After owning my Reduced for a year I went on a hunt for a Speedmaster Pro and with much searching, bartering, losing out and INVALUABLE help from my vintage watch chum abrod520 I have my very own Omega Speedmaster Professional 145.022-71.... As totally bowled over as I am with it and the amazing (apparently original) dial lume, plus the quality and substance of this beauty overall, the bracelet is too big and there are no nice pointy arrows to show me which way to push the pins out on my 1479-are there any tips/pointers for which way they come out? I've heard I should make sure the 'split end' comes out first but I'm finding that hard to see even under my 5x loupe....... Many thanks in advance! Steve
If you don't have the tool, any jeweler that sells watches or watch shop will do it for a few dollars. I would not use an awl or other tool that looks like it would work.
If you have the 1171 with the trapezoidal logo on the clasp there are tiny screws in the links that need a 0.8mm screwdriver to remove. If you have the 1175 bracelet then they are held by a tiny springbar in the center of the link. You will need a pin pusher with an extra long tip to push one side and then the other. If you have a newer 1171/1 bracelet wth the square logo on the clasp then it is the friction type pin you mentioned with no arrows. Look for the end that appears to have a bent end and push in from the other side to push the pin out. Again, the extra long pin pusher helps with this type.
Thanks for the tips both! It's a 1479 bracelet with a 32 in a circle and triangle with Omega symbol within on the INSIDE and square symbol on the outside. It APPEARS to be similar to the 1171/1 style you mentioned above sky21-I do have a watchmaker kit with some pin pushers so hopefully one will be long enough. Will give it a go after I've looked closely again! Thanks
OK-turns out it was one of those pin and collar set ups-the same as on my contemporary Seamaster. I still need to remove one/some more but with a quick clasp adjustment-she'll do for now! Thanks again! Steve
Although I've now got the correct fit, I'm thinking there is no way a 1479 bracelet is original for my '71-here it is in all it's glory.... Could anyone clarify what would be an authentic choice to replace it with? Thanks again, Steve
Nice watch! The bezel is in great shape as is the hand and plot lume. Can't help you with the band - I swapped over to leather..
Thanks ibis! The H/M hands were recently relumed to match the sweep lume, which is thought to be original. After much debate we've also decided the stunning lume plots are ORIGINAL too, which was a big nice surprise! May be a sock drawer example! I'm likely to get a leather too, but would also like to have an original style bracelet. Steve
Oddboy-that is a fantastic spreadsheet-thanks so much! (to you and/or whoever designed it) So it seems we're looking at a more 'typical' 1171 or can even scrape into the 1039 category, which is always appealing. I'll have to look up the 1116 too as I'm less familiar with it. Thanks again, really appreciate it. Steve