Current estimates suggest that almost 60% of all watches sold are models on metal bracelets. That is an enormous proportion of watches that come from their manufacturer on specially designed metal bracelets. That’s more than all of the watches sold on leather, rubber, or even nylons combined!
As such, there are countless options for bracelets from all of your favourite brands. But oftentimes these options are expensive, hard to get hold of and limited to just the watch you ordered it for. So, in this article I’m going to talk you through the reasons why shopping for an OEM metal bracelet is not your only option.
For more guides on metal bracelets and other accessories, follow this link.
Why OEM Metal Bracelets are not Your Only Option...
New Styling Options
The benefit of looking beyond OEM is that it opens up a wider variety of styles, finishes, and materials to choose from. For example, you own a Tudor Black Bay GMT, as we do, but you’re looking to break past the three-link style that Tudor offers on its Black Bay range. You’d be stuck if you went to Tudor as they only make the three-link bracelet that fits this watch.
On the WatchGecko store alone we have three-link, five-link, H-link, mesh, beads of rice, and so on opening up the opportunity for real customisation of your watches and an opportunity to discover new combinations. I’m a big fan of our Black Bay GMT on this premium beads of rice metal bracelet.
Adaptability and Comfort
It may seem obvious, but one of the most important aspects of any metal bracelet is it’s comfort and adjustability. While many brands have great offerings that allow for link removal, micro adjustment in the clasp and so on, they haven’t dedicated as much time and research comparatively to the amount spent on developing the head of the watch.
Where non-OEM differs is where we have spent all of our researching efforts on just the bracelets, ensuring they are as comfortable, ergonomical, and adjustable as possible. Comfort is at the forefront of every design we do meaning you are sure to find a bracelet that fits to your wrist as well as the watch that is attached to it.
Availability
Walk into any watch store or jeweller and you will see watches filling windows, shelves and display cabinets. Never will you see the bracelets and accessories that you might be after if you want a new metal bracelet for your watch. That is because they often have to be ordered specially due to the bracelets normally only being made to be paired with a watch head and sold together. This means that you may put in an enquiry with your jeweller or authorised dealer and be waiting weeks or even months for your bracelet to arrive. And let’s not forget that there are some brands that will refuse entirely to sell you an official bracelet.
With us however, there is no such wait time. Anything ordered that is in stock will be shipped same-day meaning that depending on where you are in the world your bracelet would arrive within a very short timeframe.
Diversification of Your Collection
If you were to find a bracelet from an OEM supplier that fits your lovely watch then that’s great. Apart from the fact that you’ve spent possibly quite a lot of money on an accessory that only fits one watch due to its shaped end links.
The benefit of non-OEM bracelets is that the straight end links mean that they will fit multiple watches (assuming they have the same lug width). Therefore, buying yourself one good quality metal bracelet from a third party can mean you don’t just customise one watch, but your whole collection of watches with the same lug width adding diversity and style to your watch box.
Quality Materials
Just like the watch brands, we have access to materials and manufacturing techniques that ensure the highest quality for our metal bracelets. We often use 316L Stainless-Steel in our construction ensuring durability, lustrous shine, and a resistance to salt water and other fluids (the ones that come from your wrist!).
Having the confidence to take your metal bracelet anywhere you go and wear it every day is an important part of watch ownership. Which brings me nicely onto my last point…
Less Concern About Scratching
As mentioned before, OEM metal bracelets are often expensive and hard to acquire. And the combination of those things often lead to people being overly protective of their new bracelets. ‘I don’t want to scratch it’, ‘I must take it off before I do that’ are the kind of sentences I hear from people that have recently done exactly that. Bought an expensive metal bracelet and are now too scared to wear it for what it was actually intended.
With one of our bracelets however, you don’t need to be protective at all. The more affordable price tag, better availability, and confidence in the quality of the materials combines to make a metal bracelet that wearers actually use. They scratch it up on rocks, drop it in the ocean, ding it on doors and cars and desks. And we love that. The fact that people are out there enjoying using their watches for what they were built for all made possible by one of our bracelets.
