Sourcing vintage parts from Omega - which circle of hell have I been sent to?

Marcello130 · Dec 28, 2024

Call me naive or what, but I thought it would be a good idea to buy some vintage end links from Omega directly.

Background is that the 145.017 I recently purchased came with a leather strap but I prefer metal bracelets.

So, I called the local - official - Omega boutique and was told they could deliver all those Refs I was looking for:

540 for the 1098 bracelet
555 and 527 for the 1068 BOR.

Took a few days and I got the call (I am from
Switzerland). Great.

Went to the boutique and first downer was that they forgot to send the 527. Ok, no problem, we have the 555, should work better anyways.

As I had the 1098 on the watch already, but with wrong links (526 - they scratch the case), the watchmaker changed to the 540 and I took the 555 with me as well.

Watch felt somehow strange on the way home but OK, maybe it’s me …

At home I checked the new setup in more detail and it turned out that I seemed to have received two completely different links, but with the same ref.

The one with the open „4“ fits well whereas the other one is too tight and doesn’t align with the shape of the case.

Ok, I still have the 555 so let’s try the BOR …

Marcello130 · Dec 28, 2024

Well, with the 555 it gets even worse!
I put them next to each other and they were of completely different width.
How is that now possible?
After closer inspection it turns out that the narrower of the two 555s has been somewhat manually altered, and in a very clumsy way as well.
The edges seem to have been cut or sanded, leaving super sharp edges that would have probably scratched the case had I tried to install it.
Either way, that thing is junk. The other one was fine and worked with my 1068.
So what’s going on there? Anyone made similar experiences?
And how come that the same Refs have different shapes etc?!

Marcello130 · Dec 28, 2024

Here they are alltogether ..

SOG53 · Dec 28, 2024

Did they sell these as new? I have had good experiences ordering endlinks from OB. But only after I provided exact modern
Part number.

Donn Chambers · Dec 28, 2024

SOG53
Did they sell these as new? I have had good experiences ordering endlinks from OB. But only after I provided exact modern
Part number.

Yeah. These all look used.

Marcello130 · Dec 29, 2024

SOG53
Did they sell these as new? I have had good experiences ordering endlinks from OB. But only after I provided exact modern
Part number.

Yes, they were sold as new. Attached an image of one of the sachets they came in. But I guess this is the vintage part number, not modern? Either way it does not explain the variations within the same EL number.

I once bought 1469 endlinks for the reduced from OB but these came in properly sealed, branded packaging.

vienna · Dec 29, 2024

I also have good experience with my OB when I tell them the parts number, because most of the time they have no clue about parts, but want to sell me a watch.

Normally here un Austria it takes two weeks for the parts to arrive and they come sealed in plastic with an Omega sticker including the parts number, production date and bar code.

You could try to talk to them again at the boutique, maybe the get you another „new“ set of end links.

Edit: modern original Omega end links often are different to the vintage ones, but I never got different sizes or styles in one sealed bag from them.

kind regards, Max

Marcello130 · Dec 29, 2024

Thanks for your reply! Did you buy parts from the same period of newer? I got the 1469 also sealed but they are from the 90s not 70s.

I don’t mind if vintage parts have signs of use, the problem is rather the non-matching and proper damage.

Yes I will explain the issue to them via email. As you say: they are super kind, but vintage is a topic they are absolutely not familiar with. 99% of their business is selling new watches.

But I don’t have a contact with Omega SA directly, and I think they would not do business with end users directly.

vienna · Dec 29, 2024

The last ones I ordered at the OB were 575s for a 1116 bracelet, so definitly for a vintage bracelet. As written before, they are slightly different in style compared to the vintage ones, but fit perfectly and are both exactly the same size,

kind regards, Max

Marcello130 · Dec 29, 2024

Ah, Sorry, I did not see your edit. Interesting that you got the 575 in a sealed bag!
My suspicion is that the variant with the open „4“ is the repro/newer version, as I find many more pictures on the internet with the closed 4. It also looks newer. Ironically the suspected repro is the one that fits better.

flqt-9000 · Dec 29, 2024

Marcello130
Call me naive or what, but I thought it would be a good idea to buy some vintage end links from Omega directly.

Background is that the 145.017 I recently purchased came with a leather strap but I prefer metal bracelets.

So, I called the local - official - Omega boutique and was told they could deliver all those Refs I was looking for:

540 for the 1098 bracelet

555 and 527 for the 1068 BOR.

Took a few days and I got the call (I am from
Switzerland). Great.

Went to the boutique and first downer was that they forgot to send the 527. Ok, no problem, we have the 555, should work better anyways.

As I had the 1098 on the watch already, but with wrong links (526 - they scratch the case), the watchmaker changed to the 540 and I took the 555 with me as well.

Watch felt somehow strange on the way home but OK, maybe it’s me …

At home I checked the new setup in more detail and it turned out that I seemed to have received two completely different links, but with the same ref.

