Historical question: First wristwatch bracelet?
While (once again...) daydreaming about buying a Santos, the historical significance of Louis Cartier's design (once again...) crossed my mind. And while the growing adaptation of the men's wristwatch by the masses in the aftermath of WWI is common knowledge (for us nerds and nerdettes, at least), I'm not so certain about the emergence of the metal bracelet. Certainly, time telling wristlets for women came in multiple shapes, forms and sizes, quite often befitted with bracelet-like chains decades before - but what about the gents?
Am I missing something blatantly obvious when I can't think of any other brand than Rolex when trying to trace back the origin of the metal watch bracelet as we know it today? My gut feeling tells me that I probably am; after all, Rolex has a great track record of thoughtfully combining, upscaling and streamlining ideas and inventions of others.
And even if some other company came up with standardized metal bracelets earlier - what about the (relatively speaking) toolish, rugged watch bracelet? Compared to the thin and finicky mini-link/semi-mesh bracelets of an old Hamilton I've seen, even the early, tinny jubilee bracelets feel like they're overengineered to the n-th degree.
A quick search on the web didn't really help, so it's up to the gathered knowledge and wisdom of my fellow crunchies to help.
Classic menswear enthusiast, shoe aficionado, collector of vintage perfumes and colognes... Oh, and I love watches. Preferably sub 40mm.
1903
1903
Thanks! But isn't that a leather strap?
Thanks! But isn't that a leather strap?
Looks to be. Apparently, metal bracelets for men were a new thing. Women had been wearing them for hundreds of years: https://www.vintagewatchstraps.com/earlywristwatches.php .