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Non-standard Spring Bar??

OmegaOwner2019
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I just bought some new straps for my Speedmaster from Barton.
They came with these quick change spring bars.

After installing them, I can feel the quick change spring bars jiggling in the lug holes. So I thought, what the heck?

I took out the quick change spring bars and compared them with the Omega spring bars.
Lo and behold, the quick change spring bars are slightly shorter, and the diameter at the attachment points is just a hair thinner.

Are Omega spring bars slightly longer and fatter than standard?
 
aphexafx
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I'm a frequent bracelet and strap changer...

If your Speedmaster has a 20 mm lug width, Omega specifies their 20 mm spring bars 068ST2207 for metal bracelets with rigid end links, and they actually specify their 21 mm spring bars 068ST2208 for soft rubber and leather straps. This is because the longer spring bars can be canted into the lug holes and be made to fit, while providing more holding strength and rigidity for soft straps due to being more compressed.

Both of these spring bars from Omega are 1.8 mm dia. barrel with 0.9 mm tips.

Personally, I would ditch the quick release bars and use Omega's bars, and go 1 mm longer than your lug spec as they recommend, assuming you are talking about installing a soft strap. If you have a fabric strap, like a NATO, then they specify curved spring bars, but you can still get away with straight ones usually. Either way, upsizing the length by 1 mm is recommended.
Edited:
 
OmegaOwner2019
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Any recommendations regarding which manufacturer makes OEM-quality spring bars?
I don't really want to pay 20 bucks for a new pair from the AD lol.
 
YY77
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OmegaOwner2019 OmegaOwner2019
Any recommendations regarding which manufacturer makes OEM-quality spring bars?
I don't really want to pay 20 bucks for a new pair from the AD lol.
A new pair from Omega would cost about 8 bucks USD/EUR.
 
Dan S
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OmegaOwner2019 OmegaOwner2019
Are Omega spring bars slightly longer and fatter than standard?

There is no universal standard for spring-bars to my knowledge. Lots of variability.
 
aphexafx
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Wait, I misquoted, I believe the Omega bars are 0.9 mm tips, sorry. I'll fix my post above.
Edited:
 
Cenzo
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Delivery for springbars is $10 last time I ordered. So if you order 2 it cost $18. Order several, or tack onto an order for somethings else (like a nato strap) to save some money.
 
D
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aphexafx aphexafx
I'm a frequent bracelet and strap changer...

If your Speedmaster has a 20 mm lug width, Omega specifies their 20 mm spring bars 068ST2207 for metal bracelets with rigid end links, and they actually specify their 21 mm spring bars 068ST2208 for soft rubber and leather straps. This is because the longer spring bars can be canted into the lug holes and be made to fit, while providing more holding strength and rigidity for soft straps due to being more compressed.

Both of these spring bars from Omega are 1.8 mm dia. barrel with 0.9 mm tips.

Personally, I would ditch the quick release bars and use Omega's bars, and go 1 mm longer than your lug spec as they recommend, assuming you are talking about installing a soft strap. If you have a fabric strap, like a NATO, then they specify curved spring bars, but you can still get away with straight ones usually. Either way, upsizing the length by 1 mm is recommended.

Very insightful information! Does this also apply to other omega models? Specifically thinking of the current gen seamaster diver 300m, when swapping from the oem bracelet to the oem rubber strap?
 
aphexafx
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D dtd
Very insightful information! Does this also apply to other omega models? Specifically thinking of the current gen seamaster diver 300m, when swapping from the oem bracelet to the oem rubber strap?

Yes, afaik. The new Diver 300M case still has a 20 mm lug width, so the part numbers for spring bars would remain the same.

Omega doesn't actually specify their spring bars by length, which I might have implied above. They simply specify by part number for the application:

Omega specifies spring bar 068ST2207 for 20 mm bracelets (metal).
Omega specifies spring bar 068ST2208 for 20 mm straps (leather, rubber).

The 2208 being 1 mm longer than the 2207.

Also, when ordering from Swatch Group, they usually want an 'O' in front of any Omega part number, so like O068ST2207, but they should be able to find the part regardless.
 
aphexafx
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I just looked and it appears that Omega is specifying and supplying 068ST2208 straight bars for their 20 mm NATO straps. I could have sworn they provided curved bars with their NATOs, but apparently not. That makes things even easier. So, use spring bar 068ST2208 for 20 mm fabric straps too!
Edited:
 
OmegaOwner2019
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Just a follow up question now you mentioned the different spring bar recommendations for different straps.

