So where are you on buckles?

One of the pleasures of being into watches is the, dare I say, art, of matching a watch to a strap or bracelet. It can be genuinely transformational, and I do believe there's almost as much joy to be derived from finding a strap that perfectly complements the piece. It's not just about colours or materials - a tool watch needs an appropriate strap based on a number of factors, but that doesn't mean the strap needs to be contemporaneous to the date of manufacture of the watch. A modern silicone strap can look great paired with a 70s diver, and I would have no problem with that. On the other hand, some collectors look for authenticity - a 1964 gold-filled pie-pan must have a strap or bracelet that it would have possibly been sold with.

Many OF members pair their Omegas with non-Omega straps. But what do you think about buckles? Since it's fairly easy to find an Omega branded buckle to match a watch in terms of finish and size, do you tend to swap out generic buckles for an Omega buckle even if it's going on a non-Omega strap, or does that not bother you?

I've always swapped buckles with OEM ones on aftermarket... I am torn between a clasp or buckle for my 1861.
Would love to see examples of aftermarket straps on Omega clasps here ...

I 100% agree!!! I will not wear a vintage watch on a strap without a vintage buckle, and I find myself always buying them when I see good and rare ones available (usually when I don’t need them) as you seem to never be able to find them when you do. To me its a microcosm of watch collecting itself... And the best part is no one will ever notice or care but you ... M

I don't personally do lean one way or the other with respect to vintage buckles but as always with this hobby you should please yourself. No one here will ever see your buckle, unless of course you choose to show it off to an appreciative audience. And even on OF that audience is a tiny fraction of a vanishingly teensy fraction of the general population who don't care what watch you're wearing, much less which buckle is on it. 😀

I agree. The only caveat to my use of vintage buckles on my pieces are NATO straps (obviously) and for dive watches when I sport a contemporary rubber strap (for which a vintage buckle doesn't make sense).....

I would note that you have to be careful with some vintage buckles in determining truly vintage vs. remakes. But once you figure out what you are looking for, you can avoid those mistakes. I also buy vintage straps -- but I seldom put them into use -- the good ones go in the drawer. Same thing applies.... You just have to be careful and know what you are looking for.... M