The Design Of: The Rolex Oyster Bracelet

[@maynardjoseph]

The design element of your commentary marks you out from all the rest. Keep up the good work.

[@ID-Guy]

Thank you Maynard! It is such a blast to approach these topics in a different way (and it means so much that people like yourself are seeing a little bit of nuance here and there) I really appreciate your comment, man and expect many more videos to come!

[@BubblesandthePurrMonster]

Yep. He’s got a voice that could make a wolverine purr

[@tomasinacovell4293]

Non! The modern ones have their own Achilles heels in the clasp, small short linking pins that break or fall out, screws that fall out without warning and allow the watch to fall smashing to the floor, and fragile screw easily stripped threadings etc. The pre so-called "solid" were more reliable and longer lasting, not to mention cheaper to buy.

[@bodietitan557]

I know I am kind of off topic but do anybody know of a good place to watch newly released tv shows online ?

[@zainlewis5306]

@Bodie Titan I would suggest flixzone. You can find it by googling =)

[@sanjaykhemani5885]

Hello Great video! How many links normally come with an oyster bracket?

[@pilotstyle123]

I love this series, you bring something unique to the watch youtube world. Do the Patek Calatrava, the original from 1932, ref5196 today next pls.

[@carssv]

I vote for this too, I am planning to be the owner of one shortly...

[@pilotstyle123]

@@carssv same here! :D

[@ID-Guy]

The 5196R is on it's way! I have another "Perfect One watch" episode coming out in the next few days (comparing Patek to Vacheron and JLC)

[@carssv]

pilotstyle123 In which one are you thinking? My first idea is YG as I see 5196 as the quintessential of a traditional watch and YG fits nicely on that concept plus I tend to prefer the dial. On the other hand the RG with the silverish dial has a nice vintage look and WG flights under radar that is something that I really appreciate. Never tried one before, this Saturday I will start the process of trying it and confirming if definitely calls me.

[@carssv]

pilotstyle123 can not stop to watch this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f2LXeqKorLitoLM

[@jeffdj1975]

My new favourite watch channel by far!!!

[@eyeontime6136]

The glide lock is hands down my favorite bracelet. Thumbs up!

[@Mark..P]

An extremely informative and well put together video. Thank you

[@BubblesandthePurrMonster]

Again. Just spectacular review. Everything is so well researched. Every utterance so carefully chosen. You shall go very far sir. Could you start narrating scifi books for us! The oyster bracelet is easily my favorite. Never been a big fan of leather straps or the jubilee :)

[@BobDyl]

Love the oyster. It's a shame Rolex is abandoning it on their steel GMTs in favor of the jubilee.

[@tackontitan]

At least they kept the clasp the same instead of making it a standard jubilee. The security of that clasp is amazing.

[@flogtwo]

Jubilee is a lot nicer to wear.

[@thepenultimateninja5797]

​​​@@flogtwohave watches with both Oyster and Jubilee bracelets, and I honestly don't notice a difference in comfort between the two. I find them both very comfortable. I guess it depends on the person and how they wear the watch. I wear my watch on my wrist, not at the joint like some people do, and I like my bracelets to be tight enough that the watch doesn't move around.

[@keresadministratum5008]

Here is an idea, watch hand design and development

[@pauljanmaatdoor]

Great series of videos: thanks and compliments. Request for future video: the design of the Sinn 856 (and the matching H-Link bracelet).

[@ahpoiseheh]

I would buy the rolex in the thumbnail. In a heartbeat.

[@diogeneslantern18]

Personally the Presidential is my favourite bracelet from Rolex - however, I love beads of rice bracelets the most!

[@vaughanatkinson8421]

Very informative, as always!

[@jananilcolonoscopu4034]

Great video as usual; it would be great to hear your perspective on Taro Tanaka's "grammar of design" concept for the early Grand Seikos!

[@diogeneslantern18]

YES! This is a great suggestion.

[@RyTyme]

This was a very informative video, and great quality. Well done👍

[@alfredodavie2842]

I have just purchased a Datejust and preferred the Oyster over the Jubilee bracelet , thought Jubilee was a bit girly

[@CleverSmart123]

Well done! I really like this series!

[@antg.3846]

Good stuff I love your content direction! I can’t take the credit, you laid it out perfectly.

[@MrD2108]

Maybe you should do a video about importance of symmetry on a watch dial? For instance I feel that the design of my Tissot PRC200 T17.1.586.52 watch is nicer that it's later iteration T055.417.11.057.00 in terms of dial design and symmetry. What do you think about that?

