American Band and clasp

[frank308]

I was looking at artoftime.com and they have a Turn O Graph (http://www.artoftime.com/web/en/watches/index.htm?showid=10733) which is described as having a Stainless Steel Jubilee Bracelet (Open Link, USA) which I understand is different from the normal one made by the Swiss. This article from interwatches (http://www.interwatches.com/rolex-bands-history) stated that "We can also find bracelets made in USA, manufactured exclusively for the American market in the Oyster rebeted and Jubilee models, with links generally different to the swiss made and with the clasp pattern of Rolex USA." How are these bracelets different from the ordinary? To me it looked like the "USA" bracelet was an oval not a half circle but I can't seem to locate any good photos. Thoughts?

[Rolexis]

Originally Posted by frank308

I was looking at artoftime.com and they have a Turn O Graph (http://www.artoftime.com/web/en/watc...m?showid=10733) which is described as having a Stainless Steel Jubilee Bracelet (Open Link, USA) which I understand is different from the normal one made by the Swiss. This article from interwatches (http://www.interwatches.com/rolex-bands-history) stated that "We can also find bracelets made in USA, manufactured exclusively for the American market in the Oyster rebeted and Jubilee models, with links generally different to the swiss made and with the clasp pattern of Rolex USA." How are these bracelets different from the ordinary? To me it looked like the "USA" bracelet was an oval not a half circle but I can't seem to locate any good photos. Thoughts?

Yes USA band have solid oval links. I think the USA bands looked nicer and the clasp had a gold crown on the top too. I prefer the USA bands to the Swiss bands myself

[frank308]

Thank you. What sort of different markings are there on the clasp aside from having a gold crown?

[springer]

Here are a couple pics from a 1969 USA oval-link Jubilee band. The band in the photo reads USA made. Most of the USA bands read C&I USA.

[SPARTAN2161]

Also JB inside of a triangle is a common marking for a USA band.

I do beleive they put these bands on the watches do to customs. I think they were not taxed as much because they weren't "finished" watches. I am not 100% but i do remember reading that over on VRF. I do prefer my JB band over the swiss band of the time period.