The one with the open „4“ fits well whereas the other one is too tight and doesn’t align with the shape of the case.

Ok, I still have the 555 so let’s try the BOR …

I also have two different 540 end links. Write me if you want, we could make a trade!

Marcello130 · Dec 29, 2024

flqt-9000
I also have two different 540 end links. Write me if you want, we could make a trade!

Hey, great News! You have mail 😀

masteroftime · Dec 30, 2024

Unfortunately, this isn't surprising. I suspect some of the endlinks Omega has are just really old stock sorted into bins and that they haven't been reproduced in years. They probbaly reach into the bin and pull two endlinks without comparing them. Depending on how the pile is mixed, you may get two endlinks from two different production runs. I once ordered a couple pairs of the same endlinks and got some that appeared to be true vintage and others that appeared to be early service endlinks. One endlink even had a dent, but otherwise looked new. Some endlinks came in a similar wax paper envelope and others came in plastic bags. All came directly from the local service center.

While annoying, we may want to count ourselves fortunate that Omega is still selling some of these endlinks to the public. If you had to hunt for them on the open market, you may be looking for months to years and would likely pay 2-3x as much.

Marcello130 · Jan 5, 2025

masteroftime
Unfortunately, this isn't surprising. I suspect some of the endlinks Omega has are just really old stock sorted into bins and that they haven't been reproduced in years. They probbaly reach into the bin and pull two endlinks without comparing them. Depending on how the pile is mixed, you may get two endlinks from two different production runs. I once ordered a couple pairs of the same endlinks and got some that appeared to be true vintage and others that appeared to be early service endlinks. One endlink even had a dent, but otherwise looked new. Some endlinks came in a similar wax paper envelope and others came in plastic bags. All came directly from the local service center.

While annoying, we may want to count ourselves fortunate that Omega is still selling some of these endlinks to the public. If you had to hunt for them on the open market, you may be looking for months to years and would likely pay 2-3x as much.

That’s exactly what I was thinking - they gave jars with end links like we have jars of screws at home and then probably don’t pay a lot of attention when matching two.

Well now I have a new conundrum: here is a pair of solid 841 end links, this time not from the boutique but purchased in Japan. I didn’t see it in the pictures but looking closely it seems that one is polished and the other one is satinated!

Again, strange given it is the same reference!

Davidt · Jan 5, 2025

Am I missing something there? Why don’t you just go back to to boutique and discuss it with them. I’m sure they’ll sort you out.
I’ve bought several sets of endlink ls from a boutique and never had an issue. I agree I don’t think boutique staff have the slightest idea when it comes to vintage or service Endlinks but I do think they’d be motivated to sort it out.

Marcello130 · Jan 5, 2025

Davidt
Am I missing something there? Why don’t you just go back to to boutique and discuss it with them. I’m sure they’ll sort you out.
I’ve bought several sets of endlink ls from a boutique and never had an issue. I agree I don’t think boutique staff have the slightest idea when it comes to vintage or service Endlinks but I do think they’d be motivated to sort it out.

Before going back it is good knowing whether it’s a common thing to happen and that’s why I posted. Great that you did not have and issues.
By the way: I sent them an image of the broken 555 and instead of just ordering a new one, they said I have to come in with the endlinks and the watch it is intended to use with, so they can judge themselves, which means around 2 h loss of time - so overall, not a great experience so far with 3/3 possible misses ;-)
And opinions on the 841?

masteroftime · Jan 5, 2025

Marcello130
That’s exactly what I was thinking - they gave jars with end links like we have jars of screws at home and then probably don’t pay a lot of attention when matching two.

Well now I have a new conundrum: here is a pair of solid 841 end links, this time not from the boutique but purchased in Japan. I didn’t see it in the pictures but looking closely it seems that one is polished and the other one is satinated!

Again, strange given it is the same reference!

One looks new and one looks polished and unlikely to be new.

Marcello130 · Jan 5, 2025

masteroftime
One looks new and one looks polished and unlikely to be new.

So maybe I can restore the satination …

Davidt · Jan 5, 2025

Marcello130
Before going back it is good knowing whether it’s a common thing to happen and that’s why I posted. Great that you did not have and issues.
By the way: I sent them an image of the broken 555 and instead of just ordering a new one, they said I have to come in with the endlinks and the watch it is intended to use with, so they can judge themselves, which means around 2 h loss of time - so overall, not a great experience so far with 3/3 possible misses ;-)
And opinions on the 841?

It’s certainly not normal and you should absolutely go back and have them sort it unless it’s not worth the hassle to you.

This appears to answer the 841 question

https://omegaforums.net/threads/omega-ref-166-0299-%E2%80%9Cmaison-fondee%E2%80%9D-cal-1051.158788/

Thread 'Omega ref. 166.0299 “Maison Fonde'e” cal. 1051' ·

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gmmy775 · Apr 22, 2023

uk_onega · Jan 5, 2025

Maybe try and agree options with them over phone/email before going back so you don't end up wasting another trip to them