Rolex bracelet

Rolex watches are something very special, from the movement to the dial and case to the bracelet. In this article, we will specifically look at the Rolex bracelet, which is designed to round off the look of every watch and, of course, to be comfortable to wear. In this context, we will look at the materials from which Rolex bracelets are made, explain how to properly care for such a bracelet and present the various Rolex bracelets in detail.

Materials for Rolex Bracelets: Steel, Gold, Leather and More

If you find out about the different Rolex bracelets, the first thing you notice is the wide variety of materials used. The customer wants his beloved Submariner on a stainless steel bracelet, wants a classic gold Oyster bracelet for the chic Lady-Datejust or is thinking of a comfortable leather strap for his sporty vintage model? No problem at all, because all of this and more is available in the range of the Swiss watch manufacturer.

While a Rolex steel bracelet is usually worn with a steel watch, gold , white gold or rose gold bracelets complement timepieces made of the respective precious metals. A special feature is certainly the so-called Rolex Rolesor, which is a mixture of gold and stainless steel. Each individual material naturally radiates elegance, luxury and pure quality in combination with a genuine Rolex. However, if you want a bit of variety and a bracelet that is also an eye-catcher in its own right, your individual ideas will probably be best met by the Rolex bicolor bracelets. These are created by combining two precious metals - for example yellow and white gold - and can only be described as impressive eye-catchers.

Aside from metals, Rolex watches also come with leather straps. These are of course the highest quality types of leather that fit softly against the wearer's wrist and contribute to an above-average level of comfort. In fact, Rolex watches are relatively rarely worn with leather straps - watch fans usually opt for versions made of precious metals such as steel or gold. Nevertheless, the leather models are a great addition to the Rolex strap selection and look particularly good when combined with vintage timepieces.

A relatively new development at Rolex is the use of bracelets made of a black elastomer with a metal spring leaf core embedded inside. Rolex calls such a bracelet an "Oysterflex" and it has only been on sale for a few years. We will explain in more detail what the Rolex Oysterflex bracelets are all about at the end of this article.

Secure closures and extensions

Each Rolex model is delivered with a certain number of bracelet links and therefore in a certain length. For example, a Rolex Jubilee bracelet typically has 22 links, while a Pearlmaster bracelet consists of 12 links. In principle, it is possible to have individual links removed in order to adjust the length of the Rolex bracelet to the wearer's wrist size. This is important, as a luxury watch from Rolex should fit as perfectly as possible and be comfortable to wear.

With this in mind, it makes a lot of sense that some clasp options on Rolex bracelets allow for easy extension. This is the case with the classic Oyster bracelet, for example. Thanks to the Oysterlock clasp with Easylink function, this can be extended by up to 5 mm by essentially folding out half a link and seamlessly adding it to the Oyster bracelet. Rolex bracelets with the Fliplock system can even be extended by up to three links, while the Glidelock system can be extended by a maximum of 20 mm using a slider.

Regardless of the optional additional extension functions, Rolex offers customers five types of clasps for their bracelet:

• Rolex pin buckle: A buckle with a pin-shaped tip designed for the leather strap

• Rolex Oysterclasp: A lever clasp with a sporty, simple look

• Rolex Crownclasp: Probably the most elegant Rolex clasp in a concealed design with an applied crown

• Rolex Oysterlock Safety: A clasp with a safety function that prevents accidental opening of the Rolex bracelet by means of an additional clasp

• Rolex Pearlmaster: The clasp specially designed for the Rolex Pearlmaster collection for a visually harmonious overall impression

Care and maintenance of your Rolex bracelet

Due to the high quality and the high price that many owners have paid for their Rolex including the bracelet, it is understandable that they want to give the bracelet the correct care. After all, it should remain in good condition and visually free of blemishes for decades. However, the following applies: If you wear it normally, a Rolex bracelet only needs to be cared for occasionally. It is not necessary to clean the bracelet after every wear or to "care for" it in any other way. Instead, it is perfectly sufficient to take a few minutes every few weeks to care for the Rolex bracelet.

Rolex straps made of precious metal - for example gold or steel - are particularly easy to care for. Simply use a little water, a mild soap if necessary, and a very soft brush to wash the strap. Important: The brush must not have coarse bristles, which could potentially damage the precious material. If you do not have a suitable brush, a soft cloth is recommended as an alternative. If necessary, moistened cotton swabs can also be used to get into the gaps between the bracelet links. However, it is essential to check that the winding crown is properly seated before handling water around the watch. The water resistance of the case is only guaranteed if the crown is firmly closed.

After cleaning, the precious metal bracelet should be dried and polished with a microfiber cloth. This will prevent unsightly water stains from forming and the bracelet will shine with a particularly bright shine. In general, no additional measures are required to maintain the bracelet beyond occasional care.

But what about care if the Rolex bracelet is a leather version? In this case, using water is absolutely the wrong approach. Cleaning a leather bracelet as described above for metal bracelets is not so easy and is usually not even necessary. Dirt that would require cleaning with water rarely occurs on such bracelets. If it does happen, we would recommend having the leather Rolex bracelet professionally cleaned.

To care for a leather strap, you should always use high-quality care products that have been specially designed for leather. To keep the material supple and well-maintained over time, you can apply a little leather grease or leather milk from time to time. However, you should first check whether the care product you choose is compatible with the type of leather the Rolex strap is made of. Otherwise, there is a risk that stains and other unsightly damage will result.

Adjustments and replacement of Rolex bracelets

A Rolex bracelet that does not fit perfectly needs to be adjusted. Depending on the type, certain adjustments can be made at home, while others need to be commissioned by a trusted jeweler. Generally speaking, if you are unsure about making adjustments, you should not do it yourself and instead leave the watch in the hands of a professional.

