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Endlink authentication - numbers 6, 506, and 516

michael e
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" I’ll leave it up to @michael e to risk a testicle over it !"

Thanks! 😲

It would be interesting (for me anyway) to see close up images of the ridge itself from the top of the endpiece, if early ones had pressed ridges/lines did the later ones have cut lines and is it obvious on close inspection or not?

Thanks, Michael
 
w154
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Not sure if these help, but here are a few more close ups of the grooves on the front. Also I compared by loupe against a section of NOS fixed links and I would say the finishing (i.e. polishing and brushing) are a very good match between the two.

6FE31366-5B91-4522-BC23-D9378470556C.jpeg 45E211F7-DA99-4B2C-A5D7-60D2867F96E7.jpeg E5C11ACD-8EA5-4923-9910-F8A1981034CF.jpeg 27D5E906-992D-4269-89F4-5B619760C65C.jpeg
 
Civic4982
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6es ln those reproductions posted above look totally different from the ones offered by OP.

Really engaging discussion here. I’m gonna have to go find out more about these. Appreciate all the super knowledgeable folks chiming in
 
w154
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Maybe it’s worthwhile digging around for old posts on here. So I’ll try and find old images of 6 endlinks that at least have matching fonts and known history. Here’s a first one.

45254E14-A112-4433-B2A3-C50BA399D690.jpeg


https://omegaforums.net/threads/omega-6-end-links-genuine.23791/#post-261197

ock2915 ock2915
Be sure mine absolute correct , my uncle bought this watch new in 1963 and has been untouched since then , maybe there are different versions of them.....

@ock2915 can I ask if you ever saw these off the watch, and if so do you know if they’re ridged or not ?
 
w154
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And the famous Bukowskis 2915-1 that went for north of 200k. Now this appears to be a single slot version so certainly not comparable with the double-slot/ridgeless type under discussion, but the stamp used for the six is very familiar.

901C84E7-3777-4862-8C6F-D09AB1DA9EA2.jpeg


https://www.bukowskis.com/en/auctions/603/45-omega-speedmaster-chronograph-wristwatch-39-mm

According to the listing...

PROVENANCE
Was handed in to Bukowskis after the owner’s son found the watch in a box in the attic.
Edited:
 
michael e
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Any number 6s out there without the knobble?
Can we all have a good look to see if we can see our knobbles?
Edited:
 
938F17E8-2403-436E-A03C-B488EEA6CA79.jpeg
Davidt
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michael e michael e
Any number 6s out there without the knobble?
Can we all have a good look to see if we can see our knobbles?

You're not going to bet that as well are you?
Edited:
 
Davidt
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Great discussion. Refreshing change from some of the daily dross we've seen lately.
I'm far from an expert on 6 endlinks but my gut feeling based on provenance, finish and the font of the 6 is that they're a legitimate variation.
 
w154
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Davidt Davidt
Great discussion. Refreshing change from some of the daily dross we've seen lately.
I'm far from an expert on 6 endlinks but my gut feeling based on provenance, finish and the font of the 6 is that they're a legitimate variation.
That matches my gut feeling, but it would be nice to have some more supporting cases. Can I ask @td69 if you remember where you found your ridgeless 6 endlink(s). Where they just loose parts or did they come from a watch with a known provenance ?

And a second question for anyone with no.6 endlinks on a speedmaster... is it possible to work out whether they’re ridged or ridgeless without removing the bracelet from the watch ? I mean, can you see through to the internal surfaces by looking either through the slots or the open end of the link ? Might need a bright light and/or a loupe. If it can be ascertained without removing then maybe others can check their watches for other ridgeless examples.
 
SouthernScot
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w154 w154
That matches my gut feeling, but it would be nice to have some more supporting cases. Can I ask @td69 if you remember where you found your ridgeless 6 endlink(s). Where they just loose parts or did they come from a watch with a known provenance ?

And a second question for anyone with no.6 endlinks on a speedmaster... is it possible to work out whether they’re ridged or ridgeless without removing the bracelet from the watch ? I mean, can you see through to the internal surfaces by looking either through the slots or the open end of the link ? Might need a bright light and/or a loupe. If it can be ascertained without removing then maybe others can check their watches for other ridgeless examples.

