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Post by c5k0 on Aug 3, 2014 7:45:35 GMT -8
Good morning ladies and gents, I'm on the hunt for a mesh bracelet and was looking for some advice and information. I've looked at the usual suspects - Tungchoy, Watchcode, Wjean, along with a few retailers on eVilbay.
I'm trying to get my head around all the different options and why the pricing seems to be $14 - $150... (or more if it's an Omega).
I understand options like solid clasps, Omega extensions, will certainly add to the cost.
My questions are 2 parts,
1 - pricing/quality:
Here's a listing I saw that seemed too good to be true:
22mm Mesh for $13 too good to be true?
Granted, his feedback is probably one of the worst I've seen. It's almost laughable. But if the item arrives as pictured - and doesn't fall apart or turn my wrist green, it looks like a good deal.
Here's Wjean's for 5x the price... mesh looks similar, as well the clasp looks identical:
WJEAN 22mm mesh
Wjean is local for me - and I will probably purchase from him in the end. I've also seen $30 mesh bracelets that look identical to the $13, $75, $100. I like quality - and don't mind paying for it. However, I also like a good deal. I'd buy an Ontario RAT1 knife ($25) over buying a $300 knife because I know I won't go through 10 RAT1's in a lifetime. And, the gain that I would receive from a $300 knife just doesn't quantify $275 extra.
2 - options?
Omega extensions, and clasps are obvious options. These upgrades would definitely increase pricing and possibly quality.
I'm confused as to "flattened", "flexi"? Flattened looks like the links have been pressed - and when looking at the weight listings, seems to be lighter than standard. Why flattened? Is it just a personal / aesthetic preference, or is there an advantage? "Flexi" I haven't really figured out. Pictures look the same as standard mesh.
It seems 4mm thickness is standard. I would assume anything thicker would be possibly higher quality....
I suppose this is my general philosophy. I'd rather have many really nice things, over a handful of extremely expensive/luxurious things. Hence my large Seiko collection of <$200, and 0 Seikos >$1000. One day I will find it in me to get my grail SARBs, SARGs, SARYs. Until then, I'd rather tinker with Mesh, swapping hands and dials, and buying beat-up, 2nd hand stuff.
Thanks in advance for your help and advice.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2014 7:53:22 GMT -8
I don't know anything about these mesh bracelets but I would try the $13 one first to establish a standard by which to judge all the others.
If it turns out to alright then you're good to go. If it falls apart or causes your wrist to fall off then you know you will have to shop a little more up market.
I think $13 is a small price to pay for the experiment 7dfe79adc2f0
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Post by c5k0 on Aug 3, 2014 11:34:45 GMT -8
I did actually purchase the cheap one. I even made a preemptive strike and asked them to double check the package before they mailed it.
I have a feeling it will arrive with the wrong clasp - if it even arrives. They have another auction for the same price with a really cheap clasp.
Wjean has a discount for multiple purchases. I'll likely get a polished one and a black one if this cheap one turns out to be a lemon.
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Post by 69ChevelleSS on Aug 3, 2014 13:23:02 GMT -8
I bought one for my SRP227 mini tuna from this seller: Mesh Bracelet 1988show is the sellers ID. It was around $33 and it arrived in brand new shape. Some have said it's the same bracelet as WJean sells but who knows for sure. I CAN say that I'm very satisfied with the bracelet and it's very comfortable. Here's what it looks like on the watch:  |
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Post by Groundhog66 on Aug 3, 2014 13:52:32 GMT -8
Perhaps the more expensive ones are stainless steel, and the cheaper ones are plated steel?
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scubarob99
Moderator
Just bought a 6309-7049...this is the last one, I promise.
Posts: 3,706 
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Post by scubarob99 on Aug 3, 2014 13:56:03 GMT -8
More expensive ones also have removable links
Rob
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Post by c5k0 on Aug 3, 2014 14:14:20 GMT -8
I've seen the "Omega" ends. Not sure if I want to go that route. I like the clean look of just mesh and those extra extensions looks out of place IMO.
Thanks for the link 69Chev. All these pics look like the exact same bracelet.
Once the cheap-o one comes in, I'll post an update.
I may opt for the flatten WJean one.
Does anybody know what the "flexi" option is?
