Rolex bracelet

From the movement to the dial and case to the bracelet, Rolex watches are truly unique. In this article, we'll focus specifically on the Rolex bracelet, which complements the look of each watch and, of course, provides a comfortable wearing experience. We'll also examine the materials Rolex bracelets are made of, explain how to properly care for them, and introduce the various Rolex bracelets in detail.

Materials for Rolex bracelets: steel, gold, leather and more

When researching the various Rolex bracelets, the first thing that strikes you is the wide variety of materials used. Whether you're looking for a stainless steel bracelet for your beloved Submariner, a classic gold Oyster bracelet for your chic Lady-Datejust, or a comfortable leather strap for your sporty vintage model, this is no problem at all. All of this and more is available in the Swiss watch manufacturer's product range.

While a Rolex steel bracelet is usually worn with a steel watch, bracelets made of gold , white gold or rose gold 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, when combined with a genuine Rolex, naturally radiates elegance, luxury and pure high quality. However, if you are looking for a bit of variety and a bracelet that is also an eye-catcher in its own right, your individual ideas will probably be best fulfilled 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.

In addition to metals, Rolex watches also offer leather straps. These are naturally the highest quality leathers, which fit softly against the wearer's wrist and contribute to exceptional comfort. In fact, Rolex watches are relatively rarely worn with leather straps – watch enthusiasts usually opt for versions made of precious metals such as steel or gold. Nevertheless, the leather models represent a great addition to the Rolex strap selection and look particularly good with vintage timepieces.

Relatively new to Rolex are bracelets made of a black elastomer with a metal spring core embedded inside. Such a bracelet is called "Oysterflex" at Rolex and has only been available for a few years. We'll explain exactly what Rolex Oysterflex bracelets are all about at the end of this article.

Secure closures and extensions

Every Rolex model comes standard with a specific number of bracelet links, and therefore in a specific length. For example, a Rolex Jubilee bracelet typically has 22 links, while a Pearlmaster bracelet consists of 12. Individual links can generally be removed to adjust the length of the Rolex bracelet to the wearer's wrist size. This is important, as a luxury Rolex watch should fit as perfectly as possible and be comfortable to wear.

Given this, it makes perfect sense that some Rolex bracelet clasp options allow for easy extension. This is the case, for example, with the classic Oyster bracelet. Thanks to the Oysterlock clasp with Easylink function, it 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 allows a maximum extension of 20 mm via a slider.

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

• Rolex pin buckle: A clasp 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 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

Given the high quality and the high price many owners pay for their Rolex, including its bracelet, it's only understandable that they want to give it proper care. After all, they want it to remain in good condition and visually free of blemishes for decades to come. However, with normal wear, a Rolex bracelet essentially only needs occasional care. It's not necessary to clean the bracelet after every wear or otherwise "care for" it. Instead, it's perfectly sufficient to take a few minutes every few weeks to care for your Rolex bracelet.

Caring for Rolex bracelets made of precious metal—for example, gold or steel—is particularly easy. Simply use a little water, mild soap if necessary, and a very soft brush to clean the bracelet. Important: The brush must not have coarse bristles, which could potentially damage the precious material. If a suitable brush isn't available, a soft cloth is recommended. Additionally, moistened cotton swabs can be used if necessary to reach into the spaces between the bracelet links. However, it is essential to check the tightness of the winding crown before handling water around the watch. The water resistance of the case is only guaranteed if the crown is securely closed.

After cleaning, the precious metal bracelet should be dried and polished with a microfiber cloth. This prevents unsightly water stains from forming and ensures the bracelet shines with a particularly bright shine. Additional maintenance measures beyond occasional care are generally not necessary.

But what about care for a leather Rolex bracelet? In this case, using water is absolutely the wrong approach. Cleaning a leather bracelet, as described above for metal bracelets, isn't as easy and usually unnecessary. Soiling that would require cleaning with water is rare on such bracelets. If it does happen, we recommend having the leather Rolex bracelet professionally cleaned.

To care for a leather strap, high-quality care products specifically designed for leather are generally suitable. To keep the material supple and well-maintained over time, a little leather grease or leather milk can be applied from time to time. However, it's important to check beforehand whether the chosen care product is compatible with the type of leather the Rolex strap is made of. Otherwise, there's a risk of stains and other unsightly damage.

Adjustments and replacement of Rolex bracelets

A Rolex bracelet that doesn't fit perfectly needs to be adjusted. Depending on the type, some adjustments can be made at home, while others must be commissioned by a trusted jeweler. Generally speaking, if you're unsure about adjusting your watch, you should refrain from doing it yourself and leave it in the hands of a professional.

