First Omega In Space / FOIS on bracelet

Butik

And some photos

zoohannover

Hello everybody,

I really love my First Omega In Space / FOIS but I always wanted to wear it on a bracelet.
So I did some research and searched for 19 mm bracelets that could fit the watch.

Here is the interim result of my research.

Edit 04.01.2020: I have added a part with the modern bracelet 1587 / 986. See below.
Edit 19.03.2020: I have added a part with the vintage bracelet 1125 / 560. See below.
Edit 02.06.2020: I have added a part with the modern bracelet 1565 / 976. See below.



FOIS on 1125 / 617 bracelet

This is the one vintage looking bracelet for the FOIS that you can still get at the OB.

The only tricky part was to find out that the spring bars (19 mm, 1,8 mm diameter) come in two different lengths. One short version reference 2206 for bracelets and one slightly longer reference 2207 for straps. The latter ones are coming with the FOIS and making it almost impossible to fit a bracelet to the watch. Take the short version and it will work.

Bracelet reference 1125 (new from OB)
Endlinks reference 617 (new from OB)
Spring bars reference 2206 (Width 19 mm, 1,8 mm diameter, short version for bracelets)



FOIS on bracelet 1098 / 540

I really love my Speedy Pro on the 1116 bracelet, so it was nice to see that the small brother 1098 fits the FOIS. And the endlinks 540 are still available at the OB!

Bracelet reference 1098 (from second hand market)
Endlinks reference 540 (new from OB)
Spring bars reference 2206 (Width 19 mm, 1,8 mm diameter, short version for bracelets)



FOIS on bracelet 1068 / 556

To give the FOIS a kind of 60ies look I went for a beads of rice bracelet reference 1068. Again, the end links are still available at the OB! (Yes, the fit is not quite as good as the other bracelets, but …)

Bracelet reference 1068 (used)
Endlinks reference 556 (new from OB)
Spring bars reference 2206 (Width 19 mm, 1,8 mm diameter, short version for bracelets)



FOIS on bracelet 1069 / 524

Here ist the 1069 bracelet with the grooved center links. The fit is quite nice.

Bracelet reference 1069 (used)
Endlinks reference 524 (used)
Spring bars reference 2206 (Width 19 mm, 1,8 mm diameter, short version for bracelets)


Edit 04.01.2020
FOIS on bracelet 1587 / 986

After seeing several photos of the FOIS with this bracelet, I was curious to try it out. Modern flatlink bracelet on FOIS.

In general the fit is quite good, but the small tabs of the solid endlinks are somewhat hanging in the air. Therefore the endlinks are rotating a bit around the spring bar and open a gab between watch case and endlink. See detail pictures below. Surely this can be solved somehow.

Bracelet reference 1587 (new)
Endlinks reference 986 (new)
Spring bars reference 2206 (Width 19 mm, 1,8 mm diameter, short version for bracelets)

Small tabs hanging in the air.

Nice fit with endlinks touching watch case.

Not so nice fit with endlinks rotating and opening gap.

Edit 19.03.2020
FOIS on vintage 1125 / 560 bracelet

I recently had the opportunity to purchase this vintage 1125 bracelet with 560 end links at a good price. So I tried it and it fits the FOIS very well.

The vintage version of the 1125 bracelet is different from the modern version with more taper and a small clasp cover with embossed logo and grooves. I really like the taper from 19 mm to 15.5 and the old version of the clasp.

Edit 02.06.2020
FOIS on modern 1565 / 976 bracelet

I had the opportunity to borrow this bracelet to mount it on my FOIS and take some pictures to kind of round off my post.

The fit of the solid end pieces is very good, especially when you consider that the bracelet was intended for another watch with a different case shape. It is very solid and, together with the two security pushers, offers a robust bracelet for everyday use.

I assume that the bracelet 1564/975 fits similarly well, because it only differs in the links with pins instead of the screwed links of the 1565/976.

Note for small wrists: The end pieces shift the axis of rotation of the bracelet outwards, causing it to bend significantly downwards for small wrists. I prefer bracelets where the spring bar is also the axis of rotation for the bracelet.

Bracelet reference 1565 (new from OB)
Endlinks reference 976 (new from OB)
Spring bars reference 2206 (Width 19 mm, 1,8 mm diameter, short version for bracelets)

Bracelets on FOIS in this initial post:
1125 / 617 modern version
1098 / 540
1068 / 556 (not so nice fit)
1069 / 524
1587 / 986 (with issues)
1125 / 560 vintage version
1565 / 976

...to be continued

Plus lots of other alternatives.
Thanks to fellow members for posting!
Mesh (Milanaise), 1035 / 6, 1068 / 555, beads of rice, 1093 / (538), Speidel 230186WL, 1351.339, …

dtle

I think that is a big question a lot of fois owners are waiting to see. As far as I know, no one has attempted to mount an ed white bracelet on a fois.

