I went through a NATO phase years ago, and I went through a jb champion mesh NASA on everything phase. Still use a lot of those. Now, I’m shaving my wrists and buying old expansion bands for 70s watches. That’s the way nearly all the men I knew wore them, including my dad. And my first adult watch was an Accutron on a twistoflex. They are actually comfortable and the easiest to go on and off. I just got this one. I BULOV it.

 

+1 for wrist shaving

 

These are fun too!

 

Dad always wore expansion bands....... did you also buy some Butch Wax for your crew-cut?

 

I've always liked them and have a few USA made Spiedel bands that were in some bins in my local jeweler's basement. Like the OP, my dad and grandfathers also wore them.

 

You are definitely not the only one who likes them. Every time I mention that I have accumulated a few (usually because they are installed on watches that I buy), I get multiple PMs from people who are happy to take them off my hands. None at the moment BTW.

 

Anybody who was around in the 60's and 70's either had, or knew someone, with a watch with a Speidel Twist-O-Flex band, they were the standard if you walked into a jewelry store and were looking for a metal bracelet. My dad certainly had one, and I had one on a watch in my teens.

 

Nicest expansion band I have , An Admiral.

Very comfortable due to the inner surfaces having a slight belly that prevents contact between edges and skin.

Another good one is the Timex "Fast Fit". Nothing special other than having a wide range of adjustment without the need to remove or add links.
A Fast Fit adjusted for a skinny wrist can be quickly readjusted for a thicker wrist in seconds
This has the adjustment in the center, I have another with the adjustments at each end, but it's not as comfortable because the ends don't have enough curve for a smaller diameter wrist.

 

I know this sounds like an untrue story but I picked this 60’s timex up when I found a couple nice gold watches at a junk store. To keep the guy happy I picked up this 60’s timex and some other junk he was trying to get rid of. I can’t take these stretchy bands but twice I went to change it for a leather one and the watch stopped. It came back shortly after each time but I am now just figuring I’m just gonna leave this thing on. By all rights this watch should not be running. I will leave her be with this annoying stretchy band.

 

You need to get yourself a pair of white sansa-belt polyester slacks, a brown polka-dot shirt with butterfly collar and white patent leather loafers to complete the look.

 

How did you know what I’m wearing right now that is freaky

 

In truth, I rarely have any trouble with them pulling at hairs, and they are at least as comfortable as any band I've used. The easy on and off is also a nice plus. I think there has been a certain anti-expansion snobbery for many years. I'm liking the ones with the built-in calendar when I can find them. And some are actually attractive. I just put a nice one on a Seiko. They are a big part of watch history, and I'm all about nostalgia. Also, a note on the post with the coiled wire band. I love those, too. I put them on old WWII watches when I can find them.

 

I have a few watches on a twist-o-flex, I like them a lot.



I'm wearing one now....

 

Great to see those old Timex watches and expansion bands. The everyday wear-ability of that old Timex hardware was tough to beat.

 

I only have one proper expansion bracelet (out of 40+ watches). I have my Dad's 1968 Waltham on a Fix-O-Flex style bracelet. I can flip it inside out

And thanks @Duracuir1 - now I can't get that damn Slinky ditty out of my head!

 

^^ just a cautionary of what the spring loaded endlinks can do- it’s not a myth