Omega Speedmaster Pro 20mm Spring Bars

So I went to change the strap on my Omega Speedmaster Pro and one of my spring bars decided to attempt orbit itself and got lost

After digging into the Omega box and getting one of the two spares to use, I am left with only one spring bar left. I contacted the closest Omega Boutique and asked about the cost of buying a few 20mm spring bars (Omega Part 068ST2208 ). They stated that the cost was $4 plus tax per spring bar (I did not ask about shipping) and they would have to order them.

While I know Omega parts can be expensive. $4 per bar seems a bit obsessive. but then i look on eBay shows a person selling 4 of them for $95 and there is a seller selling a pair for $20 so perhaps these are just expensive bars?

A couple of years ago, I was about to buy a set of 19mm spring bars from my Omega AD for a Dynamic III 3 hander and though the price of the bars was not too bad, it was $15 for shipping. I then called Swatch Group and got them there. I forget the price but shipping was $10. (It seems spring bars and straps are things that anybody can buy with no parts account needed)

I might call Swatch Group on Monday but i suspect that the OB price is on par with the Swatch Group price

I read several emails about these being $1 per spring bar.

Granted if i have to buy a few at $4 a piece, then that is fine (what is $4 per bar when i spent $3000 for the watch) but if folks have a line on where to get them at a lower price then I am all ears

Thanks

If not Omega, get something that is reliable with the appropriate size and thickness.

Just get it from the Boutique, I had bad luck with cheap springs breaking in half on me, it will save you the embarrassment of the link bracelet falling off from your wrist!

I had purchased some from OB, Topanga for $1 per spring bar last year. And lost them by the time I got to the car 😡

... 😀

I got a couple for free from my OB for my PO a couple of years ago. I have a good relationship with them. I have bought a couple of watches and done services there so that might have helped. They also ordered a inner tube for a link from a Constellation that I had lost and they didn’t charge me neither.

The only Omega AD in my city wanted to charge me $25 CAD for a pair and $25 CAD for shipping.

I went in to my AD and was given two for free

Suppose it depends on who you see at the time

My dude, just walked into my Boutique today purchasing a nato strap and they gave me two pairs of the curved spring bars and two straight ones for free!! !! Didn’t hurt to ask and i was ready to pay for them!!!

Resurrecting the thread for a quick Speedy question - one of my ‘strap’ spring bars (068ST2208) broke, so I popped into my local OB to see if they could help me. They kindly took the watch upstairs and replaced the spring bar for free. A few weeks later, I’m changing the strap over, checked the spring bars to find they replaced the original longer bar with a shorter ‘bracelet’ spring bar (068ST2207), and swapped out the other bar for a short one too 😵‍💫.

So...is it too risky to use the 1mm shorter spring bars with a strap?

The slightly longer ones are there for a reason.
There's a risk that straps could pop out the shorter spring bars out of place if pulled/streched.

My boutique used to give them to me for free, not the case anymore.

Yep, that’s what I thought. A bit odd that they would change them to the shorter ones, but I guess it’s a ‘technician’ in an OB, not a watchmaker...

Back on the bracelet she goes, and I guess it gives me a reason to have another poke around the OB when I ask for another pair 😉

On the same topic, is there such OEM 20mm springbar 1.8 in thickness or I would need to go aftermarket.

Sorry I meant to say 1.6mm for the Apollo 11 bracelet fit the speedy 3861.

Can you guys confirm that this is the only requirement to make the said bracelet fit the 3861?