Mark 2 Speedmaster: Bracelet or Strap?

Posts

9,500

Likes

14,984

padders

·Nov 22, 2019·Oooo subtitles!

I picked up a vintage Speedmaster Mark 2 recently. I wasn't in the hunt for one as I had always assumed they were a bit boat-anchory what with the thick case but chanced upon this one with bracelet, box & papers so bought it from the original owner. It's on 30.99m which is late 70/early 71 manufacture, papers dated Jan 1972. It's clearly seen a fair bit of wear but has the bonus of having a seemingly untouched case and I couldn't resist it. Now I have tried it on the croc with Omega deployant below and it has surprised me with how comfortable and wearable it actually is. I had thought it would be a safe queen which would get little wrist time but now I am reappraising it in the positive direction.

Can other Mk2 owners post their favourite strap suggestions with pics, or if you are bracelet junky feel free to post those too. Am looking for ideas

 

P

Posts

188

Likes

729

percymon

·Nov 22, 2019

Well I wouldn’t have thought about a brown croc strap but that’s looks great, perhaps helped by the thickness of it.

Only acquired my MkII this week, and it’s on a 1162/1/173 bracelet with 32 in a circle; possibly not it’s original bracelet given the 3283xxxx serial number?

I’m waiting on a BOB Marino canvas strap from Waccex, will post some pics when it lands. Great value even if some might think their straps are too cheap for a luxury watch lol!

Thought about a shark skin leather strap but wasn’t sure about the grain ; horween works well with any speedy IMO

be interesting to see what gets posted , I’m always looking for inspiration as picking straps is one thing I’m useless with .

 

Posts

1,413

Likes

2,944

Nathan1967

·Nov 22, 2019

Original bracelets or a nice Heuerville for me. TBH any of the Racing type straps look great.

 

Posts

1,686

Likes

5,118

Tet

·Nov 22, 2019

I've tried quite a few straps on mine, but none work as well as the original bracelet IMO, they're just a perfect for each other.

With straps I prefer to use a 22mm and notch the sides, otherwise I don't like the step from edge of case to strap. Fiddly to get it just right though. Here's only example I have on my computer at the moment(my MkII is over with Simon Freese having the chrono hand repainted from that unpleasant gloss and hands relumed to match the markers). This is a Condor suede type finish which I think looks quite nice, especially as the dial on mine is quite chocolate in real life.

 

S

Posts

84

Likes

117

Stuie

·Nov 22, 2019

Heuerville Mustang Oiled leather strap
https://heuerville.wordpress.com/heuerville-straps/mustang-oiled/

 

Posts

109

Likes

80

johnnylarue

·Nov 22, 2019

Great looking watch!

I also feel like it looks its best on an OG bracelet. The case design really calls for it. But I’ve seen them look good on rally straps (as above) and even occasionally on NATO straps... though the extra couple of mm’s make it sit pretty tall.

 

Posts

2,014

Likes

9,613

Toishome

·Nov 22, 2019

I tried it on lots of straps but IMHO nothing really works other than the bracelet.

 

Posts

9,500

Likes

14,984

padders

·Nov 22, 2019·Oooo subtitles!

Interesting! I might give the bracelet a go at the weekend but I am really impressed with how well it feels on the leather so far. I thought it would be very unbalanced but on the wrist it feels just like a Pro case model. I also like the tip about notching a 22mm strap, that does look good. I dont think a NATO is a good idea. It is already tall, the extra height a NATO would give would make it a doorjamb and handles magnet!

Some good shots here, keep it up!

 

Posts

1,686

Likes

5,118

Tet

·Nov 23, 2019

S Stuie

Heuerville Mustang Oiled leather strap
https://heuerville.wordpress.com/heuerville-straps/mustang-oiled/

Are those service dial and hands? Maybe I'm in the minority and I know alot of people really don't like service sets, but I really like the service racing dial/ hands and have often considered having my non-racing done. Beauty is you can always revert back at a later date and those service parts would be easy to sell.

 

Posts

8,119

Likes

19,001

alam

·Nov 23, 2019

I enjoy wearing mine on croc..

😀

 

Posts

1,292

Likes

5,984

ewand

·Nov 23, 2019

I bought a Toshi strap (https://toshi-straps.co.uk/about-me/) made with charcoal leather and orange stitching. I think it matches the racing dial very well 😀

 

Posts

9,500

Likes

14,984

padders

·Nov 23, 2019·Oooo subtitles!

Nice @ewand don't suppose you are heading for the Bike Museum watch fair tomorrow?

 

Posts

1,686

Likes

5,118

Tet

·Nov 23, 2019

ewand

I bought a Toshi strap (https://toshi-straps.co.uk/about-me/) made with charcoal leather and orange stitching. I think it matches the racing dial very well 😀

Is that service dial and hands? I've been very tempted of late.

 

Posts

1,292

Likes

5,984

ewand

·Nov 23, 2019

Nope, not tomorrow @padders. I will be at Brunel on 1st Dec though...

https://omegaforums.net/threads/brunel-watch-fair-1-dec-bargain-hunt-game.104970/

 

Posts

1,292

Likes

5,984

ewand

·Nov 23, 2019

Tet

Is that service dial and hands? I've been very tempted of late.

Yes, it is. I didn't quite realise the implications when I bought the watch, but it had a service dial and hands shortly before I bought it. It's obviously not as valuable as a real original, but I quite like it.
I had the case re-lapped at STS (about £250) and tend to wear it on bracelet...

Edited: Nov 23, 2019

 

Posts

9,500

Likes

14,984

padders

·Nov 23, 2019·Oooo subtitles!

Just beautiful. Gold watches and those with the sunburst are the 2 exceptions in my mind to the 'never polish' rule. I am not going to mess with my Mk2 but that pic makes me sorely tempted. Note my Avatar is a F300 with a similar case which I had fully lapped at STS with amazing results so I can see the appeal on this kind of case...

 

Posts

1,292

Likes

5,984

ewand

·Nov 23, 2019

Normally I'm also in the "Never Polish" camp, but the Mk II case has so much meat on it that a re-lap feels OK since it's taking such a small amount off the surface...

 

Posts

2,622

Likes

14,601

The Father

·Nov 23, 2019

I say the iron over the leather

 

Posts

1,686

Likes

5,118

Tet

·Nov 23, 2019

ewand

Yes, it is.

Thanks, I've been very tempted of late. As I mentioned in another thread I actually really like the racing service dial /hands and you can anyways switch back anytime. The beauty is if you wanted to revert back those service parts would be easy to sell.

For me that's the perfect compromise of the rendition but without the added bulk and unwanted date window, looks great and fresh as a lettuce.

 

Posts

1,818

Likes

7,206

CdnWatchDoc

·Nov 23, 2019

I am in the bracelet camp, but the great shots here give me ideas...