Rolex Bracelets
An element often overlooked by newcomers to luxury watch buying, the type of bracelet fitted to a watch has a huge effect on both its overall look and feel. There are five official bracelet types available on the contemporary range of Rolex watches, and each one has its own unique design and personality.
– Jubilee Bracelet: The oldest type of bracelet Rolex still uses, the Jubilee was created especially for the Datejust model when it debuted in 1945. With five semicircular links, it is also among the brand’s most intricate bands, lending a sophisticated air to the watches that are paired with it. However, the Jubilee bracelet is not restricted to just the dressier models, and you will even find it on the stainless steel versions of the current GMT-Master II
– Oyster Bracelet: Only very slightly younger than the Jubilee, the Oyster dates back to 1948. Its three flat links make it the most tool-like and casual of Rolex’s metal bracelets, and you will find the Oyster used extensively throughout the entire range, with many top models such as the Submariner, Air-King, Explorer, and Sea-Dweller only offering the option of Oyster bracelets.
– President Bracelet: As with the Jubilee, the President bracelet was made specifically for the launch of a new watch, and in this case it was designed for the Day-Date in 1956. With three rounded links, it is something of a halfway point between the Jubilee and the Oyster; however, it is a premium bracelet option and is only ever crafted from either solid gold or platinum. Although the Day-Date is commonly known as the President or Presidential, those are unofficial nicknames for the watch itself; however “President” is the formal name for the bracelet.
– Pearlmaster Bracelet: With its five rounded, staggered links, the Pearlmaster was introduced in 1992 for the first of the Pearlmaster watches, a range based on the Datejust and exemplified by their liberal use of precious stones. Like the President Bracelet, the Pearlmaster is a premium bracelet option, only ever crafted from precious metals and appearing on luxury-oriented versions of the Datejust and Day-Date.
– Oysterflex Bracelet: Rolex’s first rubber strap, the Oysterflex is actually made up of a nickel-titanium blade covered with high-performance, hypoallergenic black polymer. Used initially on the Yacht-Master series from 2015, the Oysterflex has gone on to be worn by both the Daytona and most recently the Sky-Dweller, phasing out the leather strap versions of both series. On the underside of the Oysterflex are a pair of raised vents, which allow air to flow through and stabilizes the watch on the wrist, and it is currently only fitted to solid gold Rolex watches.
– Leather Strap: These days, leather straps are only found on Rolex’s dedicated dress watch series, the Cellini. Available in black, brown, or blue and fitted with an 18k gold buckle to match the case of the watch, the straps feature a full-remborde edge and were most frequently made from alligator leather. Additionally, in the past leather straps were offered on a much wider range of watches, including select Daytona, Day-Date, and Datejust models.
