(No) Bracelet for WatchCo Seamaster 300

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SkunkPrince

·Oct 1, 2020

I've about given up. Uncle Seiko's flat link won't fit. Forstner's flat link won't fit. You have to mangle an Omega 633 to sort of fit.

I have other straps... I have an Omega that's like an ISOFrane. I have a Tropical. But I like a bracelet The older shark mesh from Omega was just OK, so I sold it. The new one costs a crapload of money. The bracelet for the 50th Speedmaster moon landing is supposed to fit but also a crapload of money.

Any other ideas that would be appropriate for the time period this watch imitates? Should I just be happy with what I have? I'll be looking at generic shark mesh similar to the current Omega with the end tube and replaceable links.

Maybe I'm just overthinking this....

 

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Caliber561

·Oct 1, 2020

I thought someone posted pictures of it with a Forstner? Someone on this forum also stated that Omega's Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Speedmaster bracelet would fit as well.

 

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Schmedsc

·Oct 1, 2020

I just put an Uncle Seiko BOR on mine. It’s a little different, but fits well.

 

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SkunkPrince

·Oct 1, 2020

Turns out I had a 20mm mesh in the pile of a thousand straps so I'll give that a try for a while. Good enough for Bond....

 

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watchcollect

·Oct 1, 2020

Both US 1171 and the Holzer have worked on mine, only a little bit of adjustment needed with the endlinks.

 

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SkunkPrince

·Oct 1, 2020

watchcollect

Both US 1171 and the Holzer have worked on mine, only a little bit of adjustment needed with the endlinks.

That's the weid part... totally not right for mine. I wonder if WatchCo cases were actually rejected and sold as surplus because they were off somehow.

Not that I expect I could buy another, I'll bet they're prettty expensive with no guarantee of success.

 

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Pazzo

·Oct 1, 2020

I would have a look at STAIB mesh bracelets.

For example, something like this - https://www.watchgecko.com/staib-2785-premium-german-mesh-watch-strap

Edited: Oct 1, 2020

 

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watchcollect

·Oct 2, 2020

Adjusting was certainly needed on both endlinks.

When you say WatchCo, are you meaning directly from them in Australia? If so, that’s where I got mine from years ago as well. Pretty sure that the cases are the similar regardless if you got them for WatchCo or not. ***EDIT.. I am only speaking of genuine parts***

Edited: Oct 2, 2020

 

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eugeneandresson

·Oct 2, 2020

I can't help to think the cases are somehow different (i.e. positioning of the lugholes). If not a 'watchco' watchco, but rather a 'some guy built up a watch with parts that happen to look omega and be omega and calls it a watchco' watchco as a lot tend to do of late, how can one be certain its an actual omega case? Not trying to insult here, merely a valid concern.

 

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SkunkPrince

·Oct 2, 2020

Mine came from Australia, and if the case looked fake, my watchmaker would have told me, as it has been serviced once already.

 

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Archer

·Oct 2, 2020·Omega Qualified Watchmaker

eugeneandresson

I can't help to think the cases are somehow different (i.e. positioning of the lugholes). If not a 'watchco' watchco, but rather a 'some guy built up a watch with parts that happen to look omega and be omega and calls it a watchco' watchco as a lot tend to do of late, how can one be certain its an actual omega case? Not trying to insult here, merely a valid concern.

Cases from Omega do change over time...we all know this. I can't say that I've ever noticed anything different with lug holes, but certainly other aspects of these cases have changed.

BTW the "issue" you speak of with Omega-like cases, is why I only do this conversion with parts I've bought myself directly from Omega, and I will not use customer supplied parts, because I don't know where they came from...

 

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BradleyJ.

·Oct 4, 2020

SkunkPrince

the 50th Speedmaster moon landing is supposed to fit but also a crapload of money.

is it possible to just order the end links?

 

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speedytoronto

·Oct 4, 2020

BradleyJ.

is it possible to just order the end links?

Yes they are. I was quoted $96 Canadian each this past summer by @Archer. Not cheap.

 

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BradleyJ.

·Oct 4, 2020

150ish USD............ Sounds about right haha.

as I stated before they fit damn good on a watchco style 300 without mods. I probably wouldn't buy them and start grinding away to get it to fit a speedy.

 

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bikehomero

·Oct 4, 2020

Is there really a difference in shape of SM300 and lets say 145.022? I have both and not able to see differences.

Got the Forstner, used differnt spring bars and the endlinks are well fixed. Only thing I don't like so much is the high shapr of the Forstner Endlink. As shown in the other thread:

 

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bikehomero

·Oct 4, 2020

I can answer by myself. Yes there is a small difference, maybe in production tolerances. Mounted the Forstner today at my 145.022-74 and it fits little better. Tried to take similar photo:

 

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Bakertime

·Oct 4, 2020

I have an 1171 on mine and I enjoy it, but I can appreciate that is not perfect. On the upside it is Omega branded and gets the job done. Don’t give up you’ll find one that works for ya

 

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SkunkPrince

·Oct 4, 2021

What a difference a year makes. After wearing the Forstner with the production end links (not the preproduction ones I tested), it was a fairly good choice for my watch. However, I stumbled across an eBay say of a 50th bracelet, which is supposed to fit the Seamaster 300 quite well.

And it did.

Mind you, when you compare the pluses and minuses of both bracelets, including the cost. I think it's basically a wash. Either will get the job done. I just wanted OEM because I wanted OEM. 😀

But it fits and I like it.

I will miss the stretchy links.

 

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BradleyJ.

·Oct 4, 2021

You should see my latest Frankenstein setup for the 300 😁

50th anniversary endlinks on an uncle seiko 1450 bracelet on a 2000s era Aqua Terra clasp. I've been wearing it for almost a month. Always liked this clasp cause it looks like there's no clasp at all.

 

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SkunkPrince

·Oct 4, 2021

BradleyJ.

You should see my latest Frankenstein setup for the 300 😁

50th anniversary endlinks on an uncle seiko 1450 bracelet on a 2000s era Aqua Terra clasp. I've been wearing it for almost a month. Always liked this clasp cause it looks like there's no clasp at all.

Pics or it never happened!