@ 38MM minus crown 19MM lugs paired with: NASA BRACELET by Jacoby Bender, Inc. U.S.A. aka: JB Champion USA (not Forstner reproduction)

1967 OMEGA SEAMASTER 120 SKIN DIVER manual wind caliber 601 no date complication Case Ref.# - 0026ST-135.027 single crown screw down case back EPSA.

Diver strap: 19MM BEST FIT Swiss Tropic MOD DEP curved end with 1960's-70's stainless steel Omega buckle with hand etched markings on the underside.

The Seamaster 300 was for the PROFESSIONAL Diver and here we have it's little brother made for the weekend warrior.

• First Generation (1966–1967): Factory tested and rated for 393.70FEET (120 meters static) of water resistance. 
• Second Generation (1968–1969): The rating was lowered to 196.85FEET (60 meters static) of water resistance, The 1968/69 batch was also offered with a RED seconds sweep hand that is edxactly the same as the white sweep hand seen in the photos, be careful of pieces being sold with the RED seconds sweep hand taken from a 1968 Omega 'Admiralty' Ref. ST 135.015 this in not the correct RED seconds pylon for this model.

DATE OF MANUFACTURE for this watch is done thru the mvmnt serial number -

• 1966:  Serial numbers 23,000,000 – 24,999,999
• 1967:  Serial numbers 25,000,000 – 25,999,999 
• 1968: Serial numbers 26,000,000 – 27,999,999
• 1969: Serial numbers 28,000,000 – 31,999,999

 

@ 37MM minus crown and 10MM thick Omega launched the Seamaster 120 in 1966 as a specialist model for scuba (skin) diving enthusiasts this particular model more so on the shallow depth, snorkeling side of the sport. Beneath the model reference inside the case back is the tiny coded mark of case maker Erwin Piquerez SA (EPSA) of St. Hubert, 2854 Bassecourt.

OMEGA 600 series mvmnt -

The 600 series of hand wound movements, assigned the calibre numbers 600 to 613 [launched in the 1960's] are so well made that any competent watch maker can calibrate them to meet and perform to modern day CHRONOMETER standards of + / - 3 seconds per day.

PERIOD CORRECT FACTORY bracelet/ strap options:

19MM Omega CorFam either smooth and or textured strap

19MM BEST FIT Swiss Tropic MOD DEP curved end with Omega buckle

19MM Omega branded JB Champion USA stainless steel with solid oval links bracelet ref.# OST-1098 with ref.# 547 end links

1967 OMEGA SEAMASTER 120 SKIN DIVER

The Gentleman's SEAMASTER 120 came in 4 models:

Case ref.# - 135.027 ....... Manual Movement, No Date, Caliber 601
Case ref.# - 136.027 ........Manual Movement, with Date, Caliber 613
Case ref.# - 165.027 ........ Auto Movement, No Date, Caliber 552
Case ref.# - 166.027 ........ Auto Movement, with Date, Cailber 565

TEXT printed on the dial MUST be the colour of WHITE (never off white or gray)

Dial has Applied logo, indices at 12, 3 / or silver date window, 6 that has the text “T SWISS MADE T” directly below it, and 9.

Housed in a cushion styled tonneau-shaped stainless steel case that measures @ 37mm (excluding crown) / 19mm between lugs. There are two small notches on the case at three and nine o’clock position when looking at the watch from the side. The automatic case backs are slightly domed to fit the automatic movement, and the manual wind versions are flat.

1966 / 1967 - Omega factory dive pressure tested @ 393.70FEET (120MM static)

1968 / 1969 variant dive depth reduced to 198.85FEET (60 MM static) and was also offered with an additional option of a safety red seconds sweep pylon / baton.