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Post by saul on Aug 3, 2014 15:01:43 GMT -8
More expensive ones also have removable links Rob I would say that the ones with removable links are more expensive, not that the ones that are more expensive by virtue of the removable links are of any different quality. I had a 22mm with removable links from William Jean when the whole "Shark Mesh" floodgates opened a few years ago. It adds sizing flexibility and I think looks kind of cool but...no matter what I did I could not get the the removable link metal portion to not be laying across the curve of the clasp. So there was always a lift instead of the whole thing laying across the curve of my wrist (I hope I am describing in a vivid enough manner). Along with the visual discontinuity it just wasn't comfortable. I prefer the non-adjustable ones. There is a sizing formula for them on Strapcode's site (and I think in their auctions as well). If you match the sizing properly with the size of your wrist and the intended watch you can get a very good fit with a 3 micro adjustment clasp. Of course you can and may wind up cutting some of it to size. I am not at all convinced that they aren't all coming off the same assembly line in HK or on the mainland. I think the variance in cost is market driven. I bought a "flatten" one out of curiosity (from Strapcode/Tungchoy but via Amazon because I had a gift card). In some ways it is more comfortable than the standard rounded one but not in any really definitive way. I tried it on a few different watches but where the flattened nature of it really paid off is the ability to use it on a 6138 with hidden lugs (currently on my 6138-0017). The rounded one does not really fit in those tight lug spaces. |
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Post by 69ChevelleSS on Aug 3, 2014 17:04:55 GMT -8
Thanks for the link 69Chev. My pleasure! |
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Rod
WS Benefactor
Posts: 2,213
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Post by Rod on Aug 3, 2014 17:19:21 GMT -8
Some of them are real hair pullers, if you're a descendant of the Gorilla's, watch out  |
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Post by Groundhog66 on Aug 3, 2014 17:32:13 GMT -8
Some of them are real hair pullers, if you're a descendant of the Gorilla's watch out I better stay away then...  |
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Rod
WS Benefactor
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Post by Rod on Aug 3, 2014 22:58:21 GMT -8
Some of them are real hair pullers, if you're a descendant of the Gorilla's watch out I better stay away then... You'll be right, just mow the wrist. Remember to not smoke with your shirt off, just in case you accidentally start a scrub fire……. |
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Post by pollythecat on Aug 3, 2014 23:23:21 GMT -8
I have several shark mesh bracelets from 1988show and they are OK for the money. They appear identical to the type sold by william Jean but under close inspection are not. The WJean mesh has a different wire profile and tapers towards the clasp. Also Will's meshes have a nicer feel and flexibility to them. Bottom line...you get what you pay for, such is life:-)
On the point about the removable links, they are useless for me because my wrist is so small I have to remove all of them so I prefer to buy the cheaper meshes and grind them to size. The quality of the deployment clasp is so similar as not to worry about.
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Post by c5k0 on Aug 4, 2014 0:18:25 GMT -8
I better stay away then... You'll be right, just mow the wrist. Remember to not smoke with your shirt off, just in case you accidentally start a scrub fire……. LOL. |
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Post by c5k0 on Aug 4, 2014 0:20:00 GMT -8
I have several shark mesh bracelets from 1988show and they are OK for the money. They appear identical to the type sold by william Jean but under close inspection are not. The WJean mesh has a different wire profile and tapers towards the clasp. Also Will's meshes have a nicer feel and flexibility to them. Bottom line...you get what you pay for, such is life:-) On the point about the removable links, they are useless for me because my wrist is so small I have to remove all of them so I prefer to buy the cheaper meshes and grind them to size. The quality of the deployment clasp is so similar as not to worry about. Ahhh.. you have both? I thought the bracelets were strictly 22/22? Is the clasp 20mm? |
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Post by pollythecat on Aug 4, 2014 4:35:09 GMT -8
The 1988show ones I have are parallel 22mm at the head and clasp but Will's taper to about 20mm, but I have not measured the taper.
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Post by c5k0 on Aug 19, 2014 15:55:36 GMT -8
The $12 mesh came in. As I have no other mesh bracelet to compare this against, there won't be much of a review. I can say that it does feel somewhat light in weight. The finish is a little on the cheap side -- almost tinny rather than polished steel.  It does look nice though. Next will be deciding between a $30 one or a wjean version. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
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Post by ninja01 on Aug 19, 2014 20:35:35 GMT -8
Can't tell you anything about the modern ones, but I have 3 vintage ('70s) Seikos with mesh: 2 from the 2559 "family" [actually is a Queen Seiko movement, but in a "unisex" case] 2559-3019  2559-3189 [Gold tone case]   and a 5606 Lordmatic (fully Men's size) 5606-5011   I don't wear the 5606 (it's near mint & I keep it as a true collectible) but I do wear the 2559-3019 - it is silky smooth & doesn't pinch (but I'm not real hairy - some of the women here even have more/darker arm hair than I do  ). You can see that the 2559-3019 bracelet has finer mesh than either of the other two - and I think that helps quite a bit in the "comfort" area. Clasp on that one has not been a problem (and it's a less secure design than what you see for the 5606), "haven't lost one yet" while wearing it. But it is a very thin and light watch to begin with. |
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). You can see that the 2559-3019 bracelet has finer mesh than either of the other two - and I think that helps quite a bit in the "comfort" area.