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New Seamaster from AD with mismatched spring bars! - what would you do?

O
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Hi All!

New to the forum, but long time follower and omega enthusiast.

I went to my local Omega AD in central New Jersey today and bought a brand new Seamaster Diver 300m. I chose the steel bracelet, and also asked for the black rubber, and a black nato.

They asked which I wanted to wear and I said the rubber, so it was brought to the back and returned with the rubber. I'm not new to watches, and before purchasing I gave it a close look, and I identified a slight tolerance "wiggle" on the 6 o'clock side of the rubber. I felt slightly silly, but I brought it to her attention. She brought it to the back, and then came out and said it's normal variation. I decided not to obsess.

I brought it home, and tugged at it a bit more, noticing the imbalance. Then, I took the rubber strap off. To my surprise, there were 2 different spring bars (pictured). Well, that explains the "normal variation" wiggle! Did I just risk lug hole damage?

After doing some searching, I also learned that the steel bracelet and the rubber strap should come with different spring bars. All I got was a single mismatched set loaded into the rubber strap. Should I have gotten 2 sets?

And finally, I went to look at the nato strap, new in its bag: marked 20mm. The strap seemed large; I turned it over: 21mm!

My question: What would you do in this scenario?

IMG_5143.webp
 
O
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Also, which bars even belong to which strap? I'm going to go ahead and say the AD will have no clue...
 
Omarrye
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“Did I just risk lug hole damage?“

No

“What would you do in this scenario?”

Go back to the AD and sort it out
 
Evitzee
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Springbars for bracelets are a little shorter than those for rubber or leather straps.
 
Davidt
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This isn’t rocket science. Just go back and to the AD
 
O
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I get that I am going back to the AD, but would you just accept new spring bars -- likely neither of which will be oem or correctly sized -- and be on your merry way with your brand new watch?
 
Davidt
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Aren’t you over complicating this?

Go back to the AD and tell them you have mismatched spring bars and you’re led to believe the strap and bracelet should have different ones, so you expect two pairs.

Also the nato is the wrong size.
 
YY77
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O omegamannj
After doing some searching, I also learned that the steel bracelet and the rubber strap should come with different spring bars.
Where did you read that, I'm pretty sure it should be the same. If the lugs are 20mm the bracelet has the 068ST2207 (22,428mm) and because of the endlinks on the rubber it uses the same ones, nato or leather should use the 068ST2208 (23,317mm).
 
O
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YY77 YY77
Where did you read that, I'm pretty sure it should be the same. If the lugs are 20mm the bracelet has the 068ST2207 (22,428mm) and because of the endlinks on the rubber it uses the same ones, nato or leather should use the 068ST2208 (23,317mm).
Just from posts. I'm getting some conflicting info, because now I saw this post:

"
not really,
as it can be used, but officially:

Spring bar - 068ST2208 (20mm, 1.8mm) - these would be used on straps with 20mm lugs
Spring bar - 068ST2207 (19mm, 1.8mm) - these would be used on bracelets with 20mm lugs or straps with 19mm lugs

"

My question is still how I was sent away with two different spring bars on a new piece, and how it's now my job to figure this out rather than the AD.....
 
Davidt
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It’s perhaps just a genuine mistake by the AD. Just take it back and explain you’ve been told it may be two different spring bars and ask them to double check on the system.

You’ve shared no pictures if you’re watch or the straps so we’re kind of guessing. Some straps have longer springbar a than bracelets but as mentioned above, if your strap has metal Endlinks it perhaps won’t.
 
O
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Davidt Davidt
It’s perhaps just a genuine mistake by the AD. Just take it back and explain you’ve been told it may be two different spring bars and ask them to double check on the system.

You’ve shared no pictures if you’re watch or the straps so we’re kind of guessing. Some straps have longer springbar a than bracelets but as mentioned above, if your strap has metal Endlinks it perhaps won’t.
It's just the stock current seamaster diver 300m, ceramic, black dial, black bezel. With bracelet and with the standard rubber w/ the tang buckle.
 
YY77
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O omegamannj
Just from posts. I'm getting some conflicting info, because now I saw this post:

"
not really,
as it can be used, but officially:

Spring bar - 068ST2208 (20mm, 1.8mm) - these would be used on straps with 20mm lugs
Spring bar - 068ST2207 (19mm, 1.8mm) - these would be used on bracelets with 20mm lugs or straps with 19mm lugs

"

My question is still how I was sent away with two different spring bars on a new piece, and how it's now my job to figure this out rather than the AD.....
The rubber is not same as a normal strap because of the integrated end links, just go back to the AD and have them correct it.
 
C
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Remember to tell your AD that the whole Omega forum community is following this case and expects a resolute corrective action.
 
502 to right
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O omegamannj
My question: What would you do in this scenario?
1) Buy the proper springbar removal tools.

2) Remove all the springbars and then pair them up correctly.

3) Put on the strap or bracelet of my choice with the correctly paired springbars and enjoy my new watch.

If for some reason you think you don't have the springbars matched correctly, go back to the AD and have them sort them out.
 
O
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502 to right 502 to right
1) Buy the proper springbar removal tools.

2) Remove all the springbars and then pair them up correctly.

3) Put on the strap or bracelet of my choice with the correctly paired springbars and enjoy my new watch.

If for some reason you think you don't have the springbars matched correctly, go back to the AD and have them sort them out.
Have the tools. I can't pair them up when all I have is a mismatched pair!
 
O
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C clockoclock
Remember to tell your AD that the whole Omega forum community is following this case and expects a resolute corrective action.

C clockoclock
Remember to tell your AD that the whole Omega forum community is following this case and expects a resolute corrective action.
Im sure it was just an honest mistake. They are a good place and everything. It just felt weird to have it leave the store with a random spring bar in it, especially after having noticed the wiggle too. Mainly hoping they know which bars are for what, which is why I was asking what to do-- Just want the watch safe with its proper spring bars
 
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