Bracelet Information Requested

Forum Members,

Need some details regarding this bracelet. I have heard it called a MK 1, MK 2, Pyrimid, Brick and a few others that I can't remember. So if anyone can provide the correct information to the following, it would be most appreciated.

What is the correct name of this bracelet ?

Was there more than one version made of this model ?

What sizes were/are available ?

Is this IWC bracelet the one that you can size with two toothpicks ?

How is the comfort, durability and is " link stretch " a issue ?

Any issues with the clasp ?

If anyone wears this bracelet and has a smaller wrist ( mine is 6.75" ), I would be most interested in your opinion on fit/comfort  especially regarding the clasp area.

Thanking everyone in advance for any input.

Hello Andy  - the official name for this bracelet in 21mm width is reference IWA03301 and yes,  it can be sized with a couple of toothpicks.  This style bracelet was sold as a standard length (adjustable) but in 19, 20 and 21mm widths.  Hopefully others will be able to comment on comfort and clasp.

I have that on my 3711 Doppelchronograph and the feel is soft and very comfortable. I only have it for a year now and I am not wearing it daily so my knowledge about the long term quality are yet limited. But it looks and feels solid and so far no issues with the clasp. I can only recommed it.

Matthias

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[]Andy, I don't know if it had a correct name. The version you pictured we called Brick Bracelet.
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[]Some years later it was modified in style, which then we called Pyramid Bracelet maybe because the 2nd and 4th row had kind of a Pyramid shape.
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[]Both versions were compatible and the sizes of both version were 19mm for the Mark XV, 20mm for the 39mm cased Pilot's Chrono and UTC, as well as a 21mm width for the Double Chrono (3711 and 3713, both 42mm as well as the pictured 3786 Spitfire (44mm) and the 3717 (42mm) Pilot's Chrono as well (the pictured bracelet is the same).
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[]Until today you can change the length of the Pilot's bracelet with 2 toothpicks. As well as the others, e. g. Ingenieur and Aquatimer.
[]I had the pictured 2 versions for the Mark XV in 19mm Brick Style and later the 21mm Pyramid Style (which in fact was launched with the Spitfire watches). Never had an issue. Alway super quality in bracelet and clasp. Perfect compatible wear and fit to the wrist.
[]Today I have this one:
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Hope this helps a bit.

This is great help Tilo ! 

Thank you for taking time to explain with photo's.

I am not a bracelet guy in general, but have been told that the " Brick " style that I posted is one of the most comfortable bracelets IWC has made and that the low profile and design of the clasp makes it very friendly to those with a smaller wrist. That is why I was asking for input from anyone who has this particular bracelet and a slim wrist for overall comment. 

There is a opportunity to pick up this Brick model in a 20mm ( in excellent. condition ) to pair with my Classic Pilot UTC. This would be my first IWC bracelet so i am excited that this might be a bracelet that works for my challenged wrist size.

Tilo...perhaps you or someone who is reading this know, are the many individual links used in the Brick bracelet SOLID or HOLLOW ? I ask because past experience with hollow links tend to overtime " stretch " where as solid links hold the original tight specs much better over the long haul. 

Your ( or anyone's )  thoughts ?

Andy

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[]Take it with the UTC, I can only recommend that. It's a perfect match in outstanding quality and style and fits small wrists as well.
[]All the mentioned and pictured bracelets have ONLY SOLID links as well as the attachment link to the watch is ALL SOLID. The price is quite demanding but the quality is outstanding of all IWC bracelets.
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You're welcome Andy. Can't go wrong with that watch and that bracelet, both outstanding in design and quality!
Looking forward to your pictures soon!

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[*]Hi Andy,
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Tilo already privoded all the winning answers ;-)

I put this bracelet on my Classic UTC and never went back to the brown Buffalo strap:
 - it’s very comfortable (I have small wrists like you)
 - it’s solid and top quality, no stretch etc
 - it’s even easier to adjust than ‘next gen’ steel bracelets
 - it’s ‘refined’ and the best looking bracelet 

So if you can find one, go for it!

Regards,

Bob

Bob,

Your reply provides that "extra support" for my decision to move forward. Tilo's ( as you put it so well ) winning answers gave me the confidence to make the move for my 1st IWC bracelet. I have already reached out to my source and left the message " it's a go ". Just saw the FedEx truck go past the house and wished he was stopping with my package....that's how antsy and excited I already am !! 