Does Omega recommend 20mm spring bars for 19mm lug-to-lug watches if you are using NATO/rubber straps?
 
D
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aphexafx aphexafx
Yes, afaik. The new Diver 300M case still has a 20 mm lug width, so the part numbers for spring bars would remain the same.

Omega doesn't actually specify their spring bars by length, which I might have implied above. They simply specify by part number for the application:

Omega specifies spring bar 068ST2207 for 20 mm bracelets (metal).
Omega specifies spring bar 068ST2208 for 20 mm straps (leather, rubber).

The 2208 being 1 mm longer than the 2207.

Also, when ordering from Swatch Group, they usually want an 'O' in front of any Omega part number, so like O068ST2207, but they should be able to find the part regardless.

Thanks for the info, I have ordered a rubber strap at my AD and hope he also is aware of this difference and also ordered the spring bars or has some spare
 
Donn Chambers
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aphexafx aphexafx
Yes, afaik. The new Diver 300M case still has a 20 mm lug width, so the part numbers for spring bars would remain the same.

Omega doesn't actually specify their spring bars by length, which I might have implied above. They simply specify by part number for the application:

Omega specifies spring bar 068ST2207 for 20 mm bracelets (metal).
Omega specifies spring bar 068ST2208 for 20 mm straps (leather, rubber).

The 2208 being 1 mm longer than the 2207.

Also, when ordering from Swatch Group, they usually want an 'O' in front of any Omega part number, so like O068ST2207, but they should be able to find the part regardless.

thanks for adding this follow up, because I was about to comment on your original post about the spring bar lengths you you stated, which is wrong. As you corrected, there is a 1mm difference between the bracelet springbar and the strap bar, but it isn’t because the strap bar is 1mm longer. It’s actually that the bracelet springbar is 1mm SHORTER than the lug width. Trust me, if you try to use a 20mm springbar on an Omega bracelet made for 20mm lugs, you’ll have a hard time getting it on and an even harder time getting it off! I learned this the hard way.
 
aphexafx
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Donn Chambers Donn Chambers
thanks for adding this follow up, because I was about to comment on your original post about the spring bar lengths you you stated, which is wrong. As you corrected, there is a 1mm difference between the bracelet springbar and the strap bar, but it isn’t because the strap bar is 1mm longer. It’s actually that the bracelet springbar is 1mm SHORTER than the lug width. Trust me, if you try to use a 20mm springbar on an Omega bracelet made for 20mm lugs, you’ll have a hard time getting it on and an even harder time getting it off! I learned this the hard way.

Right, it's really just a matter of interpretation since Omega doesn't actually specify a length for their spring bars. In my original post I called the 068ST2207 a 20 mm bar, because it will clear 20 mm lugs when compressed and can be installed on a 20 mm metal end link. But that's just MY thinking, so I wanted to clear that up. Specifying the spring bar part number per the application is the way to go. Word. 👍
 
aphexafx
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OmegaOwner2019 OmegaOwner2019
Just a follow up question now you mentioned the different spring bar recommendations for different straps.

Does Omega recommend 20mm spring bars for 19mm lug-to-lug watches if you are using NATO/rubber straps?

I would assume that the same protocol applies. I don't see why they wouldn't. I only have personal experience with my Seamasters and Speedmaster with 20 mm lug widths, so I can't honestly tell you yes. I don't have the the part numbers for Omega spring bar sizes beyond the two that they use for 20 mm lug widths in my notes.

Archer knows, betcha.
 
YY77
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aphexafx aphexafx
I don't have the the part numbers for Omega spring bar sizes beyond the two that they use for 20 mm lug widths in my notes.
OmegaOwner2019 OmegaOwner2019
Does Omega recommend 20mm spring bars for 19mm lug-to-lug watches if you are using NATO/rubber straps?
068ST2206 >19mm bracelet
068ST2207 > 19mm strap and 20mm bracelet
068ST2208 > 20mm strap
 
dlukask
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I usually get OB to change things so I don't scratch up my watch! LOL
 
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