Not sure if that has been posted before. I just found this site regarding the relaunch of the Bonklip bracelet / strap. https://www.josephbonnie.com/en/product/bonklip-steel-watch-bracelet/ Estimated delivery: May 2020 Tropic, Forstner, Holzer, Bonklip, ..., whats next? And a nice article about the original: https://www.fratellowatches.com/vintage-bracelets-part-1-bonklip-style/
Looks good! I think next, GF should just reproduce all the end links from their catalog since those seem to get thrown away every time someone gets ready to sell a bracelet... JB Champion too.
Not sure about the value in this one, I think there are bargain buckets of originals at every watch fair no?
Bonklips of 17mm and under lug fitting are cheap and easy to find, 18mm are more plentiful and around €125-150. 20mm however are pretty difficult to locate and generally more expensive still so I think this initiative will actually fill a gap in the market for not such a big cost.
If anyone is looking for a 18mm bonclip type bracelet I have one that is surplus to requirements and for a small donation to charity I will post to the first member that drops me a PM.
The original Bonklip and vintage ladder bracelets often came in 20 and 22mm lug size. So the watchmakers could grind them down to a perfect fit.
I actually find this another neat option. With all the watch “reissues” or homages we have seen over the last few years, the attempts at recreating period bracelets has been a huge fail- they may appear similar but all lack the feel and finish of the vintage bracelets. The Bonklips are among the earliest of bracelets and suit 40’s/early 50’s watches unlike many “vintage” styles that are out now. And yes, they are abundant in 16/17mm, but you get 18 and above and the price soars.
This is true and I’ve been lucky to score a couple of them, but I think in this case the range would be only down to about 19mm due to the width of the links. A 22mm lug width would be better.
For the ignoramuses, like me, what are the good points of these? Is it just the vintage appeal, or are the loveable for practical reasons.
For me : 1) it’s more or less the bracelet that was worn on a particular watch I have in my collection (albeit a narrower version) in the 50s 2) The ForstnerBands one can be attached to fixed bars (ForstnerBands bonklip) That said, I find it very comfortable and easy to wear/use, as well as very light. I can’t wait to try it on other more modern watches (I think given it’s brand new and not a shagged vintage one it will actually look quite good)...
Light and breathable, and the more common thinner-linked version give a nice vintage look. Seen here on a 36mm US Army issued 2179 they often make the watch seem a little larger than it really is IMO. The slinkier ones wear better for me, I have had a larger and stiffer NOS version that I don’t seem to ever wear.
