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aesguerra
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There's quite a few First Omega In Space owners out there (as well as some CK2998 fans) that are constantly asking about equipping their Schirra-homage timepieces with the 1125 bracelet. This is a fairly popular swapout for those who desire the look and feel of stainless steel to that of the leather strap, yet want to maintain a vintage look. This review serves to give as much information that I have garnered in my own recent experience of making that leather to steel change, with a sharper focus on the use of the 617 end links. I hope it helps those who are considering this (in my humble opinion) great combination.
The 1125 And It's Options
From what I've read, the 1125 is an older style bracelet that is a common go-to for those who wish to equip their straight-lug Speedmasters. It is generally available on line, although it seems to be harder to get them from sources other than an Omega Boutique or and Authorized Dealer. The price is approximately $500 thru an OB, and you will want to specific which end link you'll want. Two styles are fairly common for coupling it to the FOIS - the 560 and the 617.
At first glance, they appear to be pretty similar in appearance, but there seems to be fairly solid pro and con points between the two that one should consider. To me, it doesn't seem to be an either-will-do situation. For most, it seems to boil down to what's more important - ease of installation, or looks.
A lot of 560 fans point out that that specific end link makes for an easy install as it readily uses the spring bar that already comes with the FOIS. In my book, that's a pretty strong selling point. The 617 (from personal experience) is a pain to install using the default spring bars; many a 617-user report using smaller or thinner spring bars to make the installation work. My watchmaker himself went with a thinner spring bar. How much thinner, you can see in the picture.
Battling that is the popular 617-crowd's selling point that end link seems to be a better overall physical fit to the FOIS. Where the 560 comes up a little shy coming up the end of the lugs, the 617 has no problem in this department. This is all personal taste, but if you want the 1125 and expect the end link to go all the way out to the end of the lugs, the 617 appears to be the way to go.
Installation (617 End Link)
Again, the story you'll get about the ease or difficulty of installing the 1125/617 onto an FOIS varies with who you ask. I myself found it to be a difficult affair - I can do it, but since my AD that I bought the watch from has told me that I can have the bracelet/strap swapped out at my convenience for free, I'm electing to go with that option from now on. Suffice it to say that because this is not a bracelet that was specifically designed for the FOIS, tolerances are a bit tight and it'll show when you put it on.
Again, it just might be me and my lack of experience and/or better tools. Still, oh how I miss my old Speedy Pro with the 1998/849 bracelet!
One more note. More than one OB tech and a few members here have mentioned that the corners of the 617 end link may make contact the case once installed. This is corrected by some filing of those areas. I am happy to note that this was not the case with my own end links. They JUST had enough clearance to lie flat without hitting the case. Obviously, your mileage may vary.
Comfort
I have found the 1125 to be quite a comfortable bracelet to wear. Yes, it has additional heft, but that's to be expected when going from leather to steel. The only thing worthy of note is that, being an older snap-clasp, watch out if you have any arm hair. If the clasp snaps down on one of those follicles, "ouch!"
Now comes the rattling... which is pretty cool. You wanted added vintage, well, such noises come with the territory. 😉
It's the clinking that takes a little getting used to.
Because the end links are not solid and only the top surface of the link gets close to the case, it has a propensity to pivot up and down on the spring bar. The OB techs assure me that this is normal for the 617, but it was more than a little disconcerting at first to hear it. 72 hours after the installation-fact, I don't really hear it anymore unless I'm specifically listening for it. Again, this is NOT a fault - it just happens to be a quirk of the end link design.
Aesthetics
If you went for the 1125 bracelet, chances are you won't be disappointed with the new look. All that additional steel brings an entirely different vibe to the FOIS. It doesn't try to suggest "Speedy Pro", but it definitely heads away from FOIS.
I guess one could say that it strengthens the aura of the 2998 that this watch pays homage to!
Now back to the pivoting end link. My wrists are a shade under 6.5 inches, and as such, the bracelet pulls more or less straight down. As such, that 617 tends to levitate like a ramp, usually leaving a slightly visible gap between it and the lugs. It is not the most obvious thing in the world, but it does exist... at least for people like me. It seems like the bigger your wrist is, the less the link is pulled upwards and more outward. That's a pretty important difference there. Chances are that if you have 7+ inch wrists, you may not experience this ramp-like effect that all.
The last item on aesthetics- SCRATCHES. I don't know of many people who are doing this installation that intend it to be a permanent one, so the question of scratches on the case does come up when they ponder switching back to a strap. 72 hours after the fact, I've happily seen none. Of course, IT'S ONLY BEEN 72 HOURS; time will tell.
Closing
Am I happy with the 1125/617? You betcha! It's an amazing accessory to the FOIS that really helps this already outstanding watch stand out even more! For those wanting a SS look to their FOIS without going for a more modern vibe (such as the Speedmaster Racing Bracelet), the 1125/617 is a great route to go.
Hope this helps. 😀
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