What's the deal with Mexican Omega watch bracelets?

W30bob · Oct 11, 2024

Hi Guys,

I'm curious as to why many Omega watches sold back in the day in Mexico came with bracelets made by Joske's, Holzer and J/M? There are probably others, and I'm not even sure J/M is a manufacturer and not a code of some sorts. Why were these bracelets only available in the South American market and why did Omega use them? And why didn't watches sold there have the same bracelets we got in North America? Really don't know much about this stuff, but am curious. I bought a vintage Mk II from Mexico and it came with one of these bracelets and it's the most comfortable bracelet I have. I also noticed Tissot did the same thing back in the day with their watches sold down there. If anyone knows anything about this stuff I'd love to hear. In case anyone is thinking these bracelets were aftermarket I'd say I don't think so. Pretty much every Speedy Mk II I've seen on eBay, and many other Omega watches being sold in South America come with these Mexican bracelets. That would seem a bit odd to me if the Mexican bracelets were all put on after the purchase and on one ever included the original bracelet. But let me know what you guys think.

Thanks,
bob

josiahg52 · Oct 11, 2024

Oh, they're aftermarket. It was pretty routine in those days that a watch buyer got a choice of compatible bracelets upon purchase, if desired, or at least the watch reference didn't include a specific bracelet so swapping was done often at the point of sale. Maybe the non-Omega bracelets were cheaper or maybe bracelets weren't opted for generally in those markets. By providing alternative bracelets, the dealer was able to make some money on cheaper bracelets rather than nothing at all. I don't even know if Omega commissioned these bracelets so the commercial purchase and then retail sale (i.e., profit) might be entirely on the dealer selling the watch.

Dan S · Oct 11, 2024

josiahg52
Oh, they're aftermarket. It was pretty routine in those days that a watch buyer got a choice of compatible bracelets upon purchase, if desired, or at least the watch reference didn't include a specific bracelet so swapping was done often at the point of sale. Maybe the non-Omega bracelets were cheaper or maybe bracelets weren't opted for generally in those markets. By providing alternative bracelets, the dealer was able to make some money on cheaper bracelets rather than nothing at all. I don't even know if Omega commissioned these bracelets so the commercial purchase and then retail sale (i.e., profit) might be entirely on the dealer selling the watch.

You may be misunderstanding. The OP is talking about Omega bracelets made in Mexico. See here for an example:

https://omegaforums.net/threads/omega-holzer-bracelet-im-a-believer.102300/

Thread 'Omega "Holzer" Bracelet --I'm a Believer!' ·

Many of you were helping me in my quest to reproduce a couple of vintage bracelets for the Speedmaster so that we can have some options. I decided upon two to start with, the 1039 Flat Link and...

Uncle Seiko · Sep 26, 2019

It was pretty common for various Swiss manufacturers to pair bracelets at the point of sale. Rolex did the same thing. I suspect it was to save on import duties, the same reason that watches were often cased locally.

JwRosenthal · Oct 11, 2024

The (J/M) Holzer bracelets are well known and sold not just in Mexico but also in Texas if I recall reading. As Dan said, they were paired with the watch once they arrived in the country of sale, but that does not mean they are aftermarket. They were made for omega (or Tissot or other brands) under contract to be sold with their watches much the same way watches were cased by the importer years prior to avoid certain import duties for importing complete watches. In some cases they are more rare than a Swiss bracelet appropriate for the watch and more valuable.
JBChampion was another company along with Gay Freres and C+I who all made bracelets for several major watch brands- some branded with the company name on the inner clasp some only on the clasp cover.

josiahg52 · Oct 11, 2024

Dan S
You may be misunderstanding. The OP is talking about Omega bracelets made in Mexico. See here for an example:

https://omegaforums.net/threads/omega-holzer-bracelet-im-a-believer.102300/

Thread 'Omega "Holzer" Bracelet --I'm a Believer!' ·
Many of you were helping me in my quest to reproduce a couple of vintage bracelets for the Speedmaster so that we can have some options. I decided upon two to start with, the 1039 Flat Link and...

Uncle Seiko · Sep 26, 2019

It was pretty common for various Swiss manufacturers to pair bracelets at the point of sale. Rolex did the same thing. I suspect it was to save on import duties, the same reason that watches were often cased locally.