BRACELET in photos -

Original / Period Correct from OEM JB Champion USA (not Forstner) SS bracelet - Omega branded bracelet ref.# 1098 with 19MM Omega endlink ref.# 547

additional strap options from Omega for the 1960's Omega 120 -

19MM Omega Corfam strap with Omega buckle that has hand etched "image of the SUN and ACIER INOX SWISS" on the underside NOT machine stamped (these are repo)

19MM BEST FIT Swiss Tropic MOD DEP natural rubber diver band with Omega buckle that has hand etched "image of the SUN and ACIER INOX SWISS" on the underside NOT machine stamped (these are repo)

Wakmann Triple Date Chronograph Ref.  71.1309.70

@ 37MM minus crown chronograph from the late 1960s, assembled in New York from Swiss components often by Charles Gigandet to bypass U.S. import tariffs. Dial reverse panda, with tritium lume (be careful of pieces whose lume has been restored / worked on), powered by the Valjoux Caliber 730 17 jewels column wheel chronograph with triple calendar (day, date, month). Caseback with “sailboat” engraving, inside stamped “Charles Gigandet Swiss”.

Earlier variants of this reference used the Valjoux 723 (or 72C) and do not have a sailboat engraving on the caseback. 

The Breitling equivalent of this watch was sold under references like 7691 or as a Breitling Chronomat Triple Date, also using the Valjoux 730.  Housed in identical cases, movements, and dial layouts. 

The  Wakmann Triple Date Chronograph was also offered in a 39MM format nick named "Jumbo" variant

Stainless steel bracelets in the photos

I). 19MM Beads of Rice with sterile outer clasp (no branding) underside stamped JB Champion USA (usually seen on Omega watches with Omega branding) JB Champion USA bracelets were sold as purchase upgrade by shop owners back in the day.

II). NASA bracelet by JB Champion USA (not Komfit, Komfit style, or Komfit JB)

1967 OMEGA SEAMASTER 120 SKIN DIVER

Omega stated back in the day this is a watch suitable for Town, Country and Sea

Single crown with screw down case back EPSA case ref.# 135.027. Powered by: OMEGA CALIBER 601 MANUAL WIND / NO DATE complication POWER RESERVE 48 HOURS.

1966 / 1967 - Omega factory dive pressure tested @ 393.70FEET (120MM static)

1968 / 1969 variant dive depth reduced to 198.85FEET (60 MM static) and was also offered with an additional option of a safety red seconds sweep pylon / baton.

Omega branded bracelet ref.# 1098 with 19MM Omega endlink ref.# 547 - triangle with small Omega logo stamped on clasp informs consumer OEM is JB Champion USA (not Forstner or Forstner JB info on their website is marketing hype) supplied for use to Omega

additional strap options from Omega -

19MM Omega Corfam strap

19MM BEST FIT Swiss Tropic MOD DEP natural rubber diver band

THE DANGER OF HOROLOGICAL HISTORY RE WRITTEN

sadly with help from supposed knowledgable and trusted sources.

Let’s set the record straight once and for all. The astronauts wore the post-1963 CHAMPION stainless steel expandable mesh bracelets made by Jacoby Bender (JB Champion) USA from their Champion line of bracelets, known as the NASA BRACELET and that distinction matters.

THEY ARE CALLED THE NASA BRACELET by JB Champion USA if they are not original "REPO" is the word to use.

The original bracelets are certainly not called Komfit, Komfit style or Komfit JB ... made by Forstner

By allowing publications to repeat the modern Forstner brand's narrative without correction, a "Johnny-come-lately" brand hijacks the legacy of a defunct OEM giant, replacing documented history with corporate myth.

The public is spoonfed inaccurate historical narratives by prominent watch publications. Major publications themselves have not issued official corrections to their original coverage, which often repeats the simplified and conflated narrative.

The periodicals Hodinkee, Fratello, Worn & Wound, aBlogtoWatch, Watchtime magazine, and GearPatrol have not published formal corrections or clarifications to address the misleading claim that the modern Forstner brand is directly responsible for the NASA-issued "JB CHAMPION USA expandable stainless steel mesh" bracelet.

The name Komfit and Forstner if mentioned belongs in the portion of the article giving background information.

The lack of correction from major watch publications perpetuates a dangerous rewriting of horological history.

