Needing help with something old and stiff

I have to say that I wouldn’t compromise the safety of a vintage Omega by using an unreliable strap.

The last time a strap (or at least the spring bar) broke, the original crystal smashed and the hands were damaged but I always thought it could have been worse.

It’s comparatively inexpensive to replace your strap AND spring bars.

Still, your watch and your risk 🤞

Yeah, there's a good chance that will happen to the strap if you wear the watch a lot. These were meant to be wear-out items and changed periodically when new. This must be at least 50 years past its sell-by date.

You wouldn't drive a 50+ year old car on the original tires, would you?

I would recommend finding a new strap that looks like the vintage one for daily wear and save the original in the box that the new strap came in. If you choose to sell it in the future, you can include the old strap with the same warnings we are giving you.

The buckle will fit a modern strap, you just need to find one the right size for both the watch and buckle. Just like buying shoes.
gatorcpa

Don’t use water or oil. Use leather conditioner liberally on it, then set aside for it to soak in before wiping off. I’ve restored old boots this way. I doubt it will work well if the leather is completely dried, but it might. Still, as others have said, I wouldn’t trust a watch on the strap, even if it does soften up.

I soak dry old straps in warm water with a little green soap for 10 minutes then once removed from the bath pat them off with some kitchen paper.

Massage them in with some extremely liberally applied saddle leather cream leaving a reasonably thick layer all over.

Let that dry gently between a couple of sheets of kitchen paper for two or three days ( not on a radiator and also not in direct sun light )

Once dry then rub well in any cream residue that remains and clean the holes with tooth picks.

The strap should have regained some lustre and be much more supple.