I'm aware of them, but didn't know they were co-branded Omega. Without an Omega mark, I'd still consider them aftermarket, but also understand that the bracelet game was much different back then. I also don't know how involved Omega was in their development. I do like the idea that their creation came about to save import costs, though. While I may call them aftermarket in some cases, I do fully understand them to be "Omega" bracelets and not a detractor to pricing or originality - as much as we can be sure - in any way.

W30bob · Oct 11, 2024

Thank you all for your responses! Too bad Uncle doesn't make the Holzer in the wider 1162 theme for the Mk II......but at least I know where to get some additional links if needed. Also glad to hear others find it as comfortable as I do! For josiahg52.........all the Holzer bracelets I'm talking about were stamped with the Omega logo. Interestingly, I haven't run across any Holzer bracelets that were not branded with an Omega or Tissot logo....which makes me wonder if they sold any generic unbranded bracelets? Very interesting!

;O)

pdxleaf · Oct 12, 2024

W W30bob
Thank you all for your responses! Too bad Uncle doesn't make the Holzer in the wider 1162 theme for the Mk II......but at least I know where to get some additional links if needed.

;O)

Not yet. 😉 Have you asked him/them? They are very open to suggestions.

kaplan · Oct 12, 2024

I consider them a delicacy, I have two J/M 1040's - such rarities, not any different than regular 1040's though, Omega made a good job of enforcing the broad designs they had, when it comes to dimensions no two bracelets match anyway - J/M's I have also have very slightly different dimensions

JwRosenthal · Oct 12, 2024

https://omegaforums.net/threads/omega-holzer-jubilee-22-mm-straight-end-links.165577/

Thread 'Omega Holzer Jubilee 22 mm straight end links' ·

For sale is an Omega Holzer Jubilee bracelet in very nice condition. The bracelet has fixed, straight endlinks (22 mm), so the bracelet is ready to be installed on your watch.

Holzer Jubilees...

FS

vienna · Nov 12, 2023

W30bob · Oct 20, 2024

W W30bob
Thank you all for your responses! Too bad Uncle doesn't make the Holzer in the wider 1162 theme for the Mk II......but at least I know where to get some additional links if needed. Also glad to hear others find it as comfortable as I do! For josiahg52.........all the Holzer bracelets I'm talking about were stamped with the Omega logo. Interestingly, I haven't run across any Holzer bracelets that were not branded with an Omega or Tissot logo....which makes me wonder if they sold any generic unbranded bracelets? Very interesting!

pdxleaf
Not yet. 😉 Have you asked him/them? They are very open to suggestions.

Hi pdx,
I have not........but that's a good suggestion! You never know unless you ask!

;O)

Scottphoto · Mar 14, 2025

W W30bob
Hi Guys,

I'm curious as to why many Omega watches sold back in the day in Mexico came with bracelets made by Joske's, Holzer and J/M? There are probably others, and I'm not even sure J/M is a manufacturer and not a code of some sorts. Why were these bracelets only available in the South American market and why did Omega use them? And why didn't watches sold there have the same bracelets we got in North America? Really don't know much about this stuff, but am curious. I bought a vintage Mk II from Mexico and it came with one of these bracelets and it's the most comfortable bracelet I have. I also noticed Tissot did the same thing back in the day with their watches sold down there. If anyone knows anything about this stuff I'd love to hear. In case anyone is thinking these bracelets were aftermarket I'd say I don't think so. Pretty much every Speedy Mk II I've seen on eBay, and many other Omega watches being sold in South America come with these Mexican bracelets. That would seem a bit odd to me if the Mexican bracelets were all put on after the purchase and on one ever included the original bracelet. But let me know what you guys think.

Thanks,
bob

Hello! Needed to respond to this thread even though it’s some old now. I have a 67 165.024, a Rolex date 1500 and a ‘79 Speedmaster with a J/M bracelet on the Seamaster, a Holzher on the Speedy and a Joskes on the Rolex. I live in México and quite interested in this horological history wormhole! These bracelets were the result of Mexican protectionist policies instituted by president Avila Camacho in the 1940’s ( 1940-1946). He was attempting to mitigate the reliance on foreign producers, so with Swiss watches insisted that Mexican companies produced some aspect of the Swiss products- that’s where the bracelets came in. Holzher, J/M and Joskes ( for Rolex) were all Mexican companies that met the standards of the Swiss companies. When sold the watch head was matched to a Mexican made bracelet entirely certified and legitimized by Rolex or Omega ( and other companies surely). In this thread someone mentions Texas as a source of these bracelets- the Joskes company opened a store in Texas but there was no legal requirement outside of Mexico for new watches to be fitted with a bracelet made domestically in Mexico.