It is possible to check, I’ve just done it on mine with a loupe and penlight. Doesn’t help you I’m afraid as mine has ridges. I know the No 6 ends are genuine since I have had my Speedmaster from new in 1967.
 
w154
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SouthernScot SouthernScot
It is possible to check, I’ve just done it on mine with a loupe and penlight. Doesn’t help you I’m afraid as mine has ridges. I know the No 6 ends are genuine since I have had my Speedmaster from new in 1967.

That’s great to know 👍

If anyone else has the possibility to check on a watch that has no.6 endlinks with known provenance then it would be great to see what’s out there. The completely accepted variations seem to be “knobbed6/ridged/single-slot” and “knobbed6/ridged/double-slot”, with “knobbed6/ridgeless/double-slot” having some strong circumstantial evidence as already discussed.

So if anyone feels inclined to check, it would be nice to know which type you have. @SouthernScot are your no.6 endlinks single or double slotted ?
 
SouthernScot
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w154 w154
That’s great to know 👍

If anyone else has the possibility to check on a watch that has no.6 endlinks with known provenance then it would be great to see what’s out there. The completely accepted variations seem to be “knobbed6/ridged/single-slot” and “knobbed6/ridged/double-slot”, with “knobbed6/ridgeless/double-slot” having some strong circumstantial evidence as already discussed.

So if anyone feels inclined to check, it would be nice to know which type you have. @SouthernScot are your no.6 endlinks single or double slotted ?
Just picked up your question, sorry I didn’t reply sooner. The end links on my Speedmaster are double slotted and the bracelet is an early production 1035.
 
td69
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w154 w154
That matches my gut feeling, but it would be nice to have some more supporting cases. Can I ask @td69 if you remember where you found your ridgeless 6 endlink(s). Where they just loose parts or did they come from a watch with a known provenance ?

@w154 I remember passing on a number of ridgeless #6s on eBay until I had a chance to see a pair of ridgeless one from an old watch maker who has kept them in his part bin since the late 60's to 70's. He didn't realize the market value of the links but insisted they were an original Omega link and wanted to keep them for his project. The one I posted, I bought from a watch maker as a loose part, so I'm sorry no known provenance. However, one theory is that the #506 link is also ridgeless so I guess there might be a transitional period when ridgeless links were made and stamped either #6 or #506, but that's just my theory.
 
mozambique
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w154 w154
That matches my gut feeling, but it would be nice to have some more supporting cases. Can I ask @td69 if you remember where you found your ridgeless 6 endlink(s). Where they just loose parts or did they come from a watch with a known provenance ?

And a second question for anyone with no.6 endlinks on a speedmaster... is it possible to work out whether they’re ridged or ridgeless without removing the bracelet from the watch ? I mean, can you see through to the internal surfaces by looking either through the slots or the open end of the link ? Might need a bright light and/or a loupe. If it can be ascertained without removing then maybe others can check their watches for other ridgeless examples.

These ridge-less #6 came on a SM300 165.014 (along with 1035 bracelet). Not sure of provenance, but the watch was unmolested. The font looks the same as the original-type discussed above. Nothing like the crisp, more contemporary font seen on suspected fakes.

WT6J2381.JPG WT6J2382.JPG WT6J2383.JPG WT6J2384.JPG
 
MCC
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I can’t swear these as original but they came with my 2998-6 that is on 7912. I could not remove the springbars when I got the watch and sent it away to Simon Freese who sent it back with the original notched springbars that he had removed in a little bag so the end links had clearly been on the watch for some time.

They show the same type 6 and double ridges.

6FA3F5C4-6E90-48DF-84A0-0373C919F861.jpeg
 
Castle4444
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These came on my -63. Prefer leather over these bracelets if I’m being perfectly honest. So might be up for grabs soon 😉
4BD68D44-FC27-43C3-9DB9-377247E37CCD.jpeg 22942E03-54C5-42F6-B614-97F697C0BAC0.jpeg
 
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