Looks vs Quality for bracelets?

There are a lot of terrible bracelets out there. Try them on before purchasing or be okay with using a strap instead. I wouldn’t wear an uncomfortable bracelet all day simply b/c it looked good. 

The lack of micro adjust on most bracelets is also disappointing. Is your wrist always the same size?  No. it fluctuates based on temperature and humidity. 
 

I always go for comfort, which is why I took the bracelets off a lot of my watches, and I absolutely love canvas straps, especially during the summer. (Oddly enough, I find Seiko bracelets rather comfortable, maybe because they are relatively light.)

I used to avoid bracelets for the same reason. However, I now like some, if they have been very well fitted to me by my AD. The ones that fit and don’t have easy micro adjustments tend to be a little loose on cold mornings, but that’s ok for me. I very much prefer titanium bracelets because their low weight equals comfort on my wrist. I have two well fitted steel bracelet watches, but they tend to feel less comfortable on my wrist. I choose rubber, comfortable NATOs (not all are), or bracelets for active days, leather for office days. 

For what it’s worth I actually prefer the Seiko bracelet in the looks department. 😊

Yes, if there are microadjustments, you can fit them for a slightly loose fit in the morning. I also agree with the impact of the weight of the watch. I have two titanium Seiko dress watches, and especially with the newer one you even tend to forget you are wearing it. 

I usually wear leather straps at the office, but also bracelets here and there. I agree that a good silicone strap, a good NATO strap or canvas are just really comfortable.

P.S.: And while I have to admit that I bought a G-Shock just for the outdoors, the light weight and the relatively wide strap of the watch causes it to be in rotation far more than I thought it would be.

I agree, I have a Seiko 5 in a retro look that has a wide band, 24mm. I’ve yet to find a comfortable way to wear. I currently have it on a Barton silicone. OK, but not there yet. 

Great question - as a fan of vintage watches, I get really interested when I find a NOS watch that includes the original signed bracelet. In fact, I'm so obsessed with keeping them together that I recently gave a good friend one of my beautiful Favre-Leuba vintage NOS complete watches because the bracelet was too small for my wrist and I couldn't bear to separate it from the watch. It fits his wrist perfectly and looks amazing.

I also usually purchase all of the brand's strap/bracelet variants when I buy a new release so that I have my options with brand-correct strap/bracelet, but also for the future collector who would enjoy having the complete set as it were.

But to your point, for some watches the bracelet sometimes is just not any good. I had that experience with O&W. Reasonably expensive watch and the bracelet was no better than Aliexpress quality. Very disappointing experience and I had to take the bracelet off as it was really unwearable. A beautiful alligator strap from RIOS1931 did the trick even though you're not supposed to put alligator straps on a dive watch.

In summary, do what you are most comfortable with and what will allow you to most enjoy your watch whether aesthetics are more important or comfort is.

I also buy with the bracelet if that is an option. I bought a NOS Zenith Rainbow Diver with the bracelet. The bracelet is beautiful and very nice fit and finish. Unfortunately, they did not offer half links back in the day so I can't find a good fit. Either too tight or too loose. Wearing it on a single loop NATO now.

I'm an oyster bracelet guy all day everyday!  I haven't experienced a bad oyster style bracelet even the $25 CDN 316L stainless steel ones on AliExpress.  If you're a bracelet guy you should try some of the aftermarket oyster bracelet on AliExpress.  You'd be surprised!

By the way, that original Seiko bracelet looks good.  One of the better ones I've seen in a while.  I would have never switch that out. Cheers mate 🤙🏽

I would stick with quality. I wouldn’t want a cheap, ratchety bracelet on my watch because a higher quality bracelet adds to the feel and heft of the watch. But to me, watches are all about what you like and not wearing your watch to impress others (on top of craftsmanship and all that jazz), so you wear what you enjoy.

Comfort above all ! I really don't like steel bracelets of any kind, not even on a Rolex. So I am using leather on the more dressy peices and rubber on everything else. Once you have made the swtich and felt how comfortable rubber is on the wrist, you might not go back 😊

I like bracelets and if I can make it work I typically leave it on. That said, most of the time I don't feel that I can achieve a good fit and then my go-to solution is to find a good rubber strap.

In this particular case, I will stick with the Seiko bracelet but.... I also have a rubber strap on order. Lol!