It may be akin to mounting cut-rate Wal-Mart tires on your Bentley...

Sometimes a discount tire will get ya' through until you can find a reasonably priced exact fit
If I recall correctly, you are not a big fan of mesh bracelets where the springbar is exposed, and I tend to agree with that perspective...

But I just don't understand how you can be comfortable with a band or bracelet that is somewhat shy of the complete widthe between lugs!
Don't get me wrong, it didn't bother 007 either but for me, personally, it becomes one of those obsessive things where seeing the springbar becomes all I can see...

That said, this bracelet looks great! But you've got 205/75s on wheels where 245/65s will fit better, later - when you can find 'em at the right price. Or a proper rate of horse trade
But, so far, so good!

Ricky, here are some dimensions of the >>
>>center link, and total width of the extras that I have. Not sure if the taper of your bracelet is compatible, but just say the word.

As I recall, your address is:

Ricky Lee
c/o Shaggy MacPostmuncher
Sarah, Mizippi.

You can fill me in on the rest, if these will help.

Oh BTW, these dimensions are inches.

Thanks mate! I appreciate the offer!
Alas, while the .385" dimension is a match, the links I need have a .788" width. And I need four, minimum, to get the cannibalized bracelet in service.

Of course what I really need is..



..a pair of endlinks like so.

Shoot, I'd be happy to get 24mm units! It'd be a piece o' cake to file 'em down...

Quote
Dave M
As I recall, your address is:

Ricky Lee
c/o Shaggy MacPostmuncher
Sarah, Mizippi.

Got it in one!

Nice work, Ricky. (n/t)

Adds to the personality of the watch..straps & bracelets
are seasonal attire, should be changed / rotated.

i agree it looks fine - and by virtue of the coolness of the Mido, it may wear almost anything and get away looking great in any case As Kirk mentioned, if the 'dern thing fits'ya, then its a sure winner.

Hey, but this bracelet even fit as you usually have problems there? If so
And than a solid bracelet for such a price!! Actually I saw the exact same bracelets on eBay for way, way, more and heavy shipping prices to add! So this dealer just thinks he has enough profit and will sell much more items handling low prices! Everybody's happy in the end. And those who wants the jack pot charging 200% will stay empty handed.

Well, I did have to cannibalize the second bracelet I ordered of 3 links to make it fit.
The lengths that ricky_us specifies for bracelets and straps are pretty much fiction, and I'm not so happy on that score.

More on that later...

Re: More on that later...
I'm curious if ricky_us can do something for you in that matter...

Re: I'm curious if ricky_us can do something for you in that matter...
I am certainly going to give him the opportunity...

Re: I am certainly going to give him the opportunity...
I figure, he has the connection with the bracelet factory, should be easy, peasy to get some spare links from them. It would only add up to an excellent feed back on the Bay! Simple matter of GREAT SERVICE!

Re: ..should be easy, peasy to get some spare links from them.
In a perfect world, yes.

Thing is, the going rate for spare links is around US $3.00. I need 6. So even if ricky_us is at $2.00 per, I'm pretty much still better off just buying a whole 'nother bracelet and cannibalizing it.

We'll see.. I'll try to contact him today.

Re: the going rate for spare links is around US $3.00
In the States maybe... I got 6 Swatch links for free! For a second hand watch!

Re: I got 6 Swatch links for free! For a second hand watch!
Remind me again. Who was it that suggested you contact corporate in the first place?

Re: Who was it that suggested you contact Swatch corporate in the first place?
I was you, me gracious brother and I am still thankful for it, though I thanked you before as I recall!

Re: ..though I thanked you before as I recall!
Sure mate.. wasn't "fishing".

Just thought it kinda humorous that you'd tell me the story.. as if I had forgotten.

Re: that you'd tell me the story.. as if I had forgotten.
Of course I knew you didn't, only suggested, that you might get them for a lower price or even for free...I always keep my hopes up...

Re: ..only suggested, that you might get them for a lower price or even for free..
Free would be good.

But complimentary bracelet links are not something you can count on. Kudos to those vendors that adopt the policy, and they do tend to earn my repeat custom.

