Omega Bracelet Clasp Quality Issues

[scarabei]

I want to share my experience with Omega quality control (QC) as it relates to the bracelet clasps on the newer Seamaster Pro, Planet Ocean 8500, and, regrettably, even the Speedmaster watches. I want to highlight this because the public needs to be aware of Omega cutting corners, while raising prices in an attempt to compete with Rolex. Shame on Omega!

Omega PO 8500 was my grail luxury watch..... until I actually purchased one. After spending some time with the watch, I became acutely aware of the sharp rough edges on the bracelet clasp. At first, I thought my watch was a fake. There is no way a $6k Omega can have an unrefined bracelet clasp! So I went to Omega boutique in Las Vegas to confirm. I surveyed 5 watches:

- two PO 8500s (one 42mm and one 45.5mm)
- one PO chrono
- one SMPc
- one Speedmaster 311.30.42.30.01.006

All five watches had clasp finish that was NOT uniform. It's like someone was polishing the clasp by hand on a rotary wheel. My friend has a 2013 Speedmaster 3573.50. Same issue.... My $1500 Oris Aquis has a PERFECT cast clasp. Why can't a $6,200 Omega?!!!!! Below are pics taken with my iPhone, so the focus is a bit off. But you get the idea.





Another issue. I expect my clasp to be flush with the bracelet. Instead it angles, wobbles and pivots. Notice how the left side of the buckle does not lie flat with the buckle:





When I wear the watch on my right hand, the buckle is flush with the bracelet:



I am not a big fan of Rolex, but I got to give it to them. Their watches are PERFECT. Omega is NOT. If you have money, spending $4k on a used PO 8500 for a "beat around watch" is fine. But if you want a LUXURY watch that is impeccable, look at another brand. Omega is not ready for the LUXURY prime time just yet, no matter the marketing.

[DCheeta]

I have to say, I'm not really sure what you're referring to.

[Silvio Mosiello]

Sent from my Motorola Razor

[Wesley Crusher]

Originally Posted by DCheeta

I have to say, I'm not really sure what you're referring to.

That makes two of us.

[john_s4]

I am not a big fan of Rolex, but I got to give it to them. Their watches are PERFECT. Omega is NOT.

So you complain about a bracelet and say the watch is rubbish and would like a stamped out but of metal on your wrist, I would take my rose tinted glasses off and get back into the real world.

Now where's your rant about Iphone cameras being rubbish compared to leika.

[Mastergreenhand]

[dysondiver]

looks like the clasp has had a twist ,,,, hard to tell from those pics ,
i had a few of the older seamasters , usually the mid size and found the pro clasp so good i had it fitted to my seamaster 120 , granted it was the previous clasp to the one you have shown but the engineering in it was exemplary and i dont impress easily.

[WyoWatch]

.

[vman]

There is a twist on the clasp.

Omega is not a luxury watch.

You should see Rolex bracelets of the past...

[FTX I]

Not the best way to share your views and have a serious discussion, but maybe this pic has something to do with the problem.

[scarabei]

I am not sure the reason for some of the standoffish replies. Point is simple:
new generation bracelet clasps on Omega PO, SMPc and Speedmaster have sharp edges and uneven finish that vary wildly between watches.

This applies even to watches sitting in the same storefront window.

There are couple threads on watchuseek on the subject. Here are some more pics from SMPc bracelet.

When I spend $6k on a watch and have a crappy bracelet clasp, it makes me wonder where else did Omega cut corners.

[dysondiver]

if the edge there is the only problem , id just wrap a bit of 600 wet and dry paper round a pencil rubber , or the likes and smooth it down till it pleases you ,,,
older ones were better finished than that.

[scarabei]

The old clasps WERE finished better! Now let me take some wet sand paper to my $6k watch :-)

[dysondiver]

Originally Posted by scarabei

The old clasps WERE finished better! Now let me take some wet sand paper to my $6k watch :-)

and a wee bit of brasso , just to polish the marks out ,,, perfect ,,,
nothing wrong with taking a bit of wet and dry to it ,,, looks like someone else has ,,, about 240 though......... good luck , look forwards to the new pics.
are you sure the other end link pin hasnt got a twist.

[MP5]

No wonder the replica omega bracelets are so good-they are made the same place! Or so I'm told

[And]

Apart from the clasp not sitting correclty on the left hand wrist shot, an issue I've never seen before, I can't see what the problem is here.

I'm certainly very happy with the quality of Omega clasps.

