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  1. rkny18 Feb 21, 2020

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    6D44FE26-4FED-40E1-863D-5373E5658EB5.jpeg Excited to share my 1968 145.12-67 fitted with a modified bracelet from the 60th Anniversary Speedy.

    The end links were hand filed to fit a standard Speedy case by Lewis Watch Co in Australia. The mod allows for original Omega 20mm pins and delivers a lovely snug fit.

    For 1/2 to 1/3 of the price of a full length 1039 in nice condition, I have a much more nicely made solid link bracelet that has the look of the original, won’t stretch, and doesn’t pull my hair or empty my wallet.

    I’m sure this will cause some to pinch their noses but I love it. This should also put to rest any doubt as to the viability of this modern bracelet on a vintage Speedy.
     
    Edited Feb 21, 2020
    Eve, LeonDeBayonne, Om3ga321 and 3 others like this.
  2. Archer Omega Qualified Watchmaker Feb 22, 2020

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    Can you please show the back of the links where they meet the case?

    Cheers, Al
     
  3. rkny18 Feb 22, 2020

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  4. Archer Omega Qualified Watchmaker Feb 22, 2020

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  5. rkny18 Feb 22, 2020

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    The link is a little thicker where it meets the case on the back. If that’s your definition of not fitting, so be it. My definition of not fitting is not physically being able to be installed, or requiring the wrong pin or a bent pin, or being generally loose or unstable. These end links use the correct pin, required no force to install, and are highly stable.
     
  6. Archer Omega Qualified Watchmaker Feb 22, 2020

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    Well, if the link fits as those other photos show as you indicated, then it is tipped down. Yes it goes in the space, but that's not all that constitutes a proper fit, at least for me.
     
    martinw likes this.
  7. rkny18 Feb 22, 2020

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    It's not tipped down. The link is just a little thicker than the space. When viewed from the top, the link sits where you would expect it to and is on the same plane as the dial. The space that the link was designed to fit is slightly taller and at a slightly different angle. But the face of the curve of the link where it meets the curve of the case is a flush fit and doesn’t move.

    There is no functional or security based basis for saying it doesn’t fit. The link fits the space with .5mm of extra metal protruding from the back.

    The good news is, no one is demanding you install this bracelet on your watch.
     
  8. Archer Omega Qualified Watchmaker Feb 22, 2020

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    It was tipped down on the other watch though. So if you are saying it's not, then that's a different story.

    Not sure why you are being so hostile here, I'm just asking you to show what the complete installation looks like. If the problems with fitting it have been resolved, that's a good thing, but your initial reply to me indicated it was the same as the other photos, where they are definitely not resolved.

    Being a strap guy, I have no intention of installing this or any other bracelet on my Speedmaster - I am just trying to understand what was done to "solve" the problems that fitting this bracelet presents...
     
    Bill Sohne likes this.
  9. speedytoronto Feb 22, 2020

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    Can you share with us another photo of the topside of the installation that would show the levelness of the end link installed on the case, say a side view (from your single photo it is difficult to gauge whether the end link is level or tilted down), as well as the underside of the installation rather than referring to the images in the other thread? Those photos clearly showed that the end link tipped down from the spring bar towards the case proper due to lack of space to install them due to the anti twist lip. If your end links were filed down and you were able to install with the standard spring bars rather than thinner ones, then perhaps the hand filing allowed the end link to fit in properly. I don't mind if the underside of the end link sits below the underside of the watch case (the original bracelet does so as well at the anti twist tabs) as long as it sits correctly topside, uses the proper spring bar size, and is secure from twisting which could damage the spring bar leading to failure.

    @Archer: are the end links of the new bracelet available on their own? I'd be up to ordering one or two to have you experiment with filing them down and installing on a modern speedy before springing for the full bracelet expense. I'd love to have this bracelet installed on my speedmaster as the only thing I don't like about the original bracelet is the end links which increase the lug to lug distance beyond the case - I have very thin wrists and it makes it look odd on my wrist. The 50th anniversary bracelet doesn't do this as you know.
     
  10. rkny18 Feb 22, 2020

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    Here are far too many photos lol. 0C65BD0D-C223-4137-878D-9B9EDB87AFDA.jpeg 591227EA-12F2-43B9-8C25-7CDC2CCA14CE.jpeg A9610E7B-4F17-4967-A7DD-7CD76428455A.jpeg E475C22F-E018-40CE-B1DF-B3D4694BC0B5.jpeg
     
    ED7AE54C-C2C3-40CC-9328-C9D42DD68A53.jpeg
    speedytoronto and LeonDeBayonne like this.
  11. LeonDeBayonne Feb 22, 2020

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    Here are pics of the 50th moonlanding anniversary bracelet on a sm300 watchco. Perfect fit, no need to change anything. 3C34B3A0-A849-4496-BF5F-F21526906DED.jpeg 1C580B0A-DE76-4622-86B1-3D37B605FD45.jpeg
     
    ffej4 and Caliber561 like this.
  12. LeonDeBayonne Feb 22, 2020

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    On a speedy, I found that semi polished 633 endlinks (with slight modification) fit well with the 50th anniversary bracelet. 65FBFCD4-7D12-40FD-8999-E0C4D56C438A.jpeg 4488B827-6E9D-4CF3-A7CB-DA1CF2546635.jpeg
     
    Eve and speedytoronto like this.
  13. speedytoronto Feb 22, 2020

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    Thanks for these. Certainly looks like the end link is sitting straight on the top and not dipping down towards the case. Because it is so flat on the top and then plunges down towards the end it doesn't meet the lugs as nicely as the standard bracelet which rolls off gently before getting to the tip of the lug. Creates a bit of a gap as seen in your 3rd picture. I don't mind that it hangs below the lug on the bottom, so does the standard bracelet although perhaps not as much.
     
    Pinmeuphere likes this.
  14. speedytoronto Feb 22, 2020

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    That looks like a pretty good fit except that the brushed centre part is narrower than on the bracelet. A minor detail. Looks like it curves/fits a bit better than the end link that comes with the 50th bracelet.
     
    LeonDeBayonne likes this.
  15. speedytoronto Feb 22, 2020

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    IMG-4300.JPG
    Here's what the end link on my standard modern speedy looks like underside of the case. Sticks out a fair bit.
    IMG-4298.JPG
    Topside modern bracelet on .005 speedy. Mind the gap..similar to 50th bracelet filed down?
    IMG-4299.JPG
    End link curves down nicely towards lug tip so there are no unsightly gaps, unlike the flat'ish end link on the 50th bracelet.
     
  16. LeonDeBayonne Feb 23, 2020

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    Spot on. Yes, it is a little bit narrower, but this is not visible when you wear it. Anyway, the good thing with the 633 endlinks is that they were made to fit the 20mm speedmaster.
     
    speedmaster. likes this.
  17. speedmaster. Jun 6, 2020

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    What is the width of the 50th anniversary Speedmaster 130STZ011629 bracelet at the clasp? Does it taper down from 20mm to 16mm?
     
  18. speedmaster. Jun 6, 2020

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    I am desperately trying to get one... Any advice?
     
  19. speedmaster. Jun 7, 2020

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    While using the 633 endlinks with the 50th anniversary bracelet, did you have to swap the springbars or are you using the standard 20mm moonwatch springbars?