A Brief History of Gay Frèr: Bracelet Kg | Bob's Watch Rolex Blog

Contents:

• HISTORIL PERSPECTIV GAY FRèR, MUCH MORE THAN A SIMPLE MANUFACTURER OF WATCH BRACELETS
• A BRIEF HISTORY OF GAY FRèR
• GAY FRER 18K GOLD BRICK BRACELET, 1960S
• GAY FRèR – THE BRACELET BROTHERS
• GAY FRèR BRACELET YELLOW GOLD
• GAY FRER BRACELET YELLOW GOLD
• GAY FRER
• GAY FRER BRACELETS

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. 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.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF GAY FRèR

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 FRER 18K GOLD BRICK BRACELET, 1960S

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. Due to their unrivaled expertise and experience manufacturg watch bracelets om stals steel, Aumars Piguet approached Gay Frèr for the tegrated bracelet on their now-inic Royal Oak. 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.

GAY FRèR – THE BRACELET BROTHERS

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.

GAY FRèR BRACELET YELLOW GOLD

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. 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.

GAY FRER BRACELET YELLOW GOLD

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.

09 (180 mm)Place of Orig: FrancePerd: Date of Manufacture: UnknownCondn: Seller Lotn: PARIS, FRReference Number: Seller: 1655177CN1stDibs: LU3180218308272More From This SellerView AllGay Frer Bracelet Yellow GoldBy Gay FrerLoted PARIS, FRBracelet Gay Frer yellow gold 750 thoandths (18 rats). Category20th Century French More BraceletsYou May Also LikeGay Frèr, France Estate Wood and Gold Lk BraceletBy Gay FrerLoted New York, NYA mid-century bracelet prised of rved oval-shaped wood and gold lks wh cched gold spacers, 18k. CategoryVtage 1960s French Retro Lk BraceletsGay Frer 1960 Paris Fele Enamel and Wood Bracelet 18kt Gold wh RubiBy Gay FrerLoted Miami, FLFel bangle bracelet signed by Gay Frer.

CategoryVtage 1960s French Mornist BanglMaterialsRuby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, EnamelBracelet Gay Frèr 18 rat trsé Loted PARIS, FR"18 karat yellow gold cuff bracelet tritely woven by the prtig jewelry hoe, Gay Frèr. CategoryMid-20th Century Retro Retro BraceletsGay 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.

GAY FRER

68 (195 mm)Place of Orig: FrancePerd: Date of Manufacture: UnknownCondn: Seller Lotn: PARIS, FRReference Number: Seller: 2140031CN1stDibs: LU3180219263202More From This SellerView AllGay Frèr Bracelet Yellow GoldBy Gay FrerLoted PARIS, FRCuff bracelet. Excellent ndnCategory20th Century French Retro BraceletsYou May Also LikeBracelet Gay Frèr 18 rat trsé Loted PARIS, FR"18 karat yellow gold cuff bracelet tritely woven by the prtig jewelry hoe, Gay Frèr.

GAY FRER BRACELETS

CategoryMid-20th Century Retro Retro BraceletsGay Frèr, France Estate Wood and Gold Lk BraceletBy Gay FrerLoted New York, NYA mid-century bracelet prised of rved oval-shaped wood and gold lks wh cched gold spacers, 18k. CategoryVtage 1960s French Retro Lk BraceletsGay 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.

Polish mhCategory20th Century French More BraceletsBracelet Gay Frèr 18 rat trsé Loted PARIS, FR"18 karat yellow gold cuff bracelet tritely woven by the prtig jewelry hoe, Gay FrèrCategoryMid-20th Century Retro Retro BraceletsGay Frèr Com 18 Karat Yellow Gold Ladi Wristwatch 122. 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. 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 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.