Rolex watches are something very special, from the movement to the dial and case to the bracelet. In this article, we look specifically at the Rolex bracelet, which should round off the look of every watch and, of course, make it comfortable to wear. Among other things, we will look at the materials from which Rolex bracelets are made, explain the correct care of such a bracelet and present the various Rolex bracelets in detail.
Materials for Rolex bracelets: steel, gold, leather and more
If you find out more about the different Rolex bracelets, the first thing you notice is the wide variety of materials used. Does the customer want their beloved Submariner on a stainless steel bracelet, would they like a classic gold Oyster bracelet for their chic Lady-Datejust or are they thinking of a comfortable leather strap for their sporty vintage model? No problem at all, because all this and more is available in the Swiss watch manufacturer's range.
While a Rolex steel bracelet is generally worn with a steel watch, gold, white gold or rose gold bracelets complement timepieces made from the respective precious metals. A special feature is certainly the so-called Rolesor from Rolex, which is a mixture of gold and stainless steel. In combination with a genuine Rolex, each individual material naturally radiates elegance, luxury and pure high quality. However, if you are looking for a little variety and a bracelet that is also an eye-catcher in its own right, the Rolex bicolor bracelets are probably the best way to meet your individual requirements. These are created by combining two precious metals - yellow and white gold, for example - and can only be described as impressive eye-catchers.
In addition to metals, Rolex watches are also available with leather straps. These are, of course, the highest quality types of leather, which nestle softly against the wearer's wrist and contribute to above-average wearing comfort. In fact, Rolex watches are worn comparatively rarely with leather straps - in most cases, watch fans tend to opt for versions made of precious metals such as steel or gold. Nevertheless, leather models are a great addition to the range of Rolex bracelets and cut a particularly fine figure when paired with vintage timepieces.
Comparatively new at Rolex are bracelets made of a black elastomer with a metal spring leaf core embedded inside. Rolex calls this type of bracelet "Oysterflex" and has only been selling it for a few years. At the end of this article, we explain in more detail what exactly the Rolex Oysterflex bracelets are all about.
Secure clasps and extensions
Each Rolex model is delivered with a certain number of bracelet links and therefore a certain length as standard. For example, a Rolex Jubilé bracelet typically has 22 links, while a Pearlmaster bracelet consists of 12 links. It is generally possible to remove individual links in order to adjust the length of the Rolex bracelet to the wearer's wrist circumference. 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 is extremely useful that some Rolex bracelet clasp options allow for uncomplicated 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 folding out half a link and seamlessly adding it to the Oyster bracelet. Rolex straps with the Fliplock system can even be extended by up to three links, while a maximum extension of 20 mm can be achieved with the Glidelock system using a slider.
Regardless of the optional additional extension functions, Rolex offers customers five types of clasp for their bracelet:
Rolex pin buckle: a buckle with a pin-shaped tip designed for the leather strap
Rolex Oysterclasp: A clasp with a lever in a sporty, simple look
Rolex Crownclasp: Probably the most elegant Rolex clasp in a concealed design with an attached 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 bracelet, it is only understandable that they want to give the bracelet the correct care. After all, it should remain in good condition and visually flawless for as many decades as possible. However, the following applies: With normal wearing habits, a Rolex bracelet basically only needs occasional care. It is not necessary to clean or otherwise "look after" the bracelet after every wear. Instead, it is perfectly sufficient to take a few minutes every few weeks to care for your Rolex bracelet.
The care of Rolex bracelets made of precious metals - such as gold or steel - is particularly simple. Simply use a little water, a mild soap if necessary and a very soft brush to wash the bracelet once. Important: The brush must never have coarse bristles, which could cause damage to the precious material. If a suitable brush is not available, a soft cloth is recommended as an alternative. If necessary, moistened cotton buds can also be used to get into the spaces between the bracelet links. However, it is essential to check the position of the winding crown before handling water around the watch. This is because the watertightness 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 prevents the formation of unsightly water stains and gives the bracelet a particularly bright shine. Additional measures for maintaining the bracelet beyond occasional care are generally not necessary.
But what about maintenance if the Rolex bracelet is made of leather? In this case, the use of water is absolutely the wrong approach. Cleaning, as described above for metal straps, is not so easy with a leather strap and is usually not necessary at all. Soiling that would require cleaning with water rarely occurs on such straps. If this is the case, we would advise you to have your Rolex leather strap professionally cleaned.
High-quality care products specially designed for leather can be used to care for a leather strap. To keep the material supple and well cared for in the long term, you can apply some leather grease or leather milk from time to time, for example. However, it is important to check beforehand whether the selected care product is compatible with the type of leather the Rolex bracelet is made of. Otherwise, there is a risk that stains and further damage will be the unsightly result.
