Breitling 24mm mesh quest continues...

[Del 4,461]

Objective: Source a gen-like 24mm mesh bracelet for a Breitling SuperOcean Heritage 46mm.

 

 

I've been checking out available 24mm mesh bracelets for my SOHv2 - again! There wasn't much change since the last time I looked with the main options being:-

1. Gen mesh - circa £500 new. I even bid on a brand new gen mesh on eBay today hoping that I might have picked up a bargain but it ended up going for circa £400 - a reasonable bargain if you were going to buy one anyway but I can't bring myself to pay that amount for a bracelet (not yet anyway - might depend on how the quest develops!). :dunno:
    
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2. Staib mesh - circa £80. Generally accepted as the best alternative to the gen mesh with a polished finish. Unfortunately, from the reviews I've read it won't size below 7" to 7.5" so my 6.75" wrist has no hope.
    
   http://www.watch-ban...-stainless.html
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3. Vollmer mesh - crica £57. Also a polished finish but it has even less adjustment that the Staib - about 15mm.
    
   http://www.watch-ban...-stainless.html
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4. Rep mesh - actual cost unknown. Almost no adjustment so generally useless except if your name is George and you live in LA.
    
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   Which takes me to eBay options:-
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5. Brushed finish, Staib-type with hidden clasp but more adjustable, Hong Kong, £59. A potential option. :dunno:
    
   http://www.ebay.co.u...=item35bb652aa5
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6. Brushed finish, normal clasp but very little adjustment, Hong Kong, £31. Nope.
    
   http://www.ebay.co.u...=item3375c6f6f2
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7. Brushed finish, normal clasp and adjustable, UK, £35. A potential option. :dunno:
    
   http://www.ebay.co.u...=item43b135637e
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8. Polished finish (I think), unique clasp where the mesh strap slides through it and is locked into position at the desired size so is probably more adjustable than any, UK, £60. A potential option. :dunno:
    
   http://www.ebay.co.u...=item2a1f9f8c99
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9. Getting back to gen mesh - here is one used but in excellent condition (apparently) with a starting bid of £399. Tempted but no!
    
   http://www.ebay.co.u...=item33794753af
   

 

So that's about it folks. I'm not sure whether to order one or not. I think for me (gen mesh aside) probably 5, 7 or 8 would be my only options - #8 with the sliding clasp design was new to me and might just edge it if it does actually have a polished finish.

 

Any thoughts?

 

[sconehead 5]

...isn't the gen mesh tapered as well?

[dalboy 2]

Del,

 

My input would be no 7 quite like it ...dont fancy 5 or 8.not a bad price either..

 

Good luck , i'm sure you decision will be the right one ....it normally is.

 

Dal.....

[onionbag 1]

I have a couple, both from this guy. http://stores.ebay.c...d=p4634.c0.m322

 

A polished bracelet is what you really need, but they're rarer than hen's teeth at a decent price, and with enough adjustment.

 

Edit to add. The rep one is shite, poorly finished and as you say no adjustment, now if only they made the same one as on the Transocean....but in 24mm.

[Lord Flashheart 0]

Perhaps I should enter the bracelet manufacturing business, plenty of raw material in the armoury at Flashheart Manor

 

 

Good luck with your quest Derek

[stiltzkin 0]

Perhaps a couple more options...

 

To get my gen mesh, I posted a WTB on Breitling Source. I since sold it and since then regretted selling it and shall be posting a WTB on Breitling Source for a mesh for my replacement SOH to replace the one I sold.

 

Did I mention I regretted selling it? (and yes, I think you were one of those who said I would )

 

My other option is to see what is going on on the rep market...

 

MR have this, which look adjustable, but is 22mm for the transocean. But if they are repping this, maybe the 24mm adjustable version as well?

 

http://www.marvellousreplica.com/products_detail.php?ProId=1558

 

Just a thought...

 

Good luck!

 

(I personally don't like any of the aftermarket mesh straps, not on the SOH anyway - just my opinion though)

[Del 4,461]

Thanks guys.

 

Yes Sconey, the gen mesh is tapered - I forgot to mention that. So you actually get less steel in the most expensive band!

 

Thanks onion - looks like the same design of bracelets in that site.

[onionbag 1]

Good thinking M'lud......a pair of tin-snips and willing pair of hands............and they're you're off.

[stiltzkin 0]

 

Edit to add. The rep one is shite, poorly finished and as you say no adjustment, now if only they made the same one as on the Transocean....but in 24mm.

 

Ok, that's my second option out of the water...

 

WTB on the gen boards is all I've got... Hardly imaginative.

[Del 4,461]

@ Lord FH!

 

@ stiltkin - I was looking back at your listing today and our PMs! I should have bought your's...... Maybe Dendo would sell you it back?! I've beeing looking on Breitling Source too and saw one or two that were sold - again though at a healthy price. Much as I would love a gen mesh, for now I think it's too much to spend on a bracelet. But you never know....