A). It Erases True Innovation: 

It credits the modern Forstner brand with the achievement of creating the NASA-issued bracelet, when it was actually Jacoby-Bender's "JB Champion" model, developed after they acquired Forstner, that was used in space.

B). It Misleads the Public: 

Consumers and collectors, who rely on these respected publications for accurate information, are being fed a commercially-driven myth instead of the factual, nuanced history. 

C). It Undermines Historical Integrity: 

When influential media outlets repeat unchallenged inaccuracies, they allow a corporate narrative to supplant documented facts, mirroring the "truth hijacked as propaganda" warned of in historical discourse. This sets a precedent where brand marketing can overwrite historical reality. 

The perpetuation of the myth that the Forstner "Komfit" was the NASA-issued bracelet is dangerous because it actively erases the true history of horological innovation.

The modern Forstner LLC owns the following:

• The Name "Forstner": They operate under the name Forstner LLC and use the Forstner brand for their watch bracelets. 
• The "JB" Logo: They own an active U.S. trademark (Reg. 6014888) for the letters "JB" within a triangle, registered in 2020 for use on watchbands and accessories.

 

The modern Forstner LLC does not own the rights to JB Champion USA or its associated intellectual property. The JB Champion brand and its original trademark (Reg.  0774115) were owned by Jacoby-Bender, Inc., which acquired the original Forstner company in 1963.  The Jacoby-Bender trademark for "JB" expired in 1984 and was not renewed. The modern Forstner's use of the "JB" logo is a new, separate registration and does not constitute ownership of the historical Jacoby-Bender company or the JB Champion brand. 

1969 BULOVA SNORKEL 666feet OCEANOGRAPHER variant G

1967 DOXA Sub300t "aqualung" Jacques Cousteau's U.S. Divers Co.  pre Synchron acquisition

1979 SEIKO caliber 6309 case ref.# 7049

The 1960s were the quiet peak of a dying era ... mechanical watches, forged in precision and artistry, adorned wrists not as gadgets, but as silent declarations of craft, just before the digital tide swept in. 

This was design stripped to its essence: minimal, yet never sterile every line had purpose, every element function, yet the whole became something more.  It was practicality elevated to art, where legibility met elegance, and restraint revealed beauty.

Much like in life different people have different tastes or preferences, in the world of watch collecting some folks like modern pieces and some are into vintage pieces.

Everyone can agree that with an old watch comes history, and with that history comes a story, a soul, and a style, that harks back to a time when design, manufacture, and fashion were wonderfully different from today.

A vintage watch is like a time capsule that allows us to study and understand more about the era in which it was made. That’s what makes vintage watches so appealing to some. It’s also what makes valuing them a skill that factors in many variables, many of which are often surprising. Ultimately, a watch is worth whatever someone will pay for it.

so here are some old watches to share ... nothing fancy

Bracelets / Diver Straps in photos

Vintage Natural Rubber Diver Straps all are by BEST FIT SWISS TROPIC MOD DEP

STAINLESS STEEL BRACELETS -

Several VINTAGE NASA BRACELETS all by JB Champion USA used by NASA (these r not komfit bracelets)

The new Forstner company history page falsely claims the original Forstner Komfit was “sanctioned by NASA” and worn throughout Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo, including on the Moon.  In reality, only Wally Schirra wore a Forstner on Mercury-Atlas 8 (1962) as a personal item. After Jacoby-Bender acquired Forstner in 1963, it developed the JB Champion bracelet with spring-loaded end links, which NASA officially procured and used on all subsequent missions.  The site conflates the two brands, implies continuous Forstner involvement, and allows affiliates to repeat the myth that Forstner bands were “approved for manned space flights” all of which are false or misleading statements 

VINTAGE (the real) "BULLET" bracelet by JB Champion USA OEM for Bulova (this is the original and does not have history connected to Forstner or Forstner/JB false claims)

VINTAGE solid links BEADS OF RICE made by Jb Champion USA these were generally OEM Omega branded BOR bracelets the one in the photo does not have the Omega branding likely sold as an after purchase accessory upgrade by a shop (this is the original and does not have history connected to Forstner or Forstner/JB false claims)

IN THE PHOTO ALONG SIDE THE JACOBY-BENDER USA NON TAPERED SOLID LINK BULLET BRACELET FOR BULOVA IS AN OMEGA BRANDED JACOBY- BENDER USA BULLET BRACELET ref.#. 1098. These are vintage bracelets that have no association to Forstner that closed its doors in 1963 or the new company Forstner or Forstner/JB.