As already described, there are strap clasps that make it very easy to extend the strap. No tools are required to fold out the additional links or to operate the slider, which means that the mechanisms can be understood and used by laypeople. If, however, you want to shorten the Rolex strap, you will have to go to a jeweler. Although it is theoretically not impossible to shorten a strap yourself with the right equipment, you risk causing damage that is often irreversible and therefore particularly annoying. Therefore, our tip is: if shortening is necessary, going to a jeweler is the right thing to do.

If individual parts - such as the clasp - on the Rolex bracelet wear out or are damaged in some other way and need to be replaced, the jeweler is also a good contact. At least if they stock Rolex products. This is because they usually have the option of ordering replacement parts quite easily and installing them directly into the bracelet. Optionally, replacement parts can also be purchased online these days, but a specialist must be consulted in the second step for installation anyway. It is therefore probably easier to place the order directly with the jeweler, who can then ensure that the correct part for the respective Rolex bracelet is actually ordered.

Authentication and authenticity of Rolex bracelets

Just as there are fake watches, there are also fake Rolex bracelets. That's why it's essential to keep both eyes open when buying a bracelet and to take the issue of authenticity seriously. Ideally, you have a professional at your side who can check the bracelet for authenticity, or you buy already authenticated examples from a reputable specialist retailer.

If the Rolex bracelet is a model that was made before 2011, the so-called clasp code can provide an important clue. This is a two- to three-digit code made up of letters and a number that can be found on the inside of the clasp or on the end links of the bracelet. The number indicates the month of production, and the letters represent a year of production. For example, clasps made in 1980 were given the letters "VE", 1990 bracelets were given the code "O" and those made in 2000 were given the code "AB".

These codes on the clasps and end links can be used to determine, for example, whether the bracelet is the original bracelet for the Rolex watch or whether a newer bracelet was added later. Since 2011, however, Rolex has been using arbitrary clasp codes, so that these no longer provide any clues as to the year the bracelet was manufactured.

Rolex bracelets at a glance

As promised at the beginning, we will now turn to the different types of Rolex bracelets and see what distinguishes each individual bracelet:

leather bracelet

Even if it is not usually chosen as often, a leather strap can be the perfect addition to a Rolex watch. Such a strap is mainly available in brown or black and can be combined wonderfully with sporty timepieces, but also with various ladies' watches , such as the Lady Datejust . As many Rolex fans find, the leather strap goes perfectly with vintage watches and can authentically underline their history. Another common combination is a leather strap and a Rolex Day-Date, which is visually quite exciting and definitely draws all eyes to the wearer's wrist.

Oyster bracelet

The Oyster bracelet is probably the most well-known Rolex bracelet and - apart from the leather straps - also the oldest strap variant from Rolex. The Oyster bracelets were not originally produced by Rolex itself, but were purchased from Gay Frères, a respected manufacturer. The Oyster bracelet is made of metal and has a three-row structure that ends with quite solid end links. If you opt for a Rolex bracelet of the "Oyster" type, you can freely choose from the large selection of clasps, although the Oysterlock clasp is preferred. If you look for Rolex models with an Oyster bracelet, you will notice that the Oyster bracelets are particularly often seen on Submariner and Explorer models, but sometimes also on a Day-Date, Datejust or even Daytona .

Jubilee bracelet

An icon since 1945: The Jubilee bracelet is extremely popular and is usually found in combination with Oyster Perpetual timepieces. Logical, after all, the metal bracelet was originally designed for the Oyster Perpetual Datejust. The five-row metal bracelet, which is often offered in a bicolor version with gold, looks extremely delicate thanks to its fineness and adapts easily to the shape of the wrist.

President's bracelet

The President bracelet from Rolex was originally intended exclusively for the Oyster Perpetual Day-Date, but is now also worn on Datejust watches. With crescent-shaped links that are aesthetically arranged in three rows, the President bracelet has a consistently elegant look, which is ideally rounded off by the standard Crownclasp clasp.

Oysterflex bracelet

The Oysterflex bracelet is something of a new innovation from Rolex and was released in 2015. A metal spring leaf core, a black elastomer coating and padding on the inside combine to create a maximally sporty Rolex bracelet, which is equipped with an Oysterlock folding clasp with a safety function. These bracelets are naturally combined with Rolex sports models and diving watches, which is why they are typically attached to the Rolex Submariner and similarly functional watches.

Pearlmaster bracelet

With rounded links in five rows, the Pearlmaster bracelet, which is primarily made of gold, is classically elegant. This Rolex bracelet has its origins in the Pearlmaster collection, but is now also worn with Datejust and Day-Date timepieces.

Submariner bracelet

Contrary to the assumption of many watch fans, a Rolex bracelet with the title " Submariner " was never brought onto the market. However, there is a bracelet that is extremely often chosen for the Submariner: the Oyster bracelet made of stainless steel. The straight-lined Oyster bracelet complements the Submariner watch perfectly and is therefore sometimes incorrectly referred to as a "Submariner bracelet". Alternatively, the modern Oysterflex bracelets can also be used for the Submariner, which draws even more focus to the sportiness of the Rolex Submariner.

Conclusion on the Rolex bracelet

One thing is certain: Rolex bracelets are unrivalled in their variety and quality. From Oyster to President to Oysterflex and leather models, a Rolex bracelet always impresses with outstanding quality, a practical clasp and an impressive appearance. It is not for nothing that many Rolex timepieces only look truly harmonious when they can unfold their full potential in combination with a perfectly fitting bracelet.