But I believe I read that the ed white endlinks have protrusions that would prevent a simple mount onto a fois.

Anyone with more knowledge will confirm.

Mspeedster

I purchased the Ed White 321 bracelet for my FOIS. The 321 end links will not work, spring bar pin hole does not line up and the back lip will not fit right either.

But the Omega 321 bracelet will fit perfectly using either Forstner (top pic) or Uncle Seiko (2nd pic) end links.

dtle

It's nice to have confirmation that the omega endlinks won't work but the forstner/US will. Thanks for the photos.
Csn you comment on which is the better fit with the fois case?

To me it looks like the US is the winner in terms of better fit/integration with the fois case.

richter

I know the 60th anniversary bracelet doesn't work with the factory endlink, but has anyone tried the 60th with a Forstner or Uncle Seiko endlink?

Mspeedster

I purchased the Ed White 321 bracelet for my FOIS. The 321 end links will not work, spring bar pin hole does not line up and the back lip will not fit right either.

J jasonnolanreed

@Mspeedster Ah, shoot. I once bought a 321 bracelet for my FOIS, super excited about the combination and was severely disappointed when I found it wouldn't fit. I sent it back and have since tried just about every aftermarket option. I've been content for the past couple months with the newest Forstner Contemporary Flat Link with milled clasp. But this new info about the 321 bracelet fitting the Forstner end links has me wanting to spend way too much on that factory bracelet again. How are you enjoying the package? Any weirdness about the fitment or annoying gotchas you've uncovered?

Mspeedster

No complaints about the Omega 321 bracelet. It's very comfortable, sturdy and looks great. Well worth the price to me. I normally prefer leather straps, but the bracelet is so good I've not taken it off.

However since I first posted about this, Uncle Seiko has come out with solid end links, which I recently purchased to try them out. I like the look better than the US hollow end links. But compared to the Forstner solid end links there are pros and cons. Pro: the US sits more flushed with the lugs of the FOIS, giving it a nice look. Con: the fit of the 321 male link into the female US end link is super tight!

321 bracelet with Uncle Seiko solid end link

321 bracelet with Forstner solid end link

C chipotlefire

That looks great. Looks like no gap between the end link and the bracelet.

The 321 bracelet is $800?

Mspeedster

No complaints about the Omega 321 bracelet. It's very comfortable, sturdy and looks great. Well worth the price to me. I normally prefer leather straps, but the bracelet is so good I've not taken it off.

Mspeedster

However since I first posted about this, Uncle Seiko has come out with solid end links, which I recently purchased to try them out. I like the look better than the US hollow end links. But compared to the Forstner solid end links there are pros and cons. Pro: the US sits more flushed with the lugs of the FOIS, giving it a nice look. Con: the fit of the 321 male link into the female US end link is super tight!

S SlCKB0Y

I’ve got the FOIS on the Uncle Seiko flatlink with solid end links and my local OB can get me the 321 bracelet in about a week so I’m seriously considering purchasing this.

When you say the fit is super tight, do you mean the width of the Omega bracelet midlink is causing the tightness? Or is the fit tight somewhere else. If it’s just the width of the bracelet mid link, I’m sure this could be corrected by filing the inside edge of the end link a small amount.

Given that it is “super tight”, what issues does this cause in practice? Does this mean the bracelet doesn’t rotate freely on the spring bar due to friction with the inner edge of the US endlink?

Final question With this setup (US solid end link, 321 bracelet) are you using the OEM springbars which came with the bracelet or do you have to use thinner ones?

Thanks for your help!

Blackdog

Hi there.
Mspeedster will likely chime in soon, but as he helped me going through this exact situation I'll comment on my own experience.

If you use the Forstner endlinks, they work without modification, but using 1.5 or 1.6mm springbars (the Omega 2206 are 1.8mm and the usual aftermarket ones are 1.78mm).

They look good, but in my opinion the US SELs look significantly better, following the shape of the links more closely.

You're right: the tightness is due to the width of the midlink of the 321 bracelet. In my case it would simply not rotate. I had to file the inside of the sides of the opening of the US SELs a couple tenths of mm. And then, using 1.5/1.6mm sprinbars, the bracelet will install and work just fine.

With some more clever filing/sanding I managed to use aftermarket 1.78mm springbars with the US SELs. But have not managed to use the OEM ones. With thicker springbars there's less free play and the mid link tends to rub against the top of the endlink as it rotates.

Here's a picture of my CK2998 on the 321 bracelet and US SELs.

S SlCKB0Y

My only obstacle now is deciding if I am willing to spend that amount on a bracelet considering I already have the Uncle Seiko flatlink with Omega clasp and I’m pretty happy. Part of me really like the “authenticity” of the thinner more flexible bracelet with vintage style friction clasp - it is certainly extremely comfortable.

S SlCKB0Y

My only other concern is getting a good fit, given the 321 bracelet only has one adjustment hole on the clasp and I believe no half links?