Hands-On With Five Vintage-Inspired Forstner Bracelets

Forstner has made a name for itself as the go-to brand for aftermarket vintage-inspired bracelets. The revived company, which has roots in the 1920s, has quickly expanded its collection over the past few years. We have reviewed quite a few of the brand’s bracelets as well. What has always stood out is how much fun it is to pair the different bracelets with our watches. This time, we took five of the most popular Forstner bracelets for a spin. We fitted them to five different watches to compare them and see how the styles fit the different watches.

It’s impressive to see how quickly Forstner has expanded its collection of bracelets. Particularly, the brand gained traction for bringing back several popular styles from its past, like the Komfit, Klip, and flat-link bracelets. Additionally, we have seen quite a few bracelets specifically developed for different models and brands as great aftermarket solutions. For this review, we tested five of Forstner’s popular universal bracelets with straight ends. Four of them are 20mm wide, and one of them measures 19mm wide. Look carefully at the pictures, and you will be able to see which of the five is actually a 19mm bracelet on a watch with a 20mm lug spacing. But before we reveal that, let’s take a look at the individual Forstner bracelets.

Forstner Komfit “JB” Mesh Watch Bracelet with straight ends

Let’s kick things off with one of the most popular Forstner bracelets. If you are a fan of the Speedmaster, you’ll likely know of the Komfit’s historical significance as NASA astronauts loved pairing it with their Speedmasters. Robert-Jan first wrote about the Komfit bracelet in 2019 when Omega fans jumped at the chance to buy it for their classic Speedmasters. If you are interested in learning a bit more about the historical relevance of the Komfit bracelet, please read Robert-Jan’s article.

Forstner currently offers two versions of the Komfit. On the classic version we had, the mesh is 16mm wide with 20mm end pieces. On the wide version, the mesh is 18mm wide with 20mm ends. I would opt for the wider version because it creates a better visual balance between the bracelet and a bigger case, like that of the 42mm Speedmaster Moonwatch. If you are familiar with the Forstner Komfit “JB” mesh bracelet, you know the end pieces are flexible. This means they can be used for lugs spaced 16–20mm apart.

It’s all about comfort and practicality

This bracelet looks great on a wide variety of tool watches. The flexibility and quality of the mesh make it super comfortable. However, you should make sure to strap it to your wrist tightly enough that the watch doesn’t start moving around. Thankfully, sizing it is easy due to the branded clasp with a little flip lock.

Overall, I found the comfort, looks, and practicality of the Komfit mesh bracelet impressive. I could certainly find watches in my collection that would look good on this style bracelet and wear them a lot. I am not big on swapping bracelets, but at US$132, this Forstner Komfit “JB” Mesh Watch Bracelet is a great aftermarket option for many watches. With its incredible history, the bracelet might be tied to the Speedmaster Professional, but don’t let that keep you from trying it on watches of many styles because it truly is one of the most characteristic bracelets out there.

Forstner 9-Row Beads of Rice Stainless Steel Watch Bracelet

Beads-of-rice bracelets are probably my favorite retro-style ones. I love seeing them on vintage Seiko, King Seiko, and Grand Seiko models, as well as classic Omega Seamasters. Of course, there are different styles of beads of rice-style bracelets. We had two from Forstner — the 9-row and 7-row versions. Let’s kick things off with the 9-row style. It is a super refined bracelet that fits a classically designed watch well. After discussing the different options, we matched it with Nacho’s Cartier Tank Solo, as we did in Nacho’s review back in 2023.

The 9-row version of the Forstner Beads of Rice bracelet is 18mm wide with 20mm ends. That means it is 2mm wider than the 7-row bracelet we will highlight next. As a result, the 9-row version is not only visually wider, but it also looks more refined. Another element that results from the extra two rows of beads is that it is a pretty sturdy bracelet. The 7-row bracelet is more flexible, which makes sense if you consider the more intricate construction of the 9-row version.

A wonderfully versatile bracelet

That construction also makes it a nice fit for larger tool watches. This is why I will try it on my Seiko SZSB006 TiCTAC 35th Anniversary Limited Edition. I think it will pair well with that watch too. The mix of polished and brushed links makes it a very classy bracelet that impressed me.