[stiltzkin 0]

Do these rep factories not take requests? If not, can we put in a request for them to take requests?

 

A decent rep mesh would fly off the shelf...

 

Good luck Del!!

[digger2 0]

I have number 7 and I am happy with it and have used it for about 6 months on my SOH chrono.

[Del 4,461]

Thanks digger.

 

@ stiltz - the rep factories might eventually make a 24mm adjustable mesh - there is a 22mm version already - but who knows when or if it will be.

 

[sconehead 5]

BTW Del, I have 2 and 7 on two of my V2's...both are good and agreed, I could do with the Staib having a little bit more adjustment for my 7.25 wrist...but at the end of the day, the rep rubber is excellent if none of the above float your boat re-function or price point...

[Del 4,461]

Thanks Sconey - great feedback.

[Del 4,461]

Oh man, I really want a gen mesh!

 

 

 

 

[greg_r 81]

I've had quite a few different third-party mesh and none are that satisfactory. The Staib is the best, but not much like the gen. I've also got the Vollmer, which isn't that great. The others mostly suck (the majority are brushed, too, which means they suck even more). Strapcode.com have a few alternatives that you might want to look at, but none of 'em are that inspiring.

 

I currently have a gen Rotary mesh on my v3 SOH, which is the best I've yet had, but it has become abundantly clear that I need to buy the gen Breit bracelet. Hell, I should have bought that in the first place - I've probably spent close to that price on various unsatisfactory third-party mesh over the years...

[Del 4,461]

Thanks G.

 

I'm beginning to come round to thinking that I either buy the gen mesh or just stick with the Ocean Racer rubber - I suspect that I won't be happy with any of the third-party options in the long-run.

[ReplicaFromDownunder 2]

Hi Del.

 

I have been on the same QUEST for some time.

 

Dealers have now listed a thicker more gen like 1:1 mesh for a 24mm fit. I have had my eyes out on it for a long time.

Josh has one listed but I have ordered and paid for the same one from Rochest. I will let you know how it is.

 

It is 1:1 Thickness and also has end removable links as per the gen.

http://www.1-pc8838.com/bla10099-steel-mesh-bracelet-24mm-selected-breitling-p-8254.html

 

Rochest was able to get it for me for $50.00

[greg_r 81]

That's why i have 2 blue SOH. My v2 stays on the OR band and the V3 is on the Rotary mesh...

 

 

Yes, I should have just bought the gen mesh....

[offshore 0]

@Del, I have seen photos of a mesh like the Shark, with the removeable sections at the clasp for sizing- like this-

http://www.ebay.com/itm/20MM-STAINLESS-STEEL-SHARK-MESH-BRACELET-Diving-Watch-/180933953969?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a208109b1#ht_2595wt_1163

in 18/20/22and 24mm, which is supposedly to be available at the HK fair in September.

Have talked with the manufacturer, and it is the top of my list to get done.

So that may be another option.....Wait!

 

Offshore

[greg_r 81]

Hi Del.

 

I have been on the same QUEST for some time.

 

Dealers have now listed a thicker more gen like 1:1 mesh for a 24mm fit. I have had my eyes out on it for a long time.

Josh has one listed but I have ordered and paid for the same one from Rochest. I will let you know how it is.

 

It is 1:1 Thickness and also has end removable links as per the gen.

http://www.1-pc8838....ing-p-8254.html

 

Rochest was able to get it for me for $50.00

 

The bracelet you've linked to is the old version and doesn't have removable end links... Hoping that's not the one you're actually getting - I'd be a seriously happy man if you've managed to find a proper rep of the SOH bracelet

[Del 4,461]

@ offshore - thanks mate, sounds interesting!

 

@ replica - so there is now a 24mm, adjustable, rep Breitling mesh bracelet? That's also very interesting, and surprising!

 

Thanks guys!

[Corv99 2]

bloody hell who would think it was so complicated to buy a mesh that fits!!

 

for me, polished is defintely the way to go, so I guess 8..

 

this is one of these things that will annoy you if you don't get the one you want ( gen aside!)

 

not sure of how these are put together, obviously as you say adjusting is out, but what about more extreme, finding someone with correct tools to cut and shorten

if it would'nt be obviously visible, i.e behind the deployment so not visible... quite drastic, but may work

[Del 4,461]

bloody hell who would think it was so complicated to buy a mesh that fits!!

It's crazy!

 

@ ReplicaFromDownunder - as G said, the link you provided is for an old mesh that doesn't look like it has adjustable links, even although the listing says it does. There is a 22mm version for $85 that has removable mesh links similar to the gen so perhaps this is now available in 24mm and that is what Rochest has sourced for you? Did you get QC pics? I'd be very grateful if you'd post them in this thread.