BRACELET MARKINGS

Watch bracelets and clasps carry a variety of markings that can reveal important details about your timepiece. Clasp codes often indicate the production date, while material stamps confirm whether the bracelet is stainless steel, gold-plated, or another alloy. Brand-specific codes on the bracelet links or endpieces can help you verify that the bracelet is original to the watch.

Bracelet markings are particularly important for authentication because bracelets are frequently replaced, swapped, or mixed between watches. Knowing how to read the codes stamped inside a clasp or on end links helps you determine whether the bracelet matches the watch case in terms of brand, model, and approximate production period. This is especially valuable when buying pre-owned watches where original bracelets command a significant premium.

Common bracelet marking locations include the inside surface of the clasp (often visible only when the clasp is open), the underside of end links where the bracelet connects to the case lugs, and sometimes on individual links themselves. Deployant clasps, fold-over clasps, and push-button clasps each have their own typical marking placements and code formats.