1960's and 70's ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER (Third-party supplier)

Jacoby-Bender (JB Champion) U.S.A. produced high-quality bracelets for BULOVA, Omega (and Rolex). These were authorized accessories sold in the U.S. market, often added to watches at the time of purchase or later as replacements.

JB Champion USA and Omega bracelets

The bracelet itself was made by Jacoby-Bender (JB Champion) U.S.A., Omega supplied the clasp.

Did you ever notice on vintage Omega clasps there is a small triangle with an Omega logo stamped inside? The same triangle is also found on JB Champion bracelets stamped with the letters "JB" inside as this was the company stamp. in Omegas' case it is meant to inform the fact that the bracelet is made by JB Champion USA (the triangle) but the clasp is made by Omega (small Omega logo inside).

Another example would be a JB Champion USA Jubilee with solid oval links (not folded) bracelet that was also used for a period of time by Rolex.

THE NASA BRACELET (not Komfit that was made by Forstner)

JB Champion USA made the bracelets used by the Gemini and Apollo mission astronauts known as the "NASA BRACELET" and they are NOT CALLED or REFERRED to as Komfit which was made in the 1950's till 1963 by a company that was bought by JB Champion USA named Fostner this company has no involvement in any changes, modification or improvements that the 1963 NASA bracelet has that their Komfit bracelet lacked.

OMEGA SEAMASTER CALENDAR with Coat Hanger S script and Arrowhead hour markers. paired with  NASA BRACELET made by Jacoby Bender USA aka: JB Champion USA

NOT KOMFIT by Forstner

When Jacoby Bender acquired Forstner in 1963, they obtained the rights to the original Komfit design. They then developed and produced the improved JB Champion bracelet featuring spring-loaded, variable-width end pieces (16–19 mm) which became the NASA-issued "NASA BRACELET" starting in 1964.

The new Forstner company, relaunched in 2019 as Forstner LLC, acquired the rights to the Forstner name and trademarks, including the "Komfit" brand name, but did not acquire the rights to the JB Champion USA designs or patents developed by Jacoby Bender after 1963. 

The modern Forstner company uses the historical branding, including the "JB" name, company logo, and making reproductions of the designs of the JB Champion USA (not forstner) ... CHAMPION LINE OF BRACELETS (several iconic models) despite not owning the original company or its rights. 

ELGIN DH 113-2879 20atm. Selfwinding paired with JB Champion USA BULLET bracelet

1966 BULOVA ACCUTRON ASTRONAUT hacking GMT caliber 214HN paired with JB Champion USA aka NASA bracelet (not Komfit)

The 1966 Variant was issued by the CIA and flight certified for use by THE TEST PILOTS of the A-12 ARCHANGEL and THE PILOTS of the SR-71 BLACKBIRD spy plane.

THE KOMFIT by FOSTNER MYTH

FACT - The modern Forstner company uses the historical branding, including the "JB" name, company logo, and making reproductions of the designs of the JB Champion USA (not forstner) ... CHAMPION LINE OF BRACELETS (several iconic models) despite not owning the original company or its rights. 

The reason the name Komfit is still associated with NASA usage is largely due to the modern revival deceptive marketing verbiage using half truths pasted together and using the old Jacoby Bender USA company branding and logo (JB) on their reproduction bracelets.

Forstner created the expandable mesh design in 1939, and in 1962 astronaut Wally Schirra wore his privately bought calber 321 Speedmaster on a Forstner Komfit strap he also bought privately before 1963.

