Omega 18K Milanese bracelet: hand made using original tooling

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WhatYourWatchSay

·Aug 16, 2017

Brilliant photo essay Tom, thank you very much for sharing 👍
Milanese bracelets have been my favorite since 1988 and I must admit to a tinge of envy seeing your watch 🥰

 

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cristos71

·Aug 16, 2017

Really cool! 😎

It must have been a fantastic experience helping to make it, a real step back in time 😀

 

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gemini4

·Aug 16, 2017·Hoarder Of Speed et alia

I have one DS&S vintage bracelet. Wonderful workmanship.

 

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BartH

·Aug 16, 2017

Cool thread

 

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MikeMan2727

·Aug 16, 2017

Awesome to see where it was all made! Here's mine in 18K white gold 😉. Really amazing craftsmanship.

 

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JimInOz

·Aug 16, 2017·Melbourne Australia

Fascinating read Tom, I envy you being able to see all of that machinery. I liked the plywood "gold shield" on the mill, improvisation at its best.


The final result is also an envy trigger, an amazing combination.

 

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marco

·Aug 16, 2017

Davidt

I was just about to ask if they're going to start re-making the s s ones.

The 18mm Milanese are reasonable easy to source but the 19mm are so hard to find.

Looks great btw.

What a great article. I could not find a 19mm Milanese bracelet for my 2998.5 so I bought a 20mm Staib heavy duty milanese bracelet ( excellent quality) cut (filed) down the spring bar brackets and viola !
This article also solves a problem as I have been looking for a rose gold mesh for my Lange 1815 chrono.
Thanks Tom Dick for an illuminating article.

 

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boat2dan

·Aug 16, 2017

Congrats Tom, what a ensemble! What about a photo in the Alde British Box. Very nice!

 

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Dash1

·Aug 17, 2017

Great story. I like the Bolex Cine camera in the background too, I used to collect and use those once upon a time. Still have one somewhere.

 

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Tom Dick

·Aug 17, 2017

Thanks chaps

I have long loved the English made bracelets, not only because of their quality but also the way they look on watches

A few manufacturers in the UK made them for omega including JCS&S of Birmingham (I own a couple of their bands too which were in the 1960's catologues) but these DS&S ones really are superb

What I love about what STS do is that they use all of the equipment from the 1950's to hand make them using the same techniques, right down to the clasp

FASTI still make Milanese machines but they are now all automated, which removed a lot of the 'craftsmanship' for me. I think STS having such a capable goldsmith along with this originally tooling makes it quite special (they even have their own STS hallmark)!

 

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Matty01

·Aug 17, 2017

Nerd!

But in a good way, thankyou for sharing

 

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dsio

·Aug 17, 2017·Ash @ ΩF

If you don't mind me asking... what would the cost be for say a 14k yellow gold 18mm bracelet for a giant Australian size wrist (roughly the diameter of an Englishman' thigh)?

 

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Tom Dick

·Aug 17, 2017

I will ask STS and let you know, there was a bit of a comedy moment yesterday when I sat down and the owner of STS said he was really worried it was too small. I treid it on and it fitted perfectly and his only reaction was 'Jesus you really do have small wrists'

Edited: Aug 17, 2017

 

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perks713

·Aug 17, 2017

The bracelet is amazing, those photos of the equipment used though... fantastic!

 

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albertob

·Aug 17, 2017

Italian machineries... Gorgeous!

 

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BartH

·Aug 17, 2017

I want an 18k pink gold bracelet 😀

 

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Tom Dick

·Aug 17, 2017

BartH

I want an 18k pink gold bracelet 😀

You and me both, I have a new old stock 18K rose gold 321. When I asked Tony STS can to be done???? Yeah sure, no problem came the reply

In the mean time between saving up enough money to pay for it they are going to rose gold plate (20 microns) one of myJCS&S bands

STS really are masters of their trade

 

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palatine

·Aug 17, 2017

Tom Dick

You and me both, I have a new old stock 18K rose gold 321.

Do I still have dibs?....
I can't stop thinking about that 321 beauty

 

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Tom Dick

·Aug 17, 2017

If she ever gets sold then yeah sure

 

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M'Bob

·Aug 17, 2017

Tom Dick

If she ever gets sold then yeah sure

Ever try and shave with those lug edges?