Just received my Forstner Flat Link today. I think Ultraman looks ultra cool on this bracelet:

 

Looks great indeed. Difficult to see but it looks like the links fits to the case but sits slightly lower?

 

Yes, the end links do sit a little low.

 

Looks just fine to me.
Very nice combo indeed.

 

One tip re this bracelet - use the supplied spring bars. I first tried fitting the original Omega spring bars. It was 15 minutes of frustration which ended in failure and some minor scratches for my troubles. For some reason, the supplied spring bars work better with the end links.

 

That bracelet sure looks nice!! I think it also speaks to just how classic the flat-link bracelet is, and just how well it pairs with the classic original Speedmaster case. I'm glad that Omega brought this back in stainless for their 321 line, and hope it comes back as something available for the Speedmaster Professional line as well!

That said, I'm wondering if @Archer may be able to offer insights, experience, or cautionary tales, if any, with using aftermarket spring bars vs OEM Omega spring bars. I don't know whether I am being overly cautious or not, but thinking about it, spring bars seem to be the one critical item that if they fail, that single item can lead to the watch suffering bad consequences (e.g., falls from your wrist onto street, sidewalk, or tile floor if you're particularly unlucky).

 

This is interesting, but I would ask, what is your assessment of the difference between the two? Length, width, spring tension? Maybe post a photo of them side by side?

 

Depending on the watch, the Omega spring bars are too long and often do not compress enough to allow the end links to fit. That’s why we supply bars

 

FWIW I’ve never had a problem with aftermarket spring bars failing (ours or anyone else’s), resulting in a watch falling off or something awful like that, and this includes all my time collecting before starting Forstner.

 

The Omega spring bar was a tiny bit longer.

Here’s another look at the bracelet and end link:

 

Like you I have never had a spring bar of any type fail but have heard the occasional anecdote of it happening.
That said, although I am no expert, I would have thought the chances of spring bar failure in a solid snug fitting end link where the bar is held straight and pressures fairly uniform would be very improbable.
Spring bars with less substantial end links, Nato, fabric or leather straps where the pressure could be less uniform I could believe even though I have only heard of a small number of occasions of any such issues.

 

Did you use Omega spring bars for bracelet or strap? Strap spring bars are 1mm longer, or rather the bracelet spring bars that came with my modern Speedmaster Pro are 1mm shorter than the ones included in the suitcase for the straps.

Bracelet spring bar on top, strap spring bar on bottom. Small bag is product code for strap spring bars.

 

If you used the Omega springbars that were supplied with your ultraman leather strap, then they would be a bit longer than the omega springbars if your ultraman were supplied by Omega with a bracelet (and thus cause the problems you and many describe, when installed with a bracelet...I have helped at least 3 buddies who thought the endlinks were ‘wrong’ because of using the wrong length springbars, and scratched the heck out of their watches )

When asking my OB for springbars, they kindly gave me this (and explained nicely what the code on the packet meant)



Left : shortest : 19mm metal (bracelet) springbars.
Middle : 19mm leather / 20mm metal (bracelet) springbars.
Right : longest : 20mm leather springbars.

I guess the 4 digit codes mean something related to part number on the extranet (or whatever it’s called) that @Archer has most likely posted on several threads here somewhere.

ps: looks like the post above and I were writing/editing at the same time

 

Yup that was me And the product code on my little bag says 2208 just like yours on the far right for 20mm leather straps.

I think this is probably the issue. I once mounted the Forstner Komfit with the 2208 spring bars and struggled to remove it! That was a dumb mistake on my part.

 

The Ultraman doesn’t come with a bracelet, so I guess its spring bars are not for use with bracelet. Makes sense. Thanks!

 

Yeah it would be quite tight using strap spring bars on SEL.

 

Full partscode starts with 068ST220X for all, however I was told 2206 was the correct springbar for a leather strap on 19mm lugs.

 

And if I'm not mistaken, they are all 1.8mm in width thickness which is IMHO important.

 

Sure...if the shorter springbar works with metal, it should work with leather too. If I were to speculate the reason suggested for using slightly longer with leather : it’s safer due to pliable nature of leather (which also means it’s not a problem to uninstall, unlike if it were installed in a solid metal springbar).

 

Leather or similar can actually pull out a spring bar from its place and that is why one uses the type with the extra length.