[@scottsj4625]

Really nicely done video. I enjoy this history lessons how things evolve through time. Thanks.

[@navegandolejanooriente6268]

IDGuy, do you have any info on the origin of the Rolex's cathedral/mercedes hour hand?

[@thepenultimateninja5797]

3:20 It's interesting that the designers had daintiness in mind when designing the Submariner. In the James Bond novel On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Ian Fleming describes Rolex watches as "heavy". Bond is contemplating the replacement for the Rolex watch that he broke on an unfortunate henchman's jaw, and it reads: "Another Rolex? Probably. They were on the heavy side, but they worked. And at least you could see the time in the dark with those big phosphorus numerals." Fleming owned a 1016 Explorer on an expanding Oyster bracelet, so he was speaking from personal experience. From this contemporary account, it seems that, at least to Fleming, the Explorer was considered a substantial and heavy watch relative to the everyday watches of the time.

[@karimdelakarim]

Nice work.

[@faisalingalong]

Another top video there. As a designer (not product design though) I like your take on this crazy obsession we have ;)

[@stefanlazaralexandru]

awesome vid, would like to see more from these series. Quick question though, which is the competitor that pushed Rolex to release the modern, solid Oyster? Was it the Omega Seamaster?

[@johnliley]

There is also the law that used to be in place with the USA and tariffs with Bracelets way back then. I think Eisenhower admin. Well done

[@scherzandokarasu6353]

@IDguy I love your videos. Can you please do a design analysis of the Omega Seamaster 300. Would love that. Note The 300 not the 300M! Oh, and also do you happen to hail from the Western Cape? You seem to have a CapeTonian accent. Which Is where I now live...; )

[@ID-Guy]

I absolutely do hail from the Western Cape! And the Seamaster 300 is going to be a forerunner soon (just need to get a Pelagos video out first) then the classic will be analysed fully ;)

[@BoogurTWang]

Well Done !

[@rezar6894]

Great video once again @ ID Guy - your videos are original and thought provoking..not like everything else that’s already out there.

[@ID-Guy]

Thank you so much, man! I just hope these videos find more people in the future (it would be so amazing to make this page into an archive for everything "Watch Design" related) Thank you for the comment, Reza.

[@famosguider205]

Your videos have found me not realizing I wasn’t a sub yet until I smashed the sub button now! I always look forward to your insight and have some of your videos on deck to watch! Thanks

[@Etalex77]

...and in the process the weight of the whole watch/bracelet went up so much that it is not practical to wear it on a day to day basis. Sure, you can wear those heavy watches on special occasions to show off, but most people don't tend to wear them to work etc. Our fathers understood that light and thin watches are the most desirable. Nowadays people think that hefty/solid is somehow a sign of better quality. Those people have no understanding of subtlety and finesse.

[@jayjay938]

Hi, I love your insights, especially from an industrial deaigner's point of view. Keep up the giod work sir. If it's not too much trouble, would you please review the rolex skydweller in its' blue dial iteration from form to its function....thank you again kind sir, cheers

[@jayjay938]

Also, do you think its well worth the srp price? Should rolex develop a perpetual calendar next? Minute repeater?

[@MarkMphonoman]

It will be hard for Rolex to beat the latest steel bracelet. It really is satisfying in every way. 👍

[@tomasinacovell4293]

Non! The modern ones have their own Achilles heels in the clasp, small short linking pins that break or fall out, screws that fall out without warning and allow the watch to fall smashing to the floor, and fragile screw easily stripped threadings etc. The pre so-called "solid" were more reliable and longer lasting, not to mention cheaper to buy.

[@Bob.martens]

The oranges of the Submariner?

[@ID-Guy]

Har har har! Annunciation is key ;)

[@msbrownbeast]

But now with solid links, the bracelets are also a lot heavier and less comfortable to wear,

[@robbiecleighmarks3088]

Ewan McGregor knows his watches

[@pacocandano]

Beautiful vid! In regards to the case, I still prefer the drilled lugs for ease of strap change and design... literally you only need a toothpick to do it and without scratching the case or anything!

[@neil4701]

I disagree that the modern oyster is the ulitimately evolved versrion of the bracelet with no disadvantages. Its major disadvantage is weight - it's an extremely heavy item to be wearing on the wrist on a permament basis. The high point of watch bracelet design was the late 60s / early 70s, when bracelets were light and truly functional.

[@sashasokolova3975]

Vostok 420 and 710 cases

[@throwingdartsandbreakinghearts]

Not an oyster guy. Give me a jubilee, super engineer, or presidential any day of the week.