[applebook]

Not only has the finish become very mediocre, but the clasp designs have always been bad for a mid-range watch.

The weakest link of all Speedmaster/SM/PO bracelets is the folding clasp insert pin, which I had the misfortune of bending slightly and thereby ruining the integrity of the bracelet just like that. The worst part is that OMEGA doesn't sell replacement pins to fix their weakest link, so I have to get an entire clasp assembly as a replacement.

The new screw link bracelets also have the same poorly designed clasp pins --not to mention that the screw links aren't true, single-screw links like on Rolex and most other watches around the same (and even lower) price range.

The friction clip which retains the clasp button is also very weak.

It doesn't matter what Rolex used to have because what they offer now is substantially superior. At least older Rolex bracelets could be fixed easily and inexpensively. At first glance, OMEGA bracelets look substantial, but their weakest points are about as feeble as they come.

[scarabei]

At least the finish of the edges on your replacement clasp looks smooth :-)

I have to concede, today I finally found a PO with perfectly finished bracelet clasp. One in a dozen....

What happened to Six Sigma approach to manufacturing?!!

[Rashid.bk]

I honestly can't see the issue except maybe that it's twisted but that could be the way you're contorting your wrist and then taking a picture, don't know...just saying though.
Maybe you got a bum clasp. I've owned two different POs, 25/8500 and the clasps were just fine to me. The only issue I had was that on my 2500 if I bent my hand/wrist toward my bicep the clasp would get activated and pop off. It was a rare thing but it did happen. Otherwise I found my Omegas to have very good clasps and until recently better than Rolex.

Qc issues sprout up every once in a while, Rolex had a string of clasp defects also but they remedied this asap, seems Omega might be having a spell now. Best thing is to take it in to a service centre and see what they say. Good luck and keep us posted.

[Railmaster]

Agree about the issues mentioned here. Irritating that while they replaced the Speedy bracelet , there still no micro-adjust :/

[asadtiger]

oh dear sir, if someone was hand finishing the bracelets and clasps, and better still, doing it un-evenly to give it a non-machine finish and an actual feel of hand finish, I do not think you could imagine what price this piece should command ;) in the world of luxury, it is a great thing you think it was hand made and finished :D

[joe100]

Omega bracelets are fine. My AT bracelet is one of the best bracelets on any watch, ever.

The double screw cap link pins are a superior design to the single screws rolex use. The train Omega did this was to prevent the screws from backing out since the pin in the middle is free-floating.

[scarabei]

Hey folks. Wanted to bring some closure to this thread.

Brought my PO 8500 to my watch guy. He took a look at the bracelet clasp. Shook his head about the subpar finish around the edges. Polished out the clasp to how Omega "intended" it to be.

The wobble and "twisting clasp" issue was resolved by replacing the OEM Omega spring bar in the center of the clasp with a 3rd party spring bar that is actually sturdy. No more twisting of the clasp.

Total cost = $10.

My guy didn't even want to charge me. Problem solved! Still shame on Omega for these glaring lapses in QC after almost doubling the price of their collection.

[dysondiver]

at least its a result , and not a lot of cash ,,, find it hard to understand why omega would use a spring bar that wasnt theirs though.

[applebook]

Originally Posted by joe100

Omega bracelets are fine. My AT bracelet is one of the best bracelets on any watch, ever.

The double screw cap link pins are a superior design to the single screws rolex use. The train Omega did this was to prevent the screws from backing out since the pin in the middle is free-floating.

I don't know how anyone can consider a 3-piece design (with a fairly thin link in the center) as superior to a single, solid and much thicker link used by virtually all of the top makes --IWC, Rolex, Blancpain, etc.

OMEGA went with this design because it's cheap and easy to do...especially in China.

I guess people have very low standards today for bracelets that OMEGA charges upwards of $1k for.

[scarabei]

Resurrecting an old thread. I want to give big kudos to Omega Boutique in Tysons Corner (outside DC). The store replaced my buckle free of charge. The new buckle fits better than the old one. I don't have any issues with the bracelet anymore. The clasp edges were still sharp, but at least the new clasp didn't exhibit the "pivot" behavior of its predecessor. At least Omega took responsibility for their product.

Btw, out of curiosity, we looked at a bunch of bracelet clasps on Speedmasters and Seamasters right there at the boutique. The sales clerk was astonished to find all of the clasps exhibiting the "hand finish special." I guess having an engineering OCD background I care more than the average Joe shelling out $7k for a watch.