That photo sure looks nice Bob and good to know that your experience with the bracelet is through the eyes of a smaller sized wrist. My issues with most all bracelets is that the folding part of the clasp no matter how well  the bracelet has been sized, seems the end of folding part that faces my outer wrist, ends up right at the edge of my wrist and never quite feels comfortable . I am encouraged that Tilo and you gave positive feedback on the comfort. 

This may have already been addressed but perhaps you can confirm, since I am getting the 20mm and it fits the UTC 39mm, is it possible this might also fit my 20 mm lug / 39mm MARK XVI ?  If so, this would be a big bonus.

Finally, I must admit that of the many strap options I have for IWC's , the OEM Buffalo for the UTC has always been one of my most favorites. I just love everything about that strap...the look, the thickness, color and feel. Wish all straps were that good. Should I go the route like you Bob and wear the bracelet full time, I'm sure I will end up finding the Buffalo a good match for another watch. Any suggestions ?

Thanks for chiming in and getting me wound up..HaHa !

Best,

Andy

Hi Andy, sorry but I really don’t know of it will fit older Mark xxx watches, sorry. Can only please you with a few more pictures maybe?

Kind regards, 

Bob

Andy I don't think the bracelet will fit the newer Mark because it's not the same case (UTC) is higher. But I'm not 100% sure with that. You could write ask in Schaffhausen or just wait until you got it anyway and try to fit.

The advantage of this bracelet is that you can adjust the clasp yourself to make it perfectly sitting on your wrist. Because you just need those 2 famous toothpicks to move any links around, remove, or put in additional.

I had the UTC myself in my old IWC collecting days and was very happy with the watch. But I never had the bracelet for it. But for other watches (see post before). The buffalo strap is a blast too. But maybe once you got the bracelet you won't change it back again. ;-)

Enjoy your waiting time. It's part of the fun in the game.

Bob, fantastic shots of your beauty! I've always admired it!

Hi Andy,

With regard to:
1. each small square link is indeed rounded and brushed. What's interesting is that if you push out 2 or 3 push-pins adjacent to each other, the links will come off, all as inidividual tiny links (square metal pieces), carefully manufactured and finished. 
2. I never heard of Mk1 or 2 but:
   - the bracelet we are now talking about (as per my pictures) was around for a relatively short period of time, I'd guess 2003-2010 or so? I've seen it on on the UTC, 3706 (check Heiko/Hebe's pictures!) and even the gorgerous Pilot perpetual for Wempe from that era! Dealer book search can help, or contact Stefan Weeber! After 2010 or so, the bracelet changed to the type Tilo showed, with a more rectangular piece in the 2nd row of links, counted from the outside. Also very nice (I had it on my Mark XVII LPP) and also adjustable with the famous push-pins, but IMHO not as nice as the original you've now found. I must say, Tilo reminded me of that, that the genious of the later steel bracelets was the micro-adjustment by pushing the IWC logo area on the buckle!
   - with regard to 'beads of rice' bracelets: a) those were available for the old 1960-1970's Ingenieurs, you'll find plenty of pictures in the archives.
b) for Pilot watches, like the Mark XV, that (lovely!) metal bracelet was much more a 'mesh' bracelet IMO, as IWC still makes it and several other brands still do today.

Regards,

Bob

Andy,
as I'm a bracelet (and chronograph) guy with my 6.7-6.75" wrist I'm rich in experience:
The Mk.I. bracelet (I wear it with my 3706) is the most comfy ever and does not parade the scratches because of the individual parts shape - wonderful. The only down is that - very rarely  - the clasp opens unintentionally. I was told that later (maybe for the pyramids?) IWC made the spring of the clasp stronger and it got better. I would not go with this bracelet on my wrist to the sea to swim but that's it. Maybe I'm too much on the safe side.
With that said I also have a 3719 and a 3767 on bracelet and all of them are very comfy on my mentioned wrist! And the 3767 already has the newer double-pusher mechanism which seems to be very safe agains spontaneous opening. Used several times in the sea with no problem.
The other thing that I'm missing from all of my bracelets is the quick-micro-adjust feature that came later for the IWC bracelets - and it's a fantastic system, I have similar on my non-IWC watch bracelet. Hope IWC will soon deliver every single bracelet throughout with this system.
All in all: I'd go in your place and grab that bracelet!
Hope I could help!
Let us know your decision and experience! Best,
Robert

Robert / Bob,

You guys are really providing great feedback on these pilot bracelets from prior years. So that said, allow me to reconfirm......