However, you shouldn't hold it against those that charge a modest fee for extra links. In my experience that's the norm.

So. Given that the ricky_us bracelets are already so modestly priced.. well, surely you see the potential Catch-22?

Quote
James T. Kirk©
I always keep my hopes up...

An Optimist then?

That's cool.

But I daresay that you suffer far more disappointment than us Realists.

Perfect match  (n/t)

 (n/t)

I say Push the split pin (at 12) in another .010">>
>>and enjoy it for a few days. Maybe the enjoyment will loosen your wallet a bit.

Personally, I would not tolerate the end link mismatch for very long, on a watch of that quality.

So, just how Is the Mido bracelet? I think that a properly-fitted unit would look great.

Dave is this the same bracelet you fitted to the Neptune? (n/t)

Same seller, but the bracelet I used >>
>> is the Straight-end, 20mm.

Thought so, I'm still thinking a Neptune w/ a bracelet like that is in my future
I can handle the small amount of filing/fitting you told me about

Re: So, just how Is the Mido bracelet?
Put it this way, you'd get precious little change from your $500 bill.

IOW more than I am generally willing to pay for an entire watch.

Quote
Dave M
I say Push the split pin (at 12) in another .010"..

Good eye.

Quote
Dave M
Personally, I would not tolerate the end link mismatch for very long, on a watch of that quality.

Well.. to me, a ~ $450 savings is a powerful motivation to tolerate a wee cosmetic flaw.

Quote
Dave M
I think that a properly-fitted unit would look great.

By the way, since you are probably going to go back to >>
> Nato soon, have you considered or even tried the Matatac Elite? It has become my strap of choice for knock-around service. Here's a black-stitched example on a Ministry Amphibia:



First off, they are very comfortable.

Secondly, there is a sale now, and you will get $494.00 change back from the aforementioned McKinley note.

Third, they are plenty heavy enough to stand up to a watch of that magnitude.

Fourthly, they are long. I wear mine 3 or 4 holes from the smallest setting, and as you know, my wrist size is at least in the 75th percentile of those here.

There is a rigid plastic tube in the end. If it were me, I would buy the 24mm, and notch it slightly.

http://countycomm.com/pvc.html

Re: ..have you considered or even tried the Matatac Elite?
I have had my eye on those, actually.

Quote
Dave M
..since you are probably going to go back to Nato soon..

Well.. don't rush me!

Quote
Dave M
If it were me, I would buy the 24mm, and notch it slightly.

See? We have opposing philosophies here.

Meself, I'd almost certainly go with a 22mm strap. It would be much more versatile in that I could use it on many of my other watches also.

Remember, I've been wearing the Mido on 22mm straps almost exclusively for nearly two years. The 1/2mm gap at the edges seems perfectly normal to me.

Quote
Dave M
http://countycomm.com/pvc.html

Not bad
...but a black leather strap would look better IMO...

Re: ..but a black leather strap would look better IMO..
Oddly enough, black leather is the OEM fitment:



With deployant, mind:



{sigh}

To be fair, I probably ought to give that combo another go. I'm just not a big fan of leather in general, and especially not on big heavy chronos.

I hear ya on that one. But just like everybody else...
...you gotta dress good to look good- even if it means some discomfort.

In all seriousness, leather is a pain in the tuckus when you're dealing with heavy watches and heat.

Re: ..leather is a pain in the tuckus when you're dealing with heavy watches and heat.
For roughly 6 months out of the year leather is a total no-go for me.

And it's about time to retire the leather right now.. we've already seen 90°F (32°C) once this spring.

Quote
RR218
...you gotta dress good to look good- even if it means some discomfort.

To me, bracelets look plenty good enough.

Of course bracelets do look good. Just personal taste is all... (n/t)

Not sure how I feel about this!  (n/t)

That's OK, as long as I'm sure.


Trust me, it wears Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr8!

And, hey, it's not like it's some irreversible mod, right? Odds are it'll be back on the NATO inside a month.



P.s. - Or, after Bro. RR218's post, maybe the OEM black leather.