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Silicone band falling off?

E
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I bought a Speedmaster Moonphase and swapped out the leather band for the silicone band. I have worn it about 2 hours total. Today, the band randomly popped off. Thankfully I was sitting on the bed when it happened. The pin was intact and the watch just, literally, fell off.

At the boutique when they swapped the bands, they told me to always double-check the band is secure and pulled on it a couple of times (both sides) to demonstrate it was secure.

I jumped on Google and found similar complaints of the silicone band and the pin not staying inserted like this one. I’m concerned.

Anyone else here have similar encounters with the silicone band?
 
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Dan S
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I guess you need to double check that you have the correct spring-bars for your watch and that they are inserted properly. Can't really help you over the internet, this is an in-person job.
 
Speed2Sea
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Sorry to hear that. I have the Omega two-piece rubber strap on my Moon watch and SMP300m for the last few weeks (both installed by my OB) and haven't had a single issue, let alone the strap falling off.
 
Vinz Clortho
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My guess is that as tight fitting the silicon end is, there might be an issue with the pin seating directly into the hole in the lug or staying with the expansion of the silicon. In other words, the end is a touch too big and our quality control took off early and said "nah it'll be fine."
 
E
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Dan S Dan S
I guess you need to double check that you have the correct spring-bars for your watch and that they are inserted properly. Can't really help you over the internet, this is an in-person job.

Not trying to debate your comment, but it was an in-person job when they 1) recommended the silicone band, 2) swapped out the band for me and 3) demonstrated to me and double-checked the new band was secure.

So can you clarify what you are trying to recommend?
 
Scarecrow Boat
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E EspressoOrElse
I jumped on Google and found similar complaints of the silicone band and the pin not staying inserted like this one. I’m concerned.
I wouldn’t attempt to wear that band again until you confidently and properly have it sorted out. If that ceramic case becomes damaged, say from a fall, you’re looking at a ~7k replacement cost. Significantly more if the dial becomes damaged as well.
 
Dan S
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E EspressoOrElse
Not trying to debate your comment, but it was an in-person job when they 1) recommended the silicone band, 2) swapped out the band for me and 3) demonstrated to me and double-checked the new band was secure.

So can you clarify what you are trying to recommend?
I'm recommending that someone who really knows what they are doing inspects it in person and installs it. It doesn't surprise me that a sales associate at an AD is clueless and screwed it up.
 
E
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Dan S Dan S
I'm recommending that someone who really knows what they are doing inspects it in person and installs it. It doesn't surprise me that a sales associate at an AD is clueless and screwed it up.

Ok, thank you for clarifying! But bummer, I’m even sadder now because it was the Omega Boutique themselves and not an AD. Based on responses and other searches, it seems to partly be a pin issue (maybe need a 21mm instead of 20mm). I’ll go up there this week and see what they say. Not wearing it until I’m confident… Thanks again!
 
S
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Your watch is a Speedmaster Moonphase Blue Side of the Moon, if so it has 21mm lugs so a 20mm spring bar is not big enough and the strap will always fall off. You need 21mm spring bars.
 
YY77
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E EspressoOrElse
Ok, thank you for clarifying! But bummer, I’m even sadder now because it was the Omega Boutique themselves and not an AD. Based on responses and other searches, it seems to partly be a pin issue (maybe need a 21mm instead of 20mm). I’ll go up there this week and see what they say. Not wearing it until I’m confident… Thanks again!
068ST2208 is used when you have 21mm lugs and want to wear it on a bracelet / OEM rubber strap and 068ST2209 when you want to change to a Nato/leather strap.

upload_2024-8-21_11-33-58.png
 
Donn Chambers
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I suspect one end of the springbars was not fully seated, only partially. A simple tug was not enough to pull it free at the time, but wear was. Anytime I put on a bracelet or fitted rubber strap I take a careful look at the connection with a loupe or magnifying glasses to make sure the spring bars are fully seated. You’ll be surprised how many times it “feels” secure but it is clear the end is only partially seated in the hole.
 
Geezer
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100% this.

I've seen it so many times, people using the "strap pull and go" method. It makes me cringe as it's really not a fail proof way to do things. Especially on an expensive watch (or any watch really).

