Vintage-inspired bracelets for vintage-inspired (or just timeless) watches

The 9-row is 18mm across in the middle, so very close to the 19mm lug width of the SBGM221. I've seen others put the 16-mm-across 7-link bracelet on it, and I'm not the biggest fan of the bracelet being much narrower than the lug width.

This is the exact reason I keep my Glycine Airman DC-4 on a beads of rice:

The '50/60s aesthetic of the dial lends itself to the aesthetic of the beads of rice bracelet (popular during that period) extraordinarily well.

Yep, love this - and your examples look awesome - and do it myself:

Hamilton Murph 38mm on Forstner Komfit:

Hamilton Khaki Auto on Forstner Bonklip:

I also got a 7-row BOR Forstner bracelet ostensibly for a Longines sector dial but something about it didn't feel quite right... Still trying to find a home for that bracelet!

Ah, that 9-link BOR is calling to me. Looks great on the GS.

Both look awesome. Definitely never considered an MR01 in this set up and it is a good one.

Good pairings. I've picked up NOS bracelets for my 70s/80s Russian watches because new ones wouldn't look right.

Those bracelets look incredible, I may have to finally pull the trigger! @tesseraic - can you speak to the feel/wearability of the various bracelets you have? I'm a little worried about pinching or the comfort of what looks to have somewhat sharp edges...

Edit: Also have to say I love seeing the Baltic too - one day I'll have to scratch that itch too

Great pairing👍 You got a good eye for this.

I have the exact same issue with the 7 link. I know it is actually how it was done back in the day. So on a vintage chrono in patek style sure but like you I was pleased that the 9rows was announced. The only thing is that I want that forstner offer a modern 18mm clasp for it like they do for the 16mm. We are spoiled kids 🤣

bead or rice really work with everything because of the brushed and polished finish.

Alternatively I would recommend the rivet bracelet for a sportier look for a 30 40 50s watch. Ladder for 70 80s watch. And the bullet bracelet for a 60s or even modern design watch.

@tesseraic - can you speak to the feel/wearability of the various bracelets you have? I'm a little worried about pinching or the comfort of what looks to have somewhat sharp edges...

The bonklip is ridiculously comfortable, to be honest. It's almost liquid in its movement, and the link gaps are so close together you can't not get a great fit.

The Forstner BoR also fits well—the links are small and the clasp has 6 micro-adjust positions, so you shouldn't have trouble finding a good fit on it either. I have found that the (pressed) clasp that comes with this one can be a bit tricky to fasten sometimes; it's something about the angle of it on my wrist. I might move a link or two to the other side of the clasp to see if I can mitigate that.

Edit: Also have to say I love seeing the Baltic too - one day I'll have to scratch that itch too

This is my second Baltic—I also have a blue gilt Aquascaphe. The Aquascaphe BoR fits the MR01 perfectly, by the way, so that's another option for it. And in the upcoming June re-release of the MR01, Baltic is releasing a Forstner-esque 16mm-wide BoR for the MR01, too!

I have the exact same issue with the 7 link. I know it is actually how it was done back in the day. So on a vintage chrono in patek style sure but like you I was pleased that the 9rows was announced.

Yeah, exactly!

The only think is that I want that forstner offer a modern 18mm clasp for it like they do for the 16mm. We are spoiled kids 🤣

Totally. The pressed clasp is the most disappointing thing about this bracelet.

Alternatively I would recommend the rivet bracelet for a sportier look for a 30 40 50s watch. Ladder for 70 80s watch. And the bullet bracelet for a 60s or even modern design watch.

I know that anyone can wear any watch these days, but both ladder and rivet bracelets feel more masculine than I'm typically going for. I'm usually aiming for something between soft butch and tomboy femme these days, gender presentation-wise, and those both feel pretty stone butch / transmasc to me. Your mileage may vary! But re: bullet bracelets, I'd love to score a vintage (tuning fork) Accutron Astronaut one of these days.

(Edit: Sorry for the quick diversion into queer discourse!)

No worries I am just glad forstner exist and develop those bracelets. They are just brilliant and up to the task for what we ask a modern aftermarket bracelet.

I have the exact Grand Seiko and now inspired to shop for a bracelet- thank you! ❤️🤙

Recently bought a 1960s-style bracelet from AliExpress, and it turned out not half bad on my 1952 Eterna:

What matters is whether you like it or not…. But if you really want a strangers opinion, who primarily wears dive watches 😂 and likes natos, I’ll say I like what you chose for the Baltic, but the GS band would not be my first choice. @JBird7986 bracelet looks really nice, but I would suspect probably not easy to find.

Very cool. I have the SBGW279. Got me thinking..

It's easier than you think -- I got it from Strapsco.

https://strapsco.com/product/beads-of-rice-bracelet/

I love it.

Forstner does such a great job on the bracelets. I have a number of the Forstner bracelets with my Nivada Grenchen Chronomasters.

I also picked up a Forstner Ladder bracelet for my Zenith El Primero Chronomaster (which they did not offer a ladder bracelet for despite still making them)...