In terms of my Speedmaster it is an ST 144.022 78- the movement dates to 1979 ( my birth year) and the bracelet ( Holzher) is clearly marked 1980! So, you can easily see it’s trajectory from case stamping, assembly in Switzerland and sale in Mexico! Furthermore, the derivation of the word “Mexico” is a combo of the Spanish pronunciation of a Nahuatl ( Aztec language) word for the Valley of México and city Tenochtitlan ( currently México City) meaning “the umbilical cord of the moon.” As an American living permanently in Mexico, married to a Mexican and my son with both citizenships and the significance of the Speedmaster and the Moon references in both countries, and it my birth year I absolutely love the watch and it’s Mexican bracelet. I also bought it only 2 blocks from the center of downtown Mexico City- right in the heart of “the umbilical cord of the moon” according to the Aztecs. It’s a multi significant “Moonwatch” for sure!

If you google “Joskes Rolex” there is a great article out there on one of the big watch sites about why these bracelets existed for luxury watch companies but the article focuses on “Joskes” and Rolex. I wonder if J/M was Joskes but for Omega, maybe the same company!?Further research may yield some interesting stuff!

All 3 of these bracelets are stunning and I’d not trade them for anything!

Hope that sheds a bit more light!

Best,

Scott

W W30bob
Hi Guys,

I'm curious as to why many Omega watches sold back in the day in Mexico came with bracelets made by Joske's, Holzer and J/M? There are probably others, and I'm not even sure J/M is a manufacturer and not a code of some sorts. Why were these bracelets only available in the South American market and why did Omega use them? And why didn't watches sold there have the same bracelets we got in North America? Really don't know much about this stuff, but am curious. I bought a vintage Mk II from Mexico and it came with one of these bracelets and it's the most comfortable bracelet I have. I also noticed Tissot did the same thing back in the day with their watches sold down there. If anyone knows anything about this stuff I'd love to hear. In case anyone is thinking these bracelets were aftermarket I'd say I don't think so. Pretty much every Speedy Mk II I've seen on eBay, and many other Omega watches being sold in South America come with these Mexican bracelets. That would seem a bit odd to me if the Mexican bracelets were all put on after the purchase and on one ever included the original bracelet. But let me know what you guys think.

Thanks,
bob

Scottphoto · Mar 14, 2025

W W30bob
Hi Guys,

I'm curious as to why many Omega watches sold back in the day in Mexico came with bracelets made by Joske's, Holzer and J/M? There are probably others, and I'm not even sure J/M is a manufacturer and not a code of some sorts. Why were these bracelets only available in the South American market and why did Omega use them? And why didn't watches sold there have the same bracelets we got in North America? Really don't know much about this stuff, but am curious. I bought a vintage Mk II from Mexico and it came with one of these bracelets and it's the most comfortable bracelet I have. I also noticed Tissot did the same thing back in the day with their watches sold down there. If anyone knows anything about this stuff I'd love to hear. In case anyone is thinking these bracelets were aftermarket I'd say I don't think so. Pretty much every Speedy Mk II I've seen on eBay, and many other Omega watches being sold in South America come with these Mexican bracelets. That would seem a bit odd to me if the Mexican bracelets were all put on after the purchase and on one ever included the original bracelet. But let me know what you guys think.

Thanks,
bob

Hello! Needed to respond to this thread even though it’s some old now. I have a 60’s 165.024, a Rolex date 1500 and a ‘79 Speedmaster with a J/M bracelet on the Seamaster, a Holzher on the Speedy and a Joskes on the Rolex. I live in México and quite interested in this horological history wormhole! These bracelets were the result of Mexican protectionist policies instituted by president Avila Camacho in the 1940’s ( 1940-1946).

W W30bob
Hi Guys,

I'm curious as to why many Omega watches sold back in the day in Mexico came with bracelets made by Joske's, Holzer and J/M? There are probably others, and I'm not even sure J/M is a manufacturer and not a code of some sorts. Why were these bracelets only available in the South American market and why did Omega use them? And why didn't watches sold there have the same bracelets we got in North America? Really don't know much about this stuff, but am curious. I bought a vintage Mk II from Mexico and it came with one of these bracelets and it's the most comfortable bracelet I have. I also noticed Tissot did the same thing back in the day with their watches sold down there. If anyone knows anything about this stuff I'd love to hear. In case anyone is thinking these bracelets were aftermarket I'd say I don't think so. Pretty much every Speedy Mk II I've seen on eBay, and many other Omega watches being sold in South America come with these Mexican bracelets. That would seem a bit odd to me if the Mexican bracelets were all put on after the purchase and on one ever included the original bracelet. But let me know what you guys think.

