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Omega bracelet - fake or legit?

tikkathree
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When an advert states "This bracelet is a new genuine Omega replacement bracelet, currently provided by Omega for about $450. " you know that the bracelet isn't "made by Omega".

Be honest with yourself: is it the right price for a genuine Omega item? Is it for sale at an authorised Omega dealership? BTW those lug links look like they were rolled in the street of some tourist-fleecing resort.

So let's unpick that description:

"new": okay so what?
"genuine Omega replacement": designed to replace the real thing, it's a genuine copy/pastiche/knock-off.
"currently provided by Omega for about $NN": whereas this piece of stuff costs significantly less: go figure.
 
Donn Chambers
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Looks like a genuine Omega bracelet for a vintage Mark IV with hooded lugs. No numbers on the end links as far as I know because they are integral to the bracelet, not sold separately. And yes, those end links are just rolled steel, but that’s how they were done back in the day and how Omega still makes them for replacements. Since it is not in a sealed Omega package, it really isn’t new as the seller claims, but used. Price is about right for a new one from an AD, but I wouldn’t pay that for one out of the package.

do you have a Mark IV? Because if you don’t have one or a watch like it (this might also fit a Flightmaster and a Mark III) you really can’t use it for another watch — those end links are part of the bracelet and can’t be removed without forcing it apart.
 
X350 XJR
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My only pause is that this seller sells tons of counterfeit "vintage" Omega and Rolex buckles. I report them to eBay, eBay takes them down and they just relist them. Just saying.
 
machamp6650
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X350 XJR X350 XJR
My only pause is that this seller sells tons of counterfeit "vintage" Omega and Rolex buckles. I report them to eBay, eBay takes them down and they just relist them. Just saying.

I second that, he's also known to sell fake speedmaster bezels and cases. I'd suggest the OP take all the seller's descriptions about 'genuine' and 'vintage' parts with a grain of salt
 
Passover
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"THIS IS A FINE COLLECTIBLE. DON'T INVEST IN THE STOCK MARKET. BUY SOMETHING PROVEN IN TIME." 😒
 
Davidt
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A broken clock is right twice a day.

The seller may be dodgy but that bracelet looks perfectly genuine to me.
 
masteroftime
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I'm glad this question is coming up because I've wondered the legitimacy of these bracelets for a while. Personally, I think they're fake or potentially a mish mash of a real clasp with a fake bracelet.

I'd love to hear thoughts from others that may have these original bracelets or have purchased service replacements, but here are a few red flags that I see:
- one of the photos shows the bracelets wrapped in what seems like plastic and a dirty round sticker. I don't think they were originally wrapped in anything like this and frankly it looks like the classic "AAA Replica" stickers I've seen on fakes online and at flea markets.
- the pictured Mark II and Mark IV bracelet links are held together with cotter pins. I know the original Mark II bracelets weren't built like that. I'm not sure if Omega ever used such a construction in its service bracelets, but I've never seen one like it.
- I think I count 8 removable links. I've never seen the gen. examples having that many. To me, the construction reminds of Uncle Seiko bracelets.

s-l1600-124.jpg
 
tikkathree
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Donn Chambers Donn Chambers
Looks like a genuine Omega bracelet for a vintage Mark IV with hooded lugs. No numbers on the end links as far as I know because they are integral to the bracelet, not sold separately. And yes, those end links are just rolled steel, but that’s how they were done back in the day and how Omega still makes them for replacements. Since it is not in a sealed Omega package, it really isn’t new as the seller claims, but used. Price is about right for a new one from an AD, but I wouldn’t pay that for one out of the package.

do you have a Mark IV? Because if you don’t have one or a watch like it (this might also fit a Flightmaster and a Mark III) you really can’t use it for another watch — those end links are part of the bracelet and can’t be removed without forcing it apart.

Davidt Davidt
A broken clock is right twice a day.

The seller may be dodgy but that bracelet looks perfectly genuine to me.

And there you have it. It "looks genuine": well who's going to create a post like this one if the subject doesn't at least look like genuine? Who's going to sell or buy something which doesn't look right?
 
Davidt
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tikkathree tikkathree
And there you have it. It "looks genuine": well who's going to create a post like this one if the subject doesn't at least look like genuine? Who's going to sell or buy something which doesn't look right?

Most knock offs look nothing like the real thing if you know what you’re looking at. This one looks fine.

The vintage ‘11’ clash bracelets had screw links but the modern ‘32’ versions use pins which appear to be used here.

You’re criticising people for saying it ‘looks’ genuine, but it’s on the internet - ‘look’ is all we have to go on; all you’re doing is saying “it looks fake”
 
Donn Chambers
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Davidt Davidt
Most knock offs look nothing like the real thing if you know what you’re looking at. This one looks fine.

The vintage ‘11’ clash bracelets had screw links but the modern ‘32’ versions use pins which appear to be used here.

You’re criticising people for saying it ‘looks’ genuine, but it’s on the internet - ‘look’ is all we have to go on; all you’re doing is saying “it looks fake”

Exactly. I’m also not saying it IS real, and the evidence presented about the seller (which not everyone would know) would also make me suspicious. But nothing about the photo of the bracelet looks fake to me — but it definitely is not new.
 
X350 XJR
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Donn Chambers Donn Chambers
Exactly. I’m also not saying it IS real, and the evidence presented about the seller (which not everyone would know) would also make me suspicious. But nothing about the photo of the bracelet looks fake to me — but it definitely is not new.

OK, I'll chime back in here. I also don't think it's fake and they are up front in at least some of their description "When compared to the original 1970s version, it is lighter in weight.". I simply wouldn't buy from them on principle alone (see my comment above).
 
rcs914
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So this seller was selling these exact clasps for a long time for around $70. I bought one as it was a perfect fit for my Uncle Seiko made 1450 style bracelet, and I couldn't be happier with it. But is it entirely possible that they are taking these same clasps, and putting them on a fake bracelet? Sure.
 
Himlad74
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Davidt Davidt
It’s genuine
Please post pictures rather than links and it might be better to start your own thread in future 👍
Thank you so much. Sorry, I'm new in the forum.
 
Davidt
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I would also say you can generally pick these up around 200 $/£/€
 
Himlad74
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Davidt Davidt
I would also say you can generally pick these up around 200 $/£/€
This bracelet it's more expensive, as you see, about 320 Euros. The seller don't accept other offer. From this item I like the 11 end-links besides the 511, even if are very similar.
 
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