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JB Champion/ Forstner Bracelet guide

TLIGuy
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kingsrider kingsrider
Has anyone noticed a softening in the prices lately?

I believe you are seeing a softening of the prices. I consider ebay and pretty good indicator of what is going on with these bracelets from month to month and something seems to be happening. Today there appears to be more of what we consider the desirable NASA style bracelets for sale than in the past few months and the prices seem to be down about $150-$200 from the crazy high prices I was seeing a few months ago. The prices are nowhere near the $250-$400 range they were a few years ago but they do seem to be dropping.

Maybe the 50th anniversary will spark and interest in them again or maybe not. I thought the First Man movie might do it but there was really no discussion about the bracelets or even much about the movie once it was released. There was lots of interest and discussion prior to its release but no real followup conversations about it and the JB bracelet had its first staring roll in the movie. I think the forum here has moved on a bit from the JB bracelet as well as the space related topics where the bracelet conversation would inevitably come into the discussion.
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Gt390
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Professor could you provide a link or the vendor you got the chinese bracelet from. It sounds like a good low cost way to try a JB style bracelet without the high price.
 
hejsam
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A bit different but I have this JB Champion mesh with 19mm ends so it will fit the pre professional speedys.
Anyone known if this where ever used?
And what kind of money would this bring today?

I personally like the look on this one over the classical nasa mesh!
D694A62A-47BF-4289-921F-A6F2F930063B.jpeg A207B7B2-80B7-4C3C-8AAD-2D645925F9E3.jpeg
 
Professor
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Gt390 Gt390
Professor could you provide a link or the vendor you got the chinese bracelet from. It sounds like a good low cost way to try a JB style bracelet without the high price.

Sorry but the band I mentioned was an expansion band not a bracelet type.
The one I got was very nice except whatever gold tone plating they used wore away within a couple of months.
You can find NOS JB Champion expansion bands, which are much like the Spiedel bands on Ebay now and then, but I haven't spotted any bracelets or clones of JBC bracelets.

PS
Just remembered I have a chain mesh band very similar to the one shown above. I think its a Chinese knockoff but not sure. It was on my nice little Midland when I first got it. 17.5mm

Found this. Perhaps a good deal?
Looks like some nice examples in good shape.
Description says Ladies but several look to be men's size.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-JB...297031?hash=item1f0ce4a447:g:LawAAOSwgaxeWsaJ
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TLIGuy
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hejsam hejsam
Anyone known if this where ever used?
And what kind of money would this bring today?

This actual bracelet used? Who knows
Used by astronauts in space? No
Seen being worn by astronauts? No

What's it worth? Probably whatever someone thinks it's worth paying for. I don't think it falls into the "most desirable" category. One similar one on Ebay now with a BIN price of $75. Many JB Champion bracelets that are not the NASA style seem to have unrealistic prices.
 
hejsam
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TLIGuy TLIGuy
This actual bracelet used? Who knows
Used by astronauts in space? No
Seen being worn by astronauts? No

What's it worth? Probably whatever someone thinks it's worth paying for. I don't think it falls into the "most desirable" category. One similar one on Ebay now with a BIN price of $75. Many JB Champion bracelets that are not the NASA style seem to have unrealistic prices.
Sorry for my unclear question. What I meant was if this kind of bracelet ever was or is "a thing" on Speedmasters, since Im no speedy owner or a huge fan I dont have that insight in the community. I found it possible that this mesh would go great with a speedy because the jb champion mesh in the topic does, but if its only popular beacuse it was worn by austronauts I understand that the history is the apealing thing and not the mesh it self!
 
Aquariusmatic
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Not to open a new thread on J.B. Champion bracelets. I'm curious to find out if this would be something to get for around 40ish$ ?
 
jbc1.jpg jbc2.jpg jbc3.jpg
SkunkPrince
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$40 is not too much. Make sure the seller measures well because a lot of those are 11/16 instead of 18mm.
 
Aquariusmatic
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It's the 18mm version I'm looking to maybe put it on a period Omega or even a Super Compressor dive watch that I currently have on leather :whipped:...
 
Professor
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SkunkPrince SkunkPrince
$40 is not too much. Make sure the seller measures well because a lot of those are 11/16 instead of 18mm.
My Midland, when I first got it, had a exact Chinese made clone of this model and its a 17.5mm. I replaced it with a Chinese clone of a Spiedel expansion band.
The Midland has a compressor type case similar to the Amphibia and long dead radium lume but not in a dive watch style. Possibly used for boating and swimming.
I take it that mesh bracelets were the big thing before decent rubber straps became available for dive watches.
 
hmmmcamu
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ZODIAC Aerospace GMT Automatic
REF. # 752-934
17 Jewel Automatic / GMT / Hacking Cal. 75
Watchcase type: Snap down Hermetic
Aviator Diver 660ft.

JB Champion USA Expandable Bracelet

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DSCN2693.jpg DSCN2692.jpg DSCN2691.jpg
JwRosenthal
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hmmmcamu hmmmcamu
ZODIAC Aerospace GMT Automatic
Aviator Diver

JB Champion USA Expandable Bracelet
I see your GMT and raise you a red bezeled Seawolf on JBC
3B091F7C-E3EA-4E51-A713-C0667C422840.jpeg
 
hmmmcamu
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TISSOT NAVIGATOR AUTOMATIC
case ref#. 45 501
Tissot cal. 2170 [Lemania 1341]

JB Champion USA Expandable Bracelet
 
142077635_10157987196344537_8025256079819926296_o.jpg
hmmmcamu
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1950's OMEGA Seamaster AUTOMATIC
with applied LOGO and ARROWHEAD markers

JB Champion USA Expandable Bracelet
 
144319239_10157994825814537_2551946083919207593_o.jpg 142059683_10157994682059537_4711181827995990279_o.jpg 143637004_10157994683739537_6459664227520360884_o.jpg 144598638_10157994686549537_3460065862631563062_o.jpg
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