Adjustments and replacement of Rolex bracelets
A Rolex bracelet that does not fit perfectly must be adjusted. Depending on the type, certain adjustments can be made at home, others must be ordered from a trusted jeweler. Generally speaking, if you are unsure about an adjustment, you should leave it alone and leave it in the hands of a professional.
As already mentioned, there are strap clasps that make it very easy to extend the bracelet. No tools are required to fold out the additional links or to operate the slider, which means that the mechanisms can also be understood and used by non-professionals. However, if you want to shorten the Rolex bracelet, a visit to a jeweler is unavoidable. Although it is theoretically not impossible to shorten a bracelet yourself with the right equipment, it is easy to risk damage, which is often irreversible and therefore particularly annoying. That's why our tip is: If a shortening is necessary, going to a jeweler is the way to go.
If individual parts - for example the clasp - on the Rolex bracelet wear out or otherwise become damaged and therefore need to be replaced, the jeweler is also a good point of contact. At least if they stock Rolex products. This is because they can usually order spare parts quite easily and fit them directly into the bracelet. Nowadays, spare parts can also be purchased online as an option, but the second step is to visit a specialist anyway. It is therefore probably easier to place the order directly with the jeweler, who can then also directly ensure that the correct part is actually ordered for the respective Rolex bracelet.
Authentication and authenticity of Rolex bracelets
Just as there are counterfeit watches, there are also counterfeit Rolex bracelets. It is therefore essential to keep both eyes open when buying a bracelet and to take the issue of authenticity seriously. Ideally, you should have a professional at your side who can check the authenticity of the bracelet or buy authenticated examples from a reputable specialist retailer.
If the Rolex bracelet is a model that was produced before 2011, the so-called clasp code can provide an important clue. This is a two- to three-digit code consisting of letters and a number that 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 produced in 1980 were given the letters "VE", 1990 straps were given the code "O" and those produced in 2000 were given the code "AB".
These codes on the lugs and end links can be used, for example, to determine whether the bracelet is the original bracelet for the Rolex watch or whether a newer bracelet was subsequently fitted. Since 2011, however, Rolex has relied on arbitrary clasp codes, so that these no longer provide any clues as to the year of manufacture of the bracelet.
Rolex bracelets at a glance
As promised at the beginning, we will now turn to the different types of Rolex bracelets and take a look at what characterizes each individual bracelet:
Leather strap
Even if it is usually chosen less often, a leather strap can be the perfect complement to a Rolex watch. Such a strap is mainly available in brown or black and can be wonderfully combined 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 emphasize their history. Another common combination is the leather strap and Rolex Day-Date, which is visually exciting and definitely draws attention to the wearer's wrist.
Oyster bracelet
The Oyster bracelet is probably the best-known Rolex bracelet of all and - apart from the leather bracelets - also the oldest bracelet variant from Rolex. Originally, the Oyster bracelets were not produced by Rolex itself, but were purchased from Gay Frères, a renowned 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 choose freely from the large selection of clasps, with the Oysterlock clasp being the preferred choice. 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.
Jubilé bracelet
An icon since 1945: the Jubilé bracelet is extremely popular and is usually found in combination with Oyster Perpetual timepieces. This is logical, as 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 delicacy and easily adapts to the shape of the wrist.
President 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 thoroughly elegant look that is ideally rounded off by the standard Crownclasp clasp.
Oysterflex bracelet
The Oysterflex bracelet is something of a novelty 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 fitted with an Oysterlock folding clasp with safety function. The combination of these straps with Rolex sports models and diving watches is obvious, which is why they are typically fitted 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. The origin of this Rolex bracelet goes back to the Pearlmaster collection, but today it is also worn together with Datejust and Day-Date timepieces.
Submariner bracelet
Contrary to what many watch fans believe, a Rolex bracelet with the title "Submariner" was never launched on the market. However, there is one bracelet that is extremely often chosen for the Submariner: the stainless steel Oyster bracelet. The straight-lined Oyster bracelet complements the Submariner watch perfectly and is therefore sometimes incorrectly referred to as the "Submariner bracelet". Alternatively, the modern Oysterflex bracelets are also available for the Submariner, which further emphasize the sportiness of the Rolex Submariner.
Conclusion on the Rolex bracelet
One thing can be said without a doubt: Rolex bracelets are unrivaled in terms of variety and quality. From Oyster and President to Oysterflex and leather models, a Rolex bracelet always impresses with outstanding high quality, a practical clasp and an impressive appearance. It is not without reason that many Rolex timepieces only look truly harmonious when they can unfold their full potential in combination with a perfectly fitting bracelet.