Strange bracelet in 2531.80

Joao_BRA

Hello friends,

I recently acquired this 2531.80 from a friend, who bought it pre-owned in 2022 from a well-known jewelry store in my country, with their certificate of authenticity.

I checked the watch and everything seems fine (case serial number, movement serial number, etc.).

My questions are about the bracelet. My points of concern are:

1. Laser engraving: I've never seen it on models like this. It has 825 engraved on the end links, some engraving on the clasp, and 23 S HBE on one of the end links.

2. The links have arrows in a different patterns.

3. The diving extension has a design I've never seen before.

502 to right

I currently own four of these Bond bracelets. Some have laser engraved numbers on the end links and connecting links. Some are stamped/milled. So that is not a problem. In fact, I'm certain Archer (a member here and a certified Omega watchmaker) recently responded to someone on this site that laser engraved markings on a bracelet is not a problem.

I have bracelets with each of the arrow patterns on the links. In fact, I purchased a brand new bracelet from Omega a couple of years ago and it has some links with each of the arrow styles. I never noticed it until I checked them in response to your post. I know I have never cross-exchanged links from other bracelets on this one because it was new and I always kept it segregated.

What is about the diving extension that bothers you?

Keep in mind Omega made this bracelet model from 1993 to 2012 and to the best of my knowlege, some of the production was done in China. In other words, I think the bracelets were not made all in the same factory with the exact same marking system. Thus there is some variety in the marking pattern/method.

Joao_BRA

Thanks a lot, man. I compared it with the bracelet of a friend, and it was quite different in the points I highlighted, but your observations put my mind at ease. My diving extender has a smaller diameter hole than I've typically seen. Here's an example.

T toolr

Laser engraving came on later productions of this bracelet. One point I would make is that the diver extension appears to be bent, it should follow the curve of the clasp.

502 to right

I will agree that the size of the circle on the diver's extension is smaller than the bracelets I have. That said, it's possible there's just some variation on that based on the year and where it was made.

Can you post photos of the end of the end links? That can be a tell for fake bracelets. See the photo below for a fake bracelet. The end link lacks milling lines and the vertical portions of the link (the little rectangles) does not look very defined.

502 to right

I will agree that the size of the circle on the diver's extension is smaller than the bracelets I have. That said, it's possible there's just some variation on that based on the year and where it was made.

Can you post photos of the end of the end links? That can be a tell for fake bracelets. See the top photo below for a fake bracelet. The end link lacks milling lines and the vertical portions of the link (the little rectangles) does not look very defined.

The photo at the bottom is my new(ish) OEM bracelet I bought in package from Omega (through an AD).

502 to right

I will agree that the size of the circle on the diver's extension is smaller than the bracelets I have. That said, it's possible there's just some variation on that based on the year and where it was made.

Can you post photos of the end of the end links? That can be a tell for fake bracelets. See the top photo below for a fake bracelet. The end link lacks milling lines and the vertical portions of the link (the little rectangles) does not look very defined.

The photo at the bottom is my new(ish) OEM bracelet I bought in package from Omega (through an AD).

10mmauto

It all looks OK to me. On a watch/bracelet that old, sold as many times as it probably was been, it is likely to be a mishmash of parts. If it bothers you that much, why not just by another bracelet? They are easy to find.

Archer

There are two spots on the dive extension that lock it into the rest of the clasp - can you please show those in more detail?

Archer

The photos are blurry, but it appears that there are small spring loaded plungers in the dive extension, is that right? I'm not used to seeing those on stainless bracelets - I only recall seeing those on titanium bracelets.

Steel bracelets usually have small indentations in that spot, like this:

They provide the friction needed to keep the dive extension closed. Seeing that one a steel bracelet makes me wonder, as does the small size of the hole...