The Succs Story of the Manufacturer Gay Frèr

Contents:

• HISTORIL PERSPECTIV GAY FRèR, MUCH MORE THAN A SIMPLE MANUFACTURER OF WATCH BRACELETS
• GAY FRèR – THE BRACELET BROTHERS
• WTB GAY ER BEADS OF RICE FOR HER RRERA 1553
• GAY FRER
• THE SUCCS STORY OF THE MANUFACTURER GAY FRèR
• GAY FRER JEWELRY

HISTORIL PERSPECTIV GAY FRèR, MUCH MORE THAN A SIMPLE MANUFACTURER OF WATCH BRACELETS

Intertgly, the trend towards stals steel s the 1930s allowed Gay Frèr to prosper as this metal is nsirably harr to craft than gold, and therefore requir a lot of specialized craftsmanship, fely one doma where Gay Frèr had special expertise. When the foc of certa manufacturers shifted toward creatg chronographs and other profsnal watch the 1960s and 1970s, Gay Frèr opted for new signs, and prented pani such as Her wh a beads-of-rice bracelet flanked wh Oyster-like fold lks. Gay Frèr was ed born a chaiste, the French word for a pany that manufactur chas for pocket watch (and margally for jewelry, a trend om the 16th century that eventually me back three centuri later and culmated wh the fashn of the pendifs the 1920s).

While prec necklac and bracelets ma a natural extensn, Gay Frèr also offered the other classil jewelry ems cludg rgs, one even featurg the ram that n be found on the clasp of s watch bracelets. A look at the yearly talogs om the prtig exhibn Montr Et Bijoux Genève is extremely revealg: Gay Frèr always exhibed some sophistited necklac and ornate bracelets, and never any of the more "mon" watch bracelets that was manufacturg mass quanti at the time (for that was attendg the Basel tra show). In talkg wh prev Gay Frèr employe now craftg impossibly th bracelets for Piaget, we got to disver that was the jewelry piec which had shaped their skills and allowed them to e up wh more advanced watch bracelets afterwards.

This jewelry appears much ls at ctn, at least wh the Gay Frèr provenance highlighted, probably bee is ls distctive than the bracelets wh their strikg GF markgs (the other known mark is the number 32 drawn a key). Yet, our opn they would be as tertg a tch as any rare watch bracelet, bee they tell so much about how Gay Frèr beme the preement maker of watch bracelets the 20th century, highlightg aga a lk between jewelry and watch that is too often ignored.

GAY FRèR – THE BRACELET BROTHERS

This utilarian bracelet n be seen as an early eratn of the Oyster bracelet, which was signed by Gay Frèr wh Rolex and is still today one of both brands’ (Rolex and GF) most inic and endurg creatns. At the same time we have orred all the versns of morn beads-of-rice bracelets available on the market (6 different manufactur om EU, Japan, HK and US), refully tted and pared them lk-to-lk and clasp-to-clasp to origal beads-of-rice Gay Frèr bracelets.

In fact, by 1976, fay-owned Gay Frèr, n by the brothers Jacqu-Hubert et Jean-Franis Gay, the bracelet maker was Geneva’s largt and most profsnalized factory, wh more than 500 specialists their employ. Some of the most tertg and ventive signs the outer orb of horology, have manifted themselv the form of bracelets, om the classic ‘40s Gay Frèr beads of rice, to the ever-reliable Oyster om Rolex.

After the Bonklip and the Oyster, Gay Frèr began to form relatnships wh other big watchmakg ho Swzerland, like Vacheron Constant and Patek Philippe, who were based jt around the rner om them Geneva.

WTB GAY ER BEADS OF RICE FOR HER RRERA 1553

Creatg bracelets om solid piec of steel, tak a lot longer wh specialised knowledge, that means n be hard to fd top qualy, solid steel vtage bracelets, unls they e om a prtig hoe such as Gay Frèr. Though produced by numero pani over the years, the beads of rice bracelet is perhaps most closely associated wh famed bracelet manufacturer Gay Frer, who supplied them to both Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constant the 1940s and 1950s both stals steel and prec metals. Although built specifilly for the Aumars Piguet Royal Oak, this steel bracelet (origally veloped wh sign put by Gay Frer) has sce bee an in s own right (the Patek Philippe Ntil, lnched four years after the Royal Oak, featur a siar tegrated sign, as both watch were signed by well-known watch signer Gerald Genta).

GAY FRER

Another Gay Frer sign that was offered on the Zenh El Primero begng 1969, this bracelet featur spac between the fold lks that give the appearance of a ladr; though may also have been an optn on other Zenh signs, is most often associated wh this mol, and vtage exampl are difficult to e by. The Bamboo (or Bonklip) bracelet was Gay Frer’ first of many big hs the was a bracelet which provid both great fort and durabily, somethg of paramount importance to those who utilised watch as tools on a profsnal and daily basis. In fact, an huge number of pani followed Gay Frer’ lead, and the Bamboo bracelet beme the go-to accsory for the typ of creatn massively creased Gay Frer’ exposure, motivatg them to ramp up productn and troduce a larger variety and selectn of bracelets, each more sophistited than the other.