As already described, there are clasps that make it easy to lengthen the bracelet. No tools are required to unfold the additional links or operate the slider, making the mechanisms easy to understand and use even for laypeople. However, if you want to shorten the Rolex bracelet, a visit to a jeweler is essential. While it's theoretically not impossible to shorten a bracelet yourself with the right equipment, you risk causing damage that is often irreversible and therefore particularly annoying. Therefore, our tip: If shortening is necessary, going to a jeweler is the right choice.

If individual parts on a Rolex bracelet—for example, the clasp—wear out or become damaged in some other way and need to be replaced, a jeweler is also a good contact. This is especially true if they carry Rolex products. They usually have the option of easily ordering replacement parts and installing them directly into the bracelet. These days, replacement parts can also be purchased online, but a specialist will need to be consulted for installation anyway. It's probably easier to place the order directly with a jeweler, who can then ensure that the correct part for the specific Rolex bracelet is actually ordered.

Authentication and authenticity of Rolex bracelets

Just as there are fake watches, there are also fake Rolex bracelets. Therefore, when purchasing a bracelet, it's essential to keep your eyes open and take the issue of authenticity seriously. Ideally, you should have a professional on hand to check the bracelet for authenticity, or purchase already authenticated examples from a reputable specialist retailer.

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

Using these codes on the clasps and end links, it's possible to determine, for example, whether the bracelet is the original to the Rolex watch or whether a newer bracelet was added later. Since 2011, however, Rolex has been using random clasp codes, meaning they no longer provide any clues as to the bracelet's year of manufacture.

Rolex bracelets at a glance

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

leather bracelet

Although it's less commonly chosen, a leather strap can be the perfect complement to a Rolex watch. This type of strap is primarily available in brown or black and can be wonderfully combined with sporty timepieces, as well as with various ladies' watches , such as the Lady Datejust . Many Rolex fans find that the leather strap goes perfectly with vintage watches and can authentically underscore their history. Another common combination is a leather strap and a Rolex Day-Date, which is visually quite exciting and is sure to draw all eyes to the wearer's wrist.

Oyster bracelet

The Oyster bracelet is arguably the most well-known Rolex bracelet of all and—apart from leather straps—also the oldest bracelet variant from the house of Rolex. Originally, Oyster bracelets were not produced by Rolex itself, but rather purchased from Gay Frères, a respected manufacturer. The Oyster bracelet is made of metal and features a three-row construction, terminating in rather solid end links. If you opt for a Rolex "Oyster" bracelet, you can freely choose from a wide range of clasps, although the Oysterlock clasp is the preferred choice. If you look for Rolex models with Oyster bracelets, you'll notice that Oyster bracelets are particularly common on Submariner and Explorer models, but sometimes also on Day-Date, Datejust, or even Daytona .

Jubilee bracelet

An icon since 1945: The Jubilee bracelet enjoys immense popularity and is typically found paired with Oyster Perpetual timepieces. Logically, after all, the metal bracelet was originally designed for the Oyster Perpetual Datejust. The five-link metal bracelet, often offered in a two-tone version with gold, has an extremely delicate appearance thanks to its delicate design and adapts effortlessly to the shape of the wrist.

Presidential Bracelet

The Rolex President bracelet was formerly exclusively designed for the Oyster Perpetual Day-Date, but is now also worn on Datejust watches. With crescent-shaped links arranged aesthetically in three rows, the President bracelet has a consistently elegant appearance, perfectly complemented by the standard Crownclasp.

Oysterflex bracelet

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

Pearlmaster bracelet

With rounded links arranged in five rows, the Pearlmaster bracelet, primarily made of gold, presents itself as a classic and elegant piece. This Rolex bracelet originated with the Pearlmaster collection, but is now also worn with Datejust and Day-Date timepieces.

Submariner bracelet

Contrary to the belief of many watch enthusiasts, a Rolex bracelet bearing the " Submariner " designation was never launched. However, there is one bracelet that is extremely often chosen for the Submariner: the stainless steel Oyster bracelet. The linear Oyster bracelet complements the Submariner watch perfectly and is therefore sometimes mistakenly referred to as a "Submariner bracelet." Alternatively, the modern Oysterflex bracelets are also suitable for the Submariner, which further emphasize the sportiness of the Rolex Submariner.

Conclusion on the Rolex bracelet

One thing is certain: Rolex bracelets are unrivaled in their variety and quality. From Oyster and President to Oysterflex and leather models, a Rolex bracelet always impresses with outstanding quality, a practical clasp, and an impressive appearance. It's no coincidence that many Rolex timepieces only truly achieve their full potential when paired with a perfectly fitting bracelet.