Schirra's 1962 flight is the one and only use of the Forster Komfit with fixed non adjustable ends in space.

However, after Jacoby Bender acquired Forstner that year (1963), the NASA used versions were JB Champion USA models featuring spring-loaded end pieces, unlike the fixed-width ends of original Komfits (fixed non adjustable ends) Fostner (a non existent company at this point) had no involvement in the modification made for NASA by  Jacoby Bender USA aka JB Champion USA aka JBC aka JB.

Despite this, the myth persists due to nostalgia, branding, and misinformation amplified by paid talking heads (pundits), so-called watch gurus, and sponsored reviews. Many influencers and media outlets repeat the inaccurate narrative that “Komfit Forstner” was flown in space, often blurring the line between the original brand and the JB Champion USA variants actually used by NASA.

This conflation is commercially convenient: the revived Forstner brand markets modern replicas as “the astronauts’ choice,” leveraging emotional appeal and space heritage even though no Forstner-branded Komfit was ever officially used in NASA missions.

OMEGA SPEEDMASTER cal 321 and Jacoby Bender USA. mesh bracelet

The Omega Speedmaster was officially qualified by NASA on March 1, 1965, for all crewed space missions and became standard issue for astronauts during the Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, and Apollo-Soyuz programs. It was also used during Space Shuttle missions, primarily for spacewalks.

The official Speedmaster models issued were:

• ST 105.003 – Used during Gemini missions
• ST 105.012 and ST 145.012 – Used during Apollo missions
• ST 145.022 – Used after the final Apollo missions

While the Speedmaster originally came with an Omega steel bracelet, astronauts quickly found it impractical for spaceflight. NASA engineers, including James H. Ragan who oversaw equipment testing, determined that the rigid steel bracelet posed a snag hazard and could cause injury in confined spacecraft environments.

Instead, astronauts adopted a flexible, adjustable mesh bracelet for daily wear and training. This design allowed easy adjustment over flight suits and reduced risk during emergencies. The mesh bracelets used were JB Champion models, produced by the American company Jacoby Bender USA.

The JB Champion bracelet, manufactured by Jacoby Bender USA, became widely used among astronauts during the Gemini and Apollo programs, not only for Omega watches but also for Accutrons and other models. The Forstner Komfit was not used by NASA astronauts. The two differ significantly: Komfit bracelets have fixed-width end pieces whereas JB Champion models feature spring-loaded, variable width end pieces designed to fit securely over watch lugs. All photographic and documentary evidence confirms that astronauts wore the JB Champion USA, not the Forstner Komfit.

The JB Champion USA bracelet offered significant advantages:

• Tool-free, infinite adjustability via a sliding clasp
• Lightweight stainless steel construction
• Spring-loaded end pieces for secure fit on 18–20 mm lugs
• Width of 15.6 mm at the center

These mesh bands were worn by astronauts such as Wally Schirra (Mercury-Atlas 8, 1962), the Apollo 8 crew, and others during training and missions. NASA officially began procuring JB Champion bracelets in 1964, and they became a common sight in astronaut photographs.

NASA HOOK and LOOP strap (velcro)

For actual spacewalks and EVA (extravehicular activity), the Speedmaster was worn on a long, detachable Velcro strap over the spacesuit sleeve, as confirmed by NASA documentation and images from Apollo missions.

The NASA-issued bracelet was made by JB Champion, not Forstner.  The original mesh bracelet was designed and produced by Forstner under the name Komfit until 1963, when Jacoby Bender acquired the company and rebranded the product as the JB Champion.  

All versions used during NASA’s Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs starting from 1963 onward and any changes/ modifications / alterations that were not on the original komfit bracelets were  made JB Champion USA . 

Despite this, modern online sources often credit Forstner  who had no involvement after 1963 in the evolution and changes that were made on the bracelet.

The Jacoby Bender (JB) Champion USA mesh bracelet, while not part of the official flight kit were given out by NASA, they became an iconic companion to the Speedmaster due to its practicality and widespread use among astronauts.

