fellow, but I never noticed a difference between the two different end links when there were mounted to the Speedy, and never noticed any increase in case wear due to the rougher end links. While that might come up with more consistent wear, I've yet to experience it. If you're a stickler for minute details then it might behoove you to find a later model, as not having the best of that design could burrow something deep in the psyche.
Good luck with whatever tact you take.

 

I finally got around to taking it to a jewelers to have it sized and fit to my watch. I've got to say I can't really fault this 1499...the little slots in the end links are barely noticeable and when actually attached to the watch are no different to the ones on the modern bracelet - they're certainly not hollow/fragile or anything.

The bracelet is so much lighter and thinner whilst still feeling totally solid like a modern bracelet and has a great taper.

I'm really happy with this 1499 even with its unusual links that have the cutouts. They feel a bit rough and gritty on the inside but like you said it's not noticeable whatsoever when in use, also mine has really crisp and clear engraving on the clasp.

I'd totally recommend any version of the 1499/1498 that's out there as they all seem great and virtually identical with no real difference when actually on the watch. Overall a great alternative to a modern chunky and heavy bracelet.

Also because of the small link size it drapes really well around my 5.9 inch wrist and sits really snug like how I like them to be. It even has more spare links that could have been removed to make it even smaller which is totally different to the 1171/633 I had which only fits a 6.5inch wrist at its smallest.

 

Does anyone know if the solid links from a 1998 bracelet are the same as the solid links from a 1499? I need to replace them on my bracelet but I am having a difficult time finding correct parts.

 

1498 and 1499 are listed as having the same endlinks. As noted above.

Not sure about 1998....

 

I'm actually talking about the solid links that meet up to the end links. The one that have 4 links grouped together that cannot be removed to size the bracelet.

 

I also have a 1498 bracelet in my 91-speedy. It looks awesome and the taper flows nicely on to the watch curves.

 

Wow! Perfect combo

 

1498/1499 bracelet links are 5 in a group at the end link bunch. 1998 bracelet links are 4 links in a group at the ends. Also, the 1498/1499 tapers to 16mm while the 1998 tapers to 18mm. So no, the bunched links are not the same between the 1498/1499 and 1998.
If you have any of the above mentioned bracelets sourcing parts directly from Omega is the best bet. The 1998 bracelet was current until a few years ago, so getting parts should be pretty easy. The 1498/1499 is a little tougher but Omega still has some NOS replacement parts available if you're willing to wait for them to arrive from their home base. I've gotten removable links for my 1498/1499 bracelets a few times, and they even offered to replace the clasp with a NOS one if so desired. I can't imagine the grouped links aren't also available.

 

Well, it seems Omega no longer has these parts in stock. I took it to my local OB and they sent it to the service center to try to free up the pin that seized inside the solid links. The service center could not remove the pin and said there are no replacement parts left. So, I'm trying to find a secondhand option to get my bracelet in working order once more.

 

The 1498/1499 has fixed links in a "strand" that are right next to the end link at the case - these are 1998 links - part number for this strand of links is 119ST1998 (no longer available). The removable links between the strand and clasp are 1499 links, so the part number for those is 114ST1499 (still available).

The 1998 bracelet uses the same discontinued fixed strands out at the end links, and uses 1998 links for the removable links (114ST1998 and still available), but uses the 1499 half link (115ST1499 - no longer available).

Hope this clarifies what is used where, and what is still available.

Cheers, Al

 

Thank you Archer! This is all very useful information.

 

Al, please clarify that Omega had the same part number for the "strand" links even though they had different tapers (18mm for 1998, 16mm for 1499/1498) and link pieces (4 for 1998, 5/4 for 1499/1498). I know Omega has repeated serial numbers for straps every once in a while, but did they also do so with bracelets?

Also, I misspoke before as the 1498/1499 bracelets had "strands" of both 4 and 5 links attached, sometimes on the same bracelet (as can be seen here from an earlier FS post):
https://omegaforums.net/threads/omega-1499-842-speedmaster-tapered-bracelet-mint.27039/

 

Sorry but that doesn't seem to clarify anything.

The 1498/1499 bracelet has strands of 4 or 5, and they taper down to 16mm to sit flush with the 114ST1499 removable end links. The 1998 bracelet has strands of 4 ONLY, and they taper down to 18mm to sit flush with the 114ST1998 removable end links. You then mention that both the 1498/1499 and 1998 bracelets use the part number 119ST1998 - how is this possible when the physical properties of the bracelets are so different, UNLESS the 119ST1998 came in three different variations? Or was the part number for the 1498/1499 bracelets something like 119ST1498 or 119ST1499?

See here for the technical doc on the 1998 - it clearly shows the strand as being 4 links long, but without the part number:
http://www.primrosesupplies.com/Swiss Tech Guides/Omega tech Guides/Bracelet tech/1998998.pdf

Also, you posted

But that can't be possible as the 115ST1499 is 16mm wide. The only half link that's been verified to work with the 1998 is the one for the 1610/930 SMP300 bracelet, part number 115ST1610.