Japanese Bracelets

[tin medic]

As someone who is new to Japanese watches can anyone explain to me why the watches are so amazing but the bracelets appear to have been assembled by kindergartners using leftover pieces of tinfoil. Every Seiko or Citizen watch I have aquired from the 60's up through the 80's has this cheap assembly feeling.

[tommie]

They’re cheap and tinny but light and comfy, I always see them as purpose built haha. We like solid steel now as a feeling of quality but I think old school was more designed to “barely know it was there” kinda vibe…

Modern ones aren’t so much like this, tuna, monster, srp turtles, they’ve made them a bit more solid recently… although my mates skx jubilee
Is very lightweight, it’s literally stretched to the point it looks like it may fall apart! and for that reason I’ve never bought one. Rolex submariner bracelet is very lightweight and flimsy feeling too but again… purpose built apparently

[HiBeat]

I came into Seiko from Rolex and Tudor and like yourself thought these folded bracelets with hollow end links were cheap and unbecoming.

As an engineer, over time I came to realize they are more than robust, light on the wrist, easy to work with, and really epitomized the Japanese optimization of resources to get a job done. And despite what some people might see as outdated designs, depending upon the particular bracelet in question, they were all rather snazzy in their time.

[tin medic]

My Omega and Tissot bracelets are very heavy and solid, which is what I'm used to.  The first time I put on a Seiko bracelet I was like "are you kidding me?".  Now, except for a few watches, I run aftermarket straps/bracelets on all my watches.

[tommie]

Love my seamaster bracelet but my speedy’s has always felt super light to me, I wear it on sailcloth or NATO’s mostly……. Mostly

[twhp101]

I rather like the rattly bracelets. In fact I would say I prefer them. They seem to fit on the wrist more comfortably, and I like the lower weight of them.

There were many more designs back then too. I wouldn't say I dislike Oyster bracelets but they are rather dull. I took this photo a few weeks ago as I was asking the question why there was so much variation in the 60/70s and why nowadays we have to put up with a choice between Oyster or Jubilee?!

(I know there are more than that😆)

[tommie]

I’ve really got my eye on a “Burke,” partly because the bracelet looks so damn comfy!

[7s26]

My Monster bracelet is more comfortable than my SMP300 Bond bracelet. Bond bracelet is well made; but heavy and non-tapering.

The SKX007 OEM bracelet while being light and hollow, is actually a blessing depending how you look at it. It makes it more comfortable and it conforms to the wrist nicely. Adds a nice flexibility the solid link bracelets lack.

[dapellegrini]

While I don't own any Omega or Rolex from the 60's, I am under the impression that the bracelets from those manufacturers, in that time frame are just as janky.... am I wrong?

[tritto]

I have a few Omega, Tissot and Bulova bracelets from the 60s/70s and they're not significantly different in construction or quality from many of the Seiko bracelets I have.

[tin medic]

The band on my 70 Tissot is built like a tank. My 78 Longines on the other hand, that bracelet is built just like the Japanese bracelets.

[dapellegrini]

I've handled may Rolex from the 70's and 80's and thought the bracelets were very similar to Seiko - in the janky kind of way... Just my opinion... 

[trilo]

As far as I understand, many of the Japanese watches were not expensive in their day and were produced in vast quantities (reason why it is possible to have an active, low threshold community like this).

Bracelets are an easy place to shave off some manufacturing costs and there will always be that customer who changes the bracelet right away.

However, there are exceptions to the quality. Some models have better bracelets than others (like early quartz and flagship/innovative pieces).

EDIT: One more thing that occured to me, is that likely majority of people who bought a Japanese watch back in the day, engaged in physical work of some sort and it made no sense to have a too fancy bracelet on the watch, because it would get a beating anyway.

[scubarob99]

Feb 19, 2024 3:49:40 GMT -8 trilo said:

As far as I understand, many of the Japanese watches were not expensive in their day and were produced in vast quantities (reason why it is possible to have an active, low threshold community like this).

Bracelets are an easy place to shave off some manufacturing costs and there will always be that customer who changes the bracelet right away.

However, there are exceptions to the quality. Some models have better bracelets than others (like early quartz and flagship/innovative pieces).

EDIT: One more thing that occured to me, is that likely majority of people who bought a Japanese watch back in the day, engaged in physical work of some sort and it made no sense to have a too fancy bracelet on the watch, because it would get a beating anyway.

Seems like the highest end watches came on leather (for the businessman) divers on rubber (for their intended purpose)
And everything else on a wide range of bracelets- some of them really innovative masterpieces.
I, for one, love the 70's bracelets- thinner, lighter, and fitting the wrist just right.

Rob

[ouroboros]

LCD Quartz watches had some of the most beautiful bracelets in the 70's and early 80's.
The jingly jangly bracelets were in the analogue mechanicals. Only exception, in my experience, were the VANACS which had nice bracelets.

[tin medic]

I’ve always been partial to heavier bracelets as they tend to keep the weight from seeming like it’s all on the watch.

[DanS]

Feb 18, 2024 18:27:47 GMT -8 tritto said:

I have a few Omega, Tissot and Bulova bracelets from the 60s/70s and they're not significantly different in construction or quality from many of the Seiko bracelets I have.

I agree. IMO, 60s and 70s Seiko bracelets are pretty similar in quality to Swiss bracelets from many brands, including Omega and Rolex. The OP's complaints remind me of comments I often hear about Rolex bracelets from the same era, which often have a market value of $2k or more.

[tin medic]

It's more of an observation than a complaint. 

[7s26]

Here's another observation from another era.

When the 7548 quartz were released, their MSRP was higher than the 6309 divers. An Omega Seamaster Baby Ploprof was roughly the same price.