In orr to plement the sporty nature and reliabily of the profsnal watch, Rolex need to be them wh a high-qualy and durable, they turned to – you gused – long-time partner Gay Frer for help. Another unniable in when to Gay Frer and watch bracelets general is the “Beads of Rice” style, aptly named after the shap of s of the key featur and talkg pots of the Beads of Rice bracelet is s versatily and wearabily, that you n pair wh a sports watch and ’ll feel and look right at home, jt as would if you wore wh a drs watch: you really n’t go wrong wh . Jt to emphasize the value of this type of bracelet: the steel Patek Philippe 1518 that was ctned by Phillips 2016 for a rerd-shatterg 11, 000, 000 CHF, was equipped wh none other than a Gay Frer Beads of Rice bracelet.

As mentned before, as well as manufacturg their own bracelets, Gay Frer signed and built ctom bracelets, ma specifilly to orr by var brands such as Rolex, Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constant – a relatnship which lasted around 60 years. HisCategory1990s Swiss Contemporary Clip-on EarrgsMaterialsDiamond, Yellow Gold, EnamelGay Frer 1960 Paris Fele Enamel and Wood Bracelet 18kt Gold wh RubiBy Gay FrerLoted Miami, FLFel bangle bracelet signed by Gay Frer. Digned by Gay FrerCategory1990s European Contemporary Clip-on EarrgsMaterialsDiamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow GoldGay Frer 1970 France Enameled Leopards Bracelet In 18Kt Gold Emeralds & CoralBy Gay FrerLoted Miami, FLLeopards bracelet signed by Gay Frer.

THE SUCCS STORY OF THE MANUFACTURER GAY FRèR

Betiful chic piece, created Paris France, back CategoryVtage 1970s French Mornist Cuff BraceletsMaterialsCoral, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, EnamelGay Frer 1950 Paris-Geneva 1950 Retro Stardt Explosn Necklace 18Kt GoldBy Gay FrerLoted Miami, FLImprsive Stardt necklace signed by Gay Frer. A rare and one-of-a-kd sculptural vtageCategoryVtage 1950s French Post-War Choker NecklacMaterialsGold, 18k Gold, Yellow GoldGay Frer 18ct Gold And Ebony Wood Stalln Head Bangle Cir 1970sBy Gay FrerLoted London, GBAn 18ct gold and woon stalln’s head bangle by Gay Frer c.

1970s, the open by-pass style bangleCategoryLate 20th Century Swiss BanglGay Frer - Earrgs wh by, hemate and diamonds 18k yellow goldBy Gay FrerLoted The Hague, ZHGay Frer - 18 kt yellow gold earrgs set wh by, hemate and brilliant cut diamonds. 50 ctCategoryVtage 1970s French Morn Clip-on EarrgsMaterialsHemate, Ruby, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow GoldGay Frer 48 Grams Platum and 32 Grams 18 Karat Yellow Gold Lk BraceletLoted New York, NYFound Geneva 1835 Gay Frer was the most renowned metal worker of the 20th century. This phenomenal 18k yellow gold bracelet is the epomeCategoryVtage 1960s French Lk BraceletsMaterialsGold, 18k Gold, Yellow GoldBueche Girod Ladi Yellow Gold Carved Wood Ln’s Head WristwatchBy Bueche GirodLoted Carmel-by-the-Sea, CAThe piece bears French hallmarks and appears to be om the Gay Frer llectn, although isCategoryVtage 1970s Wrist WatchMaterialsEmerald, Yellow GoldRolex Two Steel and Rose Gold wh Origal Dial and Ladr Bracelet om 1942By RolexLoted Long Beach, CA seldom see this mol such origal ndn.

GAY FRER JEWELRY

It is is fted wh a perd Gay Frer Ladr, orCategoryVtage 1940s Swiss Art De Wrist WatchRolex Steel Classic "Bubble Back" wh Origal Dial and Ladr Bracelet, 1949By RolexLoted Long Beach, CA Thunrbird Mached Bezel and lastly, has a rare and origal Ladr Bracelet by Gay Frer.

It n alsoCategoryVtage 1940s Swiss Mornist Wrist Watch1945 Rolex Platum Diamond Set Le Tennis Style Jubilee Bracelet WatchBy RolexLoted New york, NY bracelet supplier, Gay Frèr, also monly celebrated for producg many of Patek Philippe’s mostCategoryVtage 1940s Swiss Retro Wrist WatchMaterialsDiamond, Whe Diamond, PlatumRecent SalGay Frer NecklaceBy Gay FrerLoted Lchfield, CTCir 1910s, 18k, Gay Frer, Geneva wh French Import Marks.