Robert...you use the term " The Mk. 1 "  worn on your 3706. Are you referring to the same bracelet that Tilo describes as the "Brick" bracelet and Bob shows on his UTC ? If so, do you know the origin/history of the term Mk. 1 and Mk 2 ?  I can only think off the top of my head that Mk stands for MARK, but that could be way off base. 

Bob....don't want you to feel left out (HaHa)....my research indicates that the UTC was produced from 1999-2006 ( corrections welcome ). If true and you believe the " brick " bracelet was produced starting around 2003, is it possible that another bracelet other than the Brick and Pyramid was in short production and used as OEM during the years 1999-2002. I recognize that you are guestimating the years the Brick was offered,  so I don't want you to think those years you mentioned are in stone. Just trying to learn as much as possible about those years when I think IWC was producing some of the best watches/bracelets in all the collections. 

Once again gentleman, thank you for your interest in my request for bracelet knowledge. I enjoy learning all I can about IWC products and especially the history/timelines behind the ones in my collection.

Forum members...please do weigh in with any bracelet input/ photos/ opinions / reviews that you feel would be relevant. I hope this is a interesting topic to all.

Cheers,

Andy

Totally true Andy, only roughly guessing! 

Best,

Bob

I think that's all the secret behind it.
As I mentioned earlier, these were not official names by IWC, they were given by collectors probably.

The Brick or Mk (read Mark) I was originally made for the Pilot's Chronograph 3706 which was lauched in 1994. The bracelet was in 20mm which fitted the 1998 lauched UTC as well. There also existed a 21mm version for the Double Chronograph 3711/3713 and a 19mm version for the Mark XV which had another steel bracelet before (bead or grain of rice)

This publication must be from between 1994 and 1997.

The Pyramid or Mk. II was lauched right after the first Spitfire Pilot's watches came out about 2005. This is from the catalog 2005 (Spitfire UTC):

Tilo,

Teriffic support documentation ! 

So unless someone has some additional history or specific details regarding the bracelet " names " to share, in conclusion, here are a few photos borrowed from the Internet showing Beads of Rice, Brick and Pyramid to enjoy. BTW Tilo, does the bracelet ( ref. #  ? ) on your new Pilot Chrono have a name yet ? If not, you should have the honors to pick one.

Andy

Not yet, that's a tough one. IWC refers to it as a "stainless steel bracelet 21mm" of which there are more of course. It fits to any current Pilot's Chronograph in steel: Tribute to 3706, Regular, Le Petit Prince, St. Exupery, Spitfire, are there more? I've lost overview somehow. But they're all fantastic watches. The single links are kind of brick shaped too and the bracelet features 5 equally shaped rows of links and the outstanding, awesome, fine adjustable deplpoyant clasp with 2 lock pushers (1 on each side) to prevent it from being opened by mistake.
I'd rather call it the current brick shaped Pilot's bracelet. There is one more current version with the 2nd and 4th row being polished which is used for the current Spitfire and Le Petit Prince Chronos. The last one is the one I have from the regular chrono with 5 equally satinated rows of links.

Thanks for your kind words. In between others have shed all the light needed so I only second them professionals. So: Mk.I. stands for Mark I. while Mk. II. stands for Mark II. I. and II. is nothing more than the order of appearance. Mine came with the 3706 which I have bought new in spring 1998. (So the watch has spent just a tad over 2 decades in my possession :) .) BTW (if non-IWC content is also tolerated here) watch collectors name several other brands products as Mk.I.-II.-etc., a good example is a handful of Omega Speedies, where a. o. not only Mk. IV. and Mk. V. did (do) exist but a certain Mk. 4.5 too. Interesting story to read a bit about.
Back to IWC: I find the Mk.I. the most friendly piece as the surface practically does not allow th show mild scratches.
Hope this helps. Best,
Robert

I think the bracelet is serviced like the watch case: It's repolished, maybe disassembled and cleaned. Had one for service on my Ingenieur recnently - looked like brand new afterwards. Just the bolts were not properly closed: Quality control must have missed something.