Gay Freres bracelet end links marking/coding

Hi all,

I've scoured the web and forum for some sort of definitive answer on this, but could only find it a reference for UG end links.

Does anyone know which GF bracelet end link markings indicate fitment to which models? Ive seen some marked IM, I, IO, IF and IE, but im not sure which is to be fitted to what..! Im mainly after information for the beads of rice style (ref 11 12 13 and 14?), but im sure the rest would be helpful to someone else.

If nobody knows, perhaps we can check our own bracelets and make up a table?

Regards,
Adam

EDIT: Ive started to make a list for those who are interested...

Identified endlink codes, and potential bracelet/case fitment:

I: 666 - 18 mm (early bracelet, overhanging probus scafusa logo on clasp)
IA: 666/866/812 - 18 mm (Ref 11/12 bracelet, "beads of rice" style)
IB: 666/866/812 - 18 mm (Ref 13 bracelet, "double-grain" style)
IC: 666/866/812 - 18 mm (Ref 13) - spotted fitted to an 810A
ID: 666/866/812 - 18 mm (Ref 13)
IE: 666/866/812 and Cushion case automatics - 18 mm (Ref 13)
IF: Yacht Club 811 - 18 mm (Ref 13)
IG: Yacht Club 811 - 18 mm (Ref 11)
IJ: Aquatimer 816
IK: unsure - (Ref 13)
IL: Aquatimer 816 (Ref 12)
IM: unsure - flat top (Ref 13/15?)
IO: unsure -
20: Yacht Club 811 - 18 mm (Ref 10 "oyster" bracelet) - tack Anders...!
21: unsure - cushion case? 18 mm (Ref 10)
22: 866/812 - 18 mm (Ref 10)

Please comment with extras or modifications to this list if you have them...
This is entirely from either trawling through google images for pics of bracelets attached to watches, or from my own collection.
I think it could be quite helpful for those chasing the correct bracelets... :)
Cheers.

Lots of edits/updates...
Check your bracelet endlinks and confirm if ive got it right or not, guys! :-)

Useful compilation!

You may want to add:

20: YC ref 811, ref 10 'oyster' bracelet.

Best
/Anders

added - Thanks Anders!

I believe the correct bracelet for an 812 is a ref 12, but I don't know the end link numbers.

Do you have a picture of one on a ref 12? Ive only ever seen them on refs 11/13 so far, and the 816 on ref 12 (with IL endlinks).

Hi everyone, regards to your subject I have Gay Freres bracelet end link mark 18

I found this picture from an IWC catalogue - I don't have any others but can surmise that if IWC state the ref 12 bracelet is correct for the 1812, the ref 11 and or 12 might be correct for the 812...still no help with the end pieces, though.

Hello,

Any chansen you could email me a scan of that 1812 spec page?

Would be highly appreciated!

/Anders

The following image of a Ref 812 is from an undated Japanese catalogue most probably from the early 1970's

I've cropped and rotated the image ninety degree to compare it with the bracelets

It is clear the bracelet is a No. 13 and it has an earlier clasp. I don't have the dealer sheet for the Ref 812 to know which bracelet was specified and assume from the above catalogue that the No. 13 was correct.

Interesting to note the No. 12 bracelet has a safety clasp where the others do not. Maybe it was specified for the Aquatimer Ref 1812/1816 in the dealer sheet posted by Stanford because of the sporting nature of the Aquatimer and the reduced risk of the bracelet disengaging.

The bracelet images are from the 1980 Collection

Cheers from the cellar

Sorry Anders, that is the only picture I have and I don't know where I got it from (it's been in my picture library for several years).
I have an 812AD and would love to see images from contemporaneous brochures/catalogues/spec sheets.
Bob

I don't know if this helps you at all, but here are some pictures of the Gay Frères on my Yacht Club, which appears to be a ref 13.

The end links have some sort of identification that looks like 1B.

Some other images:

Bob, please get me your email address and I will email a bunch of catalogue pages (mid-December when back home again from business trip)

/Anders

I have a hardcopy of the same catalogue - dated 1973.

Thanks Caferacer for dating the catalogue.

I assume by your pseudonym you ride a motorcycle.

some shots of the K100 BMW on the dirt

The Cobb "Highway"

Heading into Walhalla

Now back to IWC

Christian Niemann (Nemo) once posted the following image and it has bracelet model numbers that pre-date the Ref 11,12,13....

Note the clasp is the same as shown in the Japanese catalogue

Cheers from the cellar

Thanks Anders, I've sent you an email

I did... and still fond of them :-)

Cool old catalogue picture! This sheds some light on why ive been seeing what i thought was mixed clasps/bracelet combinations - might be year related...?

That is odd...
I have pictures of IB endlinks on a ref 13, but they are much more rounded as in the IA etc endlink shape to fit 666 cases etc.
Do you think your endlinks could have been modified at all?

Anything is possible, but it seems unlikely, because it's a perfect fit on the Yacht Club.

On a side note, I do wish this forum enabled email notifications. This reply had completely eluded me.

Hi all.

I'm a newby here on IWC Forum.

Recently bought a 811 and double grain GF bracelet.

However, the endlinks are missing.

Could you please let me know where I can find them. They should be marked IF, even if I sippose IG work as well.

Thank you so much.