Omega shark mesh bracelet picture thread

larryganz · Apr 8, 2016

So we're agreed, the Strapcode adjustable mesh bracelet is good solid quality materials, with a buckle that's a little too thick to be as comfortable vs other mesh folding clasps or Omega's seat-belt style buckle clasp.

Longbow · Apr 9, 2016

R rst1121
What kind of cutter would work on this?

Thanks!

Probably better using something like a piano-wire cutter than regular wire cutters (which are designed for cutting much softer copper). I'm not sure how hard those links are, but you probably also need a cutter with a solid boxy joint where the bolt joins the two blades and butting rather than schearing blades. I tested some Tungsten Carbide cutters from Keiba (Japan) many years ago. They were pretty much indestructable...good for well over 1000 cuts through silica glass rod which puts holes in the blades of most cutters, including piano wire cutters. If anyone is interested the product code Is IN-274T. I discovered that Otto Frei also sells (stem) cutters made by Keiba.

KIMBER · Apr 9, 2016

They are tough enough to ask a watchmaker for help personally. I never needed to remove only add. I would say a Dremel tool using a wheel would do it just depends on the location you want to cut.

Nactex · Apr 10, 2016

I bought a new style Omega mesh for my orange PO.

larryganz · Apr 10, 2016

Longbow
Probably better using something like a piano-wire cutter than regular wire cutters (which are designed for cutting much softer copper). I'm not sure how hard those links are, but you probably also need a cutter with a solid boxy joint where the bolt joins the two blades and butting rather than schearing blades. I tested some Tungsten Carbide cutters from Keiba (Japan) many years ago. They were pretty much indestructable...good for well over 1000 cuts through silica glass rod which puts holes in the blades of most cutters, including piano wire cutters. If anyone is interested the product code Is IN-274T. I discovered that Otto Frei also sells (stem) cutters made by Keiba.

Yeah, this is the tool we used the last time we cut links from the shark mesh, and it still looks new vs the original one we bent up cutting links previously.

http://www.amazon.com/Capri-Tools-4...&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00

Longbow · Apr 11, 2016

larryganz
I still have the mesh installed on my SM300 and SMPc chronograph, but I put my Planet Oceans back on the Omega bracelets for now, although I like them both ways. Didn't like it on my '76 Moonwatch and never got a photo of it.

I have 2 Omega 20mm mesh straps, 2 Strapcode 20mm mesh, one generic eBay 20mm mesh, and I have a 22mm Strapcode mesh on the way for my Ti PO 9300 LM. I believe the mesh on the Great White GMT was sold with the watch to DavidSW, but I'm not sure.

Hi @larryganz,
I was at my local OB on Saturday and enquired about a 20mm mesh after seeing their 22mm one with the seatbelt buckle style clasp. They didn't have the 20mm one but promised to check if there are any available. I got the answer today - "Leider ist dieses Band nur in 22, bzw. 23mm Bandansatz erhältlich." Which translates as "unfortunately this bracelet is only available in 22 or 23mm width", which doesn't seem to tie up with Ketiljo's comment about 24mm.

Are your 20mm straps relatively recent or fairly old and would you mind telling me the reference number if you know it?

Cheers

Longbow

larryganz · Apr 11, 2016

Longbow
Hi @larryganz,
I was at my local OB on Saturday and enquired about a 20mm mesh after seeing their 22mm one with the seatbelt buckle style clasp. They didn't have the 20mm one but promised to check if there are any available. I got the answer today - "Leider ist dieses Band nur in 22, bzw. 23mm Bandansatz erhältlich." Which translates as "unfortunately this bracelet is only available in 22 or 23mm width", which doesn't seem to tie up with Ketiljo's comment about 24mm.

Are your 20mm straps relatively recent or fairly old and would you mind telling me the reference number if you know it?

Cheers

Longbow

I think I bought Omega 20mm from Ofrei.com in early 2015, and the second from WatchCo Australia last Summer.

larryganz · Apr 12, 2016

My Strapcode 22mm shark mesh just arrived and it's way too long! At the Strapcode website, when I clicked on the smallest 152mm long 22mm shark mesh strap and chose "add to cart", it apparently added the 181mm strap to the cart. And that's what I got.

Tonight I went back to their website and as a test was able to repeat the error. Apparently my 54 year old eyes could not see that both 152mm and 166mm options are both greyed out, so when one chooses either of the smaller strap sizes it always defaults back to 181mm. So much for proof reading what's inside the shopping cart.

But this one is measuring at 200mm long, and I needed about 145mm to actually fit. This one is so long that it's still loose on my 190mm wrist all by itself, and I can wear it like a bracelet if I tie the ends together WITHOUT a watch. How is this a 181mm strap?

On top of that, the shark mesh has a solid metal spring-bar tube at both of the ends of the mesh portion, and the mesh is a tight loop, so if I cut the mesh shorter then it's too tight fit a spring bar through the mesh itself. I still have is a useable high quality ratcheting clasp, but I can't use their mesh. I do have two strips of cheaper 22mm shark mesh that I can re-size with my wire cutters. The clasp that came with the cheaper 22mm mesh is junk, but the mesh is still pretty nice.

