My wife picked up an Omega Seamaster DeVille with a beads of rice bracelet at thrift shop a while back, I love the watch and would like to wear it however I need to remover quite a few links so it will fit.

Could anyone please direct me to instructions on how to do this. I already attempted to remove one link and mu poking around produced a thin long spring and metal end-cap/insert, which I immediately re-installed knowing I was headed into un-chartered waters.

Any assistance or direction would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

davidfehr

 

I actually have no idea what a beads of rice bracelet is, but maybe you should take it to an AD or boutique where they can do it for you. At least here in NYC they're nice about it

 

The beads of rice are great. But go to w watchmaker to shorten it. Not a job for a layman

 

I may be interested in your extra links

 

The BOR bracelet is choc full of springbars.

 

I took my BOR to a local AD and they took one look at it and said it had to be sent to Bienne.
Your trusted vintage watchmaker should be able to sort it for you.
the 'removable links are at the clasp end not the watch end -you can see the difference because they usually have little holes in the ends (see below)
However, they are notoriously difficult to size unless you are there in person (the paper round the wrist jobby doesn't work)

I have the wrists of a pre-pubescent girl -and BORs are really not meant for such skinny appendages

One tip -look to see if there is any adjustment on the clasp
The loose end (seen here on the right) can be very easily adjusted with a slim pointed object to reduce or enlarge the bracelet (I used the end of a 0.5mm propelling pencil) -note don't move the clasp end or the clasp won't click shut (I found that out the hard way....)

hope that helps

Philip

 

I tried to do this myself and ended up with a rice bowl. My watchmaker (definitely not an AD) was able to remove a few links and resize the bracelet in 20 minutes. You'll need a guy that's been around vintage stuff though. I wouldn't go to someone who specializes in modern watches. An old school watchmaker is your best bet.

 

OK, so other than "rice bracelet" is this a Jubilee? If so it's just like a little puzzle but not that tough.

 

Beads of Rice (or BOR), more correctly, Grains of Rice (GOR) Ω bracelet.

So called because the elements that make up the inner part of a link look like grains of rice. More evident in the second picture.

Cheers

Jim

 

Always learn something new

 

and they look great on vintage Connies and Seamasters. All photos googled, not mine:

 

I've always read the 7 row was for the Seamaster and the 9 row for the Connie. Not sure it was ever taken that seriously since these were dealer-installed options in most cases

 

Don't you mean either 5 or 7 row?

I actually queried this bracelet (7 row) which is on my 168.005 (cal 564) as to if it were correct for the watch (the bracelet is coded 1037 no.29 with 570 end links). Omega told me it was the correct bracelet and end links for that reference............of course none of that has any relevance to the OP's original question.....!

 

hello everybody, i own an Omega Constellation 1966 and i want to put a BOR bracelet on it , do you know where i can buy one ?? and how can i be sure that it gonna fit to my watch ( i have the ref number )

 

your Connie is a 168.005 dog leg case
this has an 18mm gap between lugs
my Connie -which is vey similar to yours -has a 1037, No12, 7 bead bracelet, with the number 70 stamped on the end links
period ones can be found on ebay
beware of stretched bracelets, those with a lot of links missing and facimilies

 

You need the genuine hands too.

 

good call tamura....

mine also but with lume -and aforementioned bracelet (they are SS by the way -just a trick of the light making the hand look dark)

 

thanks man , what do you think about this one ? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-195...-No-Reserve-/191710369565?hash=item2ca2d4171dPurchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network