Donn Chambers Donn Chambers
I suspect one end of the springbars was not fully seated, only partially. A simple tug was not enough to pull it free at the time, but wear was. Anytime I put on a bracelet or fitted rubber strap I take a careful look at the connection with a loupe or magnifying glasses to make sure the spring bars are fully seated. You’ll be surprised how many times it “feels” secure but it is clear the end is only partially seated in the hole.
 
E
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YY77 YY77
068ST2208 is used when you have 21mm lugs and want to wear it on a bracelet / OEM rubber strap and 068ST2209 when you want to change to a Nato/leather strap.

upload_2024-8-21_11-33-58.png

Your response aligns with much of what I’m finding online so far. Do you mind if I ask how you know this advice? Did you find this from experience yourself? Just looking for some credibility is all… Not trying to be rude or offensive.
 
YY77
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E EspressoOrElse
Your response aligns with much of what I’m finding online so far. Do you mind if I ask how you know this advice? Did you find this from experience yourself? Just looking for some credibility is all… Not trying to be rude or offensive.
Archer, an Omega qualified watchmaker contributing here on this forum has posted many times about the difference between springbars used for bracelets and leather straps and the partsno's associated with them.
 
E
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YY77 YY77
Archer, an Omega qualified watchmaker contributing here on this forum has posted many times about the difference between springbars used for bracelets and leather straps and the partsno's associated with them.

Thank you so much! I’ll start searching this forum more as well…
 
NT931
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Donn Chambers Donn Chambers
I suspect one end of the springbars was not fully seated, only partially. A simple tug was not enough to pull it free at the time, but wear was. Anytime I put on a bracelet or fitted rubber strap I take a careful look at the connection with a loupe or magnifying glasses to make sure the spring bars are fully seated. You’ll be surprised how many times it “feels” secure but it is clear the end is only partially seated in the hole.

Totally agree. There was once I swapped a watch onto bracelet, unknowingly with one end of a springbar not fully seated, and I foolishly gave it a light pull and assumed it was seated OK.

It was just friction (and plain luck) that kept it from falling off. Two weeks later, I brought the watch in to the watchmaker for something else, and he showed me the springbar and my near-miss 😲. Felt dumb and lucky in equal parts.
 
Donn Chambers
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E EspressoOrElse
Your response aligns with much of what I’m finding online so far. Do you mind if I ask how you know this advice? Did you find this from experience yourself? Just looking for some credibility is all… Not trying to be rude or offensive.

From experience. Bought a new bracelet for my old Seamaster 300 (bought it on the strap), put it on and thought all was good, then had it drop into my lap that evening while I was watching TV! Thought the pin had broken, then realized that the end of the springbok was not seated properly when I put it back on -- I had to use a needle to maneuver it into place and it clicked home. Since then, I always visually inspect with a good magnifier.
 
E
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Wanted to post an update. I went back to the OB today and spoke with their tech on staff. He was able to replicate the band falling off. He said when sales swapped out the bands, they did not set one of the springbars properly. He was able to replicate the issue with the same side. The bar was in “just enough” but it was not securely set. They were very apologetic. It’s been set properly and so far so good…

A special thanks to the community for all the feedback. I’m still a bit guarded. That could have been awful… I’ve ordered a jewelers magnifying glass to always double check after any visits with the OB.

I will post an update if anything changes. Otherwise, no news is good news.
Edited:
 
Donn Chambers
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E EspressoOrElse
Wanted to post an update. I went back to the OB today and spoke with their tech on staff. He was able to replicate the band falling off. He said when sales swapped out the bands, they did not set one of the springbars properly. He was able to replicate the issue with the same side. The bar was in “just enough” but it was not securely set. They were very apologetic. It’s been set properly and so far so good…

A special thanks to the community for all the feedback. I’m still a bit guarded. That could have been awful… I’ve ordered a jewelers magnifying glass to always double check after any visits with the OB.

I will post an update if anything changes. Otherwise, no news is good news.

Good to hear. Hopefully, that tech learned a valuable lesson and will now visually inspect the springbars when reattaching any bracelet or strap. Should have been trained to do this in the first place.
 
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