Unused 1950s Strap - wear or not wear?

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Deeps

·Sep 30, 2023

Hi
My 1957 18k Seamaster came with an unused Omega brown leather strap when I bought it. (It’s currently on a gold bracelet). This includes a nice, 9k Omega MWF buckle (18mm, I think).
My question is: shall I fit the leather to the watch and wear the watch as it was originally intended to be worn by Omega, or keep the strap as genuinely unused because it must be rare to find one that is essentially new old stock? I’m caught between two stools on this one: once it is worn, it is literally worn. Do you think it is better to just buy a nice, good quality modern leather strap and leave the unused original as exactly that? I should add that I am unlikely to wear the watch that much and it will spend most of the time in its box.
Thanks

 

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MtV

·Sep 30, 2023

Welcome aboard!

Lovely buckle you got there, I'm a big fan of that style. Regarding the strap: Let's ignore value etc. for a while: Ask yourself if you want to trust ~70 year old leather to keep your watch on the wrist. I know I don't. However, why not have someone like Matteo from Torrestraps make a brand-new, hand-made strap in exactly that period style, equip it with the buckle and enjoy the watch?

Speaking of the watch, we do like pictures here, so if you care to share one of your Seamaster... 😀

 

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Deeps

·Sep 30, 2023

I took the plunge and put the leather on today. I think it certainly suits the watch, more than the gold bracelet it previously had. I’m over the moon!
The strap’s fixings seem very strong and robust, literally as good as new, so I think the watch is secure on this.
As requested, I’ve taken some photographs. The buckle is 16mm, not 18mm.
Movement is calibre 501, 20 jewels. Serial number is 15.1 million, dating to 1956. I assume the strap is the same date as it came with the watch when originally sold.

 

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Francesco001

·Oct 2, 2023

D Deeps

I took the plunge and put the leather on today. I think it certainly suits the watch, more than the gold bracelet it previously had. I’m over the moon!
The strap’s fixings seem very strong and robust, literally as good as new, so I think the watch is secure on this.
As requested, I’ve taken some photographs. The buckle is 16mm, not 18mm.
Movement is calibre 501, 20 jewels. Serial number is 15.1 million, dating to 1956. I assume the strap is the same date as it came with the watch when originally sold.

Can I ask you how much did you pay for this beautiful Seamaster vintage?

 

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Dan S

·Oct 2, 2023

Personally, I would put the strap aside and save it.

 

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Boojumhunter

·Oct 2, 2023

Life's too short. Wear it — it looks great! And perhaps someone like @Duracuir1 might be able to advise on some magical leather conditioner that will keep a 70-year-old hunk of animal hide strong and supple?

 

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gatorcpa

·Oct 2, 2023·ΩF InvestiGator

Dan S

Personally, I would put the strap aside and save it.

By all means, use the buckle!
gatorcpa

 

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Duracuir1

·Oct 2, 2023·Never Used A Kodak

Boojumhunter

Life's too short. Wear it — it looks great! And perhaps someone like @Duracuir1 might be able to advise on some magical leather conditioner that will keep a 70-year-old hunk of animal hide strong and supple?

Tough call. I’ve handled old straps that worked just fine, while other seemed ok but split at the spring bar or buckle. Neats foot oil will condition the leather but it will darken it.

Saddle soap works well also but I’ve never used it on watch straps.

So many great straps available out there. If Matteo makes these, park the old strap and enjoy the safety of a new one. And yes, use the buckle.

 

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Vitezi

·Oct 2, 2023

I find old leather straps tend to disintegrate rather quickly, especially the stitching.

Instead, take your vintage strap to a custom strapmaker (there are many recommendations on this forum) and ask them to replicate it. You can transfer the vintage buckle to the new strap.

 

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Deeps

·Oct 2, 2023

Thanks everyone
I’m thinking the watch isn’t likely to come out of its box on many occasions, so I’m tempted just to leave it as Omega intended all those years ago, on the leather strap. The aesthetic alone is wonderful; it looks as if it was bought new yesterday.

 

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JPE.88305

·Oct 2, 2023

Ditto the recommendation to add a small amount of conditioner or leather oil...if you're only going to wear it sparingly, the leather will disintegrate eventually.
Oils from your skin naturally darken leather but also moisten it; not wearing it will hasten it drying out.

 

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PerJ

·Oct 2, 2023

D Deeps

I took the plunge and put the leather on today. I think it certainly suits the watch, more than the gold bracelet it previously had. I’m over the moon!
The strap’s fixings seem very strong and robust, literally as good as new, so I think the watch is secure on this.
As requested, I’ve taken some photographs. The buckle is 16mm, not 18mm.
Movement is calibre 501, 20 jewels. Serial number is 15.1 million, dating to 1956. I assume the strap is the same date as it came with the watch when originally sold.

Gorgeous condition! Thank you for sharing.

 

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Syrte

·Oct 2, 2023·MWR Tech Support Dept

A beautiful watch on a beautiful strap.
But I agree it’s hazardous for both the watch and the strap to use this strap on the watch.
And it’s a real shame to leave the watch unworn.

Someone once gifted me a vintage, new pigskin strap and a few days later as I looked on my wrist I found the part that wraps around the spring bar was almost entirely torn.

 

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Zman4eva

·Oct 2, 2023

I personally wouldn't wear a vintage strap. Once it's gone, it's gone. There is no servicing or repairing it. I always switch out the included strap or bracelet for a generic one.

 

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OllieOnTheRocks

·Oct 2, 2023

I'm on the side of using the strap, that is after all what it was made for - to be worn and enjoyed. I have several of these old omega straps from the 50s and they're all still going strong. Not had one fail yet, but I don't wear any of my watches as "beaters". I might consider rubbing some mink oil into the leather just to nourish it but that's it.

 

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Deeps

·Oct 2, 2023

Now I’m thinking of changing my mind and simply leaving it as an unused, original strap in its original box, with the original watch.
The majority opinion on the forum seems to be not to have it fitted to the watch. does anyone know how Omega would have originally shipped the watch and strap in the box? I mean, did they fit the strap or leave it unattached to the watch head?

 

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impalla62ss

·Oct 2, 2023

I have stocked up in vintage straps before they went up. I have had good luck and they have held up better than I expected. It is up to you, but a vintage strap is worth the $100. At that cost, I would wear it and enjoy. Especially true if you wear the watch infrequently.