Thanks,
bob

Scottphoto
Hello! Needed to respond to this thread even though it’s some old now. I have a 67 165.024, a Rolex date 1500 and a ‘79 Speedmaster with a J/M bracelet on the Seamaster, a Holzher on the Speedy and a Joskes on the Rolex. I live in México and quite interested in this horological history wormhole! These bracelets were the result of Mexican protectionist policies instituted by president Avila Camacho in the 1940’s ( 1940-1946). He was attempting to mitigate the reliance on foreign producers, so with Swiss watches insisted that Mexican companies produced some aspect of the Swiss products- that’s where the bracelets came in. Holzher, J/M and Joskes ( for Rolex) were all Mexican companies that met the standards of the Swiss companies. When sold the watch head was matched to a Mexican made bracelet entirely certified and legitimized by Rolex or Omega ( and other companies surely). In this thread someone mentions Texas as a source of these bracelets- the Joskes company opened a store in Texas but there was no legal requirement outside of Mexico for new watches to be fitted with a bracelet made domestically in Mexico.

In terms of my Speedmaster it is an ST 145.022 78- the movement dates to 1979 ( my birth year) and the bracelet ( Holzher) is clearly marked 1980! So, you can easily see it’s trajectory from case stamping, assembly in Switzerland and sale in Mexico! Furthermore, the derivation of the word “Mexico” is a combo of the Spanish pronunciation of a Nahuatl ( Aztec language) word for the Valley of México and city Tenochtitlan ( currently México City) meaning “the umbilical cord of the moon.” As an American living permanently in Mexico, married to a Mexican and my son with both citizenships and the significance of the Speedmaster and the Moon references in both countries, and it my birth year I absolutely love the watch and it’s Mexican bracelet. I also bought it only 2 blocks from the center of downtown Mexico City- right in the heart of “the umbilical cord of the moon” according to the Aztecs. It’s a multi significant “Moonwatch” for sure!

If you google “Joskes Rolex” there is a great article out there on one of the big watch sites about why these bracelets existed for luxury watch companies but the article focuses on “Joskes” and Rolex. I wonder if J/M was Joskes but for Omega, maybe the same company!?Further research may yield some interesting stuff!

All 3 of these bracelets are stunning and I’d not trade them for anything!

Hope that sheds a bit more light!

Best,

Scott

W W30bob
Hi Guys,

I'm curious as to why many Omega watches sold back in the day in Mexico came with bracelets made by Joske's, Holzer and J/M? There are probably others, and I'm not even sure J/M is a manufacturer and not a code of some sorts. Why were these bracelets only available in the South American market and why did Omega use them? And why didn't watches sold there have the same bracelets we got in North America? Really don't know much about this stuff, but am curious. I bought a vintage Mk II from Mexico and it came with one of these bracelets and it's the most comfortable bracelet I have. I also noticed Tissot did the same thing back in the day with their watches sold down there. If anyone knows anything about this stuff I'd love to hear. In case anyone is thinking these bracelets were aftermarket I'd say I don't think so. Pretty much every Speedy Mk II I've seen on eBay, and many other Omega watches being sold in South America come with these Mexican bracelets. That would seem a bit odd to me if the Mexican bracelets were all put on after the purchase and on one ever included the original bracelet. But let me know what you guys think.

Thanks,
bob

W30bob · Mar 14, 2025

Hi Scottphoto,

Thanks for all that info! I've got a couple Omegas now with the Holzer braceletsand I love 'em too. I've swapped the 1162 bracelet a few times on my Speedys and Speedsonics, but always come back to the Holzers.........they're just incredibly comfortable! I just picked up a gold plated JM that's on the way for a basket case Jedi I'm restoring. Thanks again for sheding some light on this one!

regards,
bob

What's the deal with Mexican Omega watch bracelets?

W30bob

josiahg52

Dan S

JwRosenthal

josiahg52

W30bob

pdxleaf

kaplan

JwRosenthal

W30bob

Scottphoto

Scottphoto

W30bob

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