I'll wait to get my Ti PO 9300 LM back from being regulated before I try to mix and match clasp and mesh to fit the watch...

davidswiss · Apr 13, 2016

I've never fitted one to any of my watches but fancy one for the watchco 300. Is a £260 price I've seen good ?

Are there any preferred/recommended suppliers in the UK ?

Togri v. 2.0 · Apr 13, 2016

I love it, wife hates it.

KIMBER · Apr 13, 2016

Love it! Looks great.

Flingit1200s · Apr 18, 2016

I'm thinking of trying a Strapcode mesh in 20mm. I prefer the ends that attach to the watch to be like is shown in Togri's pic above. Which would you buy from Strapcode that has the "open link" ends plus has the thinnest buckle? Correspondence with Strapcode to get advice has not been helpful so far. Thanks!

Longbow · Apr 18, 2016

This probably sounds dead stupid to all the watch aficionado here, but I'm feeling chuffed to bits as I just did my first strap->bracelet swap. I don't know how I managed to get away with not trying this earlier in the last 50 years, still, better later than never.

Not wanting to screw up one of my nice Omegas I thought it better to practice on something old and beaten up, aka my Watches of Switzerland Seafarer that I've had since a teenager. Those spring bars are fairly easy to remove but 🤬 difficult to get back in again. There's obviously a trick or two I need to learn here.

Anyway, the reason for posting here is because I have obtained three mesh bracelets to "play" with that haven't been mentioned yet. Has anyone come across WatchGecko? The quality seems pretty good on the Milanese Mesh and the Shark version. The prices are also very reasonable at between 30€ to 50€ depending on which version.

Here is the link if anyone is interested:-
https://www.watchgecko.com/metal-watch-straps#page=1

One point that I really like - the brand logo is on the inside of the clasp. The less corporate advertising the better - keep it simple.

I'll post some pictures in a while.

Longbow · Apr 18, 2016

And the results...

Ordered on Saturday, arrived on Monday (from UK to Germany). They even put in a little greeting card in German (nice but not necessary as I'm a Brit).

Robust with a nice finish (polished up top, satin below)

Nice workmanship

So that Shark Mesh beastie will be going on my Sinn 104 (once I have plucked up courage to attack it).
But the first go was on my old friend "The Seafarer" (commercial value: nil, sentimental value: priceless) with the Milanese band

Old dog learns new trick. Has a kinda 1950's look about it. I rather like it.

Flingit1200s · Apr 19, 2016

Watchgecko just shipped a brushed strap with the "H" links for an incoming. Pics to follow. Thanks all!

Hands90 · Apr 19, 2016

Nactex
I bought a new style Omega mesh for my orange PO.

I'm really feelin this combo

Nactex · Apr 19, 2016

The price is high, but sometimes they pop up at a reasonable price. With the removable links, there is never a problem with adjusting, plus the clasp can also be finely adjusted for changing wrist sizes based on the weather.

Longbow · Apr 20, 2016

WatchGecko polished shark mesh on Sinn 104 St Sa. Easy install, good quality, excellent value for money at 70$ vs approx. 400$ for an OEM Omega. Happy! Although I might have to get a SMPO for this bracelet.

Longbow · Apr 20, 2016

Flingit1200s
Watchgecko just shipped a brushed strap with the "H" links for an incoming. Pics to follow. Thanks all!

Beat you too it! 😝 I have uploaded a few pics of my installed shark mesh. It will be interesting to see how the brushed compares with the polished version. I wasn't so impressed with the satin version of the heavy duty Milanese mesh that I also purchased - seems like they missed one of the finishing steps on the bracelet links. The brushed clasp is Ok though.

Nactex · Apr 20, 2016

Well, I have to admit the WatchGecko bracelets are a whole lot easier to size than the Omega ones. Screws are easier than pins and a lot faster to adjust.

Omega shark mesh bracelet picture thread

larryganz

Longbow

KIMBER

Nactex

larryganz

Longbow

larryganz

larryganz

davidswiss

Togri v. 2.0

KIMBER

Flingit1200s

Longbow

Longbow

Flingit1200s

Hands90

Nactex

Longbow

Longbow

Nactex

Similar threads

Seamaster 1200M Ploprof Shark Mesh Bracelet

Fitting Ref for 22mm Shark Mesh Bracelet

Help removing links from Omega Shark Mesh Bracelet

1969 Omega Seamaster Chronometer ref. 168.024 with Milanese Mesh bracelet No. 2038 - GREAT condition

21mm OMEGA Stainless Steel Mesh Strap Milanese Bracelet 020STZ015706 020Z019767 Bond

Omega Shark Mesh Bracelet with Ratcheting Clasp 021ST1964 / 94522023 - 22mm