Historil Perspectiv: Gay Frèr, Much More Than A Simple Manufacturer Of Watch Bracelets - Hodkee

Contents:

• A BRIEF HISTORY OF GAY FRèR
• HISTORIL PERSPECTIV GAY FRèR, MUCH MORE THAN A SIMPLE MANUFACTURER OF WATCH BRACELETS
• THE SUCCS STORY OF THE MANUFACTURER GAY FRèR
• GAY FRèR – THE BRACELET BROTHERS
• GAY FRèR — THE MOST IMPACTFUL PARTS SUPPLIER OF ALL?
• GAY FRER
• JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS ASSISTANT COACH KEV MAXEN MAK HISTORY AFTER COMG OUT AS GAY
• RACG TO PRERVE THE HISTORY OF MAE’S 1ST GAY RIGHTS ANIZATN

A BRIEF HISTORY OF GAY FRèR

There were other pani that manufactured metal bracelets for wristwatch; however the novative signs of Gay Frèr, along wh the pany’s nsistently strong build, qualy and craftsmanship, earned them the dtry’s top spot.

Stals steel is signifintly harr and more difficult to shape than gold, and nsequently requir a level of expertise craftsmanship that only a few pani at the time (other than Gay Frèr) would have been able to supply, let alone manufacture on a large sle.

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

While was Gay Frèr that manufactured the very firsts metal bracelets for Rolex durg the 1930s, thgs would ultimately e full circle for the legendary bracelet maker 1998, when Rolex purchased the historic pany as part of an ongog effort to acquire past suppliers and vertilly tegrate all aspects of their productn procs.

Possibly the most imprsive feature about Gay Frèr was the pany’s abily to produce a seemgly endls variety of wonrful and distct bracelet signs that would perfectly pliment an impossibly diverse range of wristwatch.

Throughout their long and illtr history, Gay Frèr manufactured bracelets for everythg om nservatively signed drs watch of the 1950s, to chunky and overtly sporty chronographs om the 1970s.

THE SUCCS STORY OF THE MANUFACTURER GAY FRèR

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.

Still fay-owned, 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. 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).

GAY FRèR – THE BRACELET BROTHERS

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).

GAY FRèR — THE MOST IMPACTFUL PARTS SUPPLIER OF ALL?

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. They weren’t brothers but the bs remaed a strong fay ncern throughout s lifetime and was fact beg n by scendants of Jean-Pierre, brothers Jacqu-Hubert and Jean-Franis Gay durg the 1970s. Whilst the horology-foced aspects are what make Gay Frèr (GF) as famo as they are, the artisan jewellery that they ma the 1960s and 70s is some of the most sought after by llectors.

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. 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. Though most might remember Gerald Genta’s sketch as the ceptn of the signs, Aumars Piguet and Patek Philippe had to work closely wh Gay Frèr to ensure that the ias uld bee a realy.

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.

GAY FRER

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).

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS ASSISTANT COACH KEV MAXEN MAK HISTORY AFTER COMG OUT AS GAY

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. 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.

RACG TO PRERVE THE HISTORY OF MAE’S 1ST GAY RIGHTS ANIZATN

Betiful statement piece, created Paris FranceCategoryVtage 1960s French Mornist BanglMaterialsRuby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, EnamelGay Frer 18 KT Yellow Gold Panther Earrgs wh.

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. Betiful chic piece, created Paris France, back CategoryVtage 1970s French Mornist Cuff BraceletsMaterialsCoral, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, EnamelGay 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 1950 Paris-Geneva 1950 Retro Stardt Explosn Necklace 18Kt GoldBy Gay FrerLoted Miami, FLImprsive Stardt necklace signed by Gay Frer.