![]() ![]() The Swiss horological giant acquired Gay Frères in 1998 to streamline the production processes. Gay Frères made bracelets for several brands and primarily for Rolex. As the story goes, several early versions of what we now call the Oyster bracelet were being manufactured by several bracelet suppliers, but it is Gay Frères which patented the name and design for the Oyster bracelet in 1947. Metal bracelets were costly add-ons that several Swiss luxury brands offered to their customers. I know, there’s a lot of gray area here which often happens when looking back at the history of certain iconic elements of watchmaking.Īlthough today it is impossible to separate the Oyster bracelet from the Rolex Submariner or GMT Master II, it is important to note that watches were, for the most part and for many decades until the 1940s, delivered on leather straps. Three bracelets, three stories, and three distinct designs that have been imitated many times over to the point where now many brands call a three-link bracelet an Oyster-style bracelet. In this article, we’re going to take a look at three of these bracelets-the Oyster bracelet, the Jubilee bracelet, and the Bonklip-which have become iconic and which each come with an interesting story and unique specifications. However, not all metal bracelets are made equal and there are many styles of bracelets that have become very popular-should we say, iconic? I enjoy wearing watches on metal bracelets for the most part as I like how versatile they are: robust enough for outdoors activities and elegant enough for black tie dinners. ![]() ![]() The watch community can actually be devised between those who are for and those who are against metal bracelets. Not a leather strap, not a nylon strap, not a rubber strap. For many, a watch can only be worn on a metal bracelet. ![]()
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