Jacoby Bender (JB) Champion USA - was a supplier of high-quality OEM watch bracelets for major luxury brands.

Despite claims of unrelated entities like the new company named Fostner, or paid talking heads (pundits) and paid articles / write ups that are misleading - Jacoby Bender (JB) Champion USA is not associated, part of, nor related to a company called Fostner both past (which they bought out in 1963) or the present (the new company that is called Fostner)

Jacoby Bender was a U.S.-based manufacturer active from the 1960s to the 1980s, primarily known for producing high-quality watch bracelets for major luxury brands. The company became a key supplier in North America, manufacturing bracelets for Rolex, Omega, Universal Genève, Longines,  Bulova Accutron, JAEGER LECOULTRE.

Jacoby Bender specialized in OEM production, supplying Jubilee and Oyster-style bracelets for Rolex watches sold in the U.S. To comply with import tariffs, Rolex exported watch heads separately and paired them with Jacoby Bender’s U.S.-made bracelets, marked “JB USA” or “Made in USA,” qualifying as domestically assembled under the "Completely Knocked Down" (CKD) rule. 

For Omega, Jacoby Bender produced mesh, flat link, and brick-style bracelets, often found on Speedmaster and Seamaster models. These were valued for durability, tool-free adjustability, and precise fit. 

The company ceased operations around the mid-1980s and is no longer in business. While the name "JB Champion" was later revived by unrelated entities, the original Jacoby Bender remains recognized for its role in vintage watch accessory manufacturing. 

SOURCE

1. Omega Speedmaster NASA Certification History – SwissWatchExpo https://www.swisswatchexpo.com/thewatchclub/2025/06/25/omega-speedmaster-60-years-nasa-certification-moonwatch/
2. NASA EVA Preparation – Apollo 11 Technical Debrief https://history.nasa.gov/alsj/a11/a11.evaprep.html

CITIZEN 63-0110 RECORDMASTER 21J manual wind date complication CHRONOGRAPH

Ref#: 4-570014Y

Citizens' very first chronographe

BREITLING GENEVE TOP TIME 810 MK2 Venus 178 (WOG) @ 38.5MM minus crown 19MM lugs, case back marked "WATERPROOF" pre water resistant mandate.

paired with: Jacoby Bender USA from their product line called CHAMPION - a stainless steel expandable mesh bracelet aka: THE NASA bracelet, used by the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs, seen on the wrist paired with Bulova Accutron Astronaut cal. 214HN and NASA issued Omega Speedmaster cal. 321 chronographs on archival photos of the astronauts involved in these missions, both on duty and off duty, not Fostner Komfit despite the claim posted on the website of the new company named Fostner who makes modern reproductions of Jacoby Bender USA and their product line called CHAMPION bracelets might lead you to believe.

last photo along side the Breitling is an Omega Seamaster 120 Skin Diver from 1967

The Omega is paired with an Omega branded Jacoby Bender USA stainless steel "BULLET" bracelet from their product line called CHAMPION ref.# 1098 with 19MM end links ref.# 547

Jacoby Bender USA and their product line CHAMPION bracelets from the 1960s through the 1970s (aka: JB Champion USA, and or JBC) were used for Rolex watches imported into the USA including Jubilee and mesh styles and for Omega such as the Flat Link, Brick, Oyster-style that were used on Omega models like the Speedmaster and Seamaster, these bracelets have a small triangle with the small Omega logo inside stamped on the Omega clasp. For JAEGER LECOULTRE used on their DEEP SEA / MEMOVOX pieces. These bracelets are NOT made by a nonexistent company at this point called Fostner.

1977 CITIZEN 52-0110 Challenge 150M Diver dial type-1

paired with -

- Vintage 20MM BEST FIT Swiss Tropic MOD DEP

- Vintage JB CHAMPION USA expandable stainless steel mesh bracelet aka: NASA bracelet (not Komfit by Fostner)