Sizing the bracelet is easy thanks to the flat-head screwdriver that Forstner includes to remove the links. Once you have sized the bracelet, it’s smooth sailing.

One thing that stood out about the 7-row and 9-row bracelets is the difference in the clasps. Of course, the latter’s being wider makes sense, but it’s also substantially shorter, or at least it seems so. However, once you open the clasp, you will see that the cap is simply shorter than the folding parts.

It was interesting to see, but it doesn’t affect the wearability. This is mostly due to the lightweight overall construction, which matches the folded clasp nicely. As Nacho also mentioned, a milled clasp would be odd on this refined bracelet.

Overall, we love the Forstner 9-Row Beads of Rice bracelet because of its style. Its wearability and construction also make it a great practical option at US$132.

Forstner 7-Row Beads of Rice Stainless Steel Watch Bracelet

It only makes sense to highlight the 7-Row Beads of Rice bracelet next. I already mentioned the width difference compared to the previous version, but all together, the seven rows are 16mm wide with 20mm ends. As a result, the bracelet immediately gives almost any watch more of a retro feel. We tried it on our Oris Divers Sixty-Five Fratello Limited Edition, and it worked quite well. It certainly gave us vintage ’60s vibes that we loved.

As you know, a sturdy modern watch requires you to size as well as possible to your wrist. This sparked the discussion of whether you would accept a looser fit with a bracelet like this Forstner one. I would be okay with it if it were a little wider. But it’s interesting because we’d never discussed changes in sizing preferences among different bracelet styles.

The nicest surprise out of all five bracelets

As mentioned, the clasp looks longer than on the 9-row version. But if you look closer, you will see that the three-part folding clasp is nicely balanced and relatively flat. This makes the bracelet super comfortable to wear. For me, this 7-row version of the Forstner Beads of Rice series was the most surprising in all its positive ways.

We have reviewed the 7-row version before, but I didn’t have a chance to try it back then. I’m glad I had a chance to catch up and find out that I like this 7-row Beads of Rice bracelet more than I ever expected.

What added to the visual attraction was the finish of the bracelet. The links and the clasp feature a mix of brushed and polished parts, which is a clever move. As most watch cases also feature this same mix of finishes, these bracelets are a great fit for a wide variety of watches, from tool watches to dressier timepieces. The Forstner 7-Row Beads of Rice bracelet also sells for US$132, and it was the biggest surprise for me out of all five bracelets.

Forstner Rivet Bracelet

Next up is the Forstner Rivet Bracelet. As alluded to in the intro, this bracelet’s end pieces are 19mm wide. Nevertheless, we put it on the Tudor Black Bay Pro because that watch originally came on a 20mm-wide Tudor faux-rivet bracelet, making the style feel right at home. But as some of you might know, Forstner created several bracelets specifically for the Black Bay Pro that I had a chance to review last year. The biggest difference is that those bracelets have end links specifically made for the watch. The experience gave me a chance to wear the Black Bay Pro for a longer period, which was super helpful. I ended up loving my time with the Black Bay Pro. I would also most definitely buy the Model O and President 1450 bracelets for my Black Bay Pro if I owned one.

But how does the watch look and feel with the brand’s universal rivet bracelet? Of course, it looks different without the end links, but it still has the charm of Turdor’s faux-rivet bracelet. However, the links are thinner and folded for that vintage feel.

As a result, this bracelet is nowhere near as sturdy as the Forstner bracelets specifically made for the Black Bay Pro. Let’s call it the vintage charm that characterized the design and the rattly sounds. However, the bracelet has no problems balancing the hefty Black Bay Pro on the wrist, making it a great fit for the watch.

The Forstner Rivet Bracelet is all about vintage charm

Once again, sizing the bracelet is easy thanks to the flathead screwdriver that comes with it. Additionally, the bracelet comes equipped with the same clasp as the Forster 9-Row Beads of Rice Bracelet. The main difference is that the clasp is fully brushed to match the finish of the rest of the bracelet. This gives the bracelet a utilitarian feel to match a tool watch like the Black Bay Pro.

Once on the wrist, the bracelet feels slim and super comfortable. I had to get used to the rattly feel somewhat, but I do find the charm in that specific characteristic. I have gone on record saying that I like the vintage character of certain bracelets as long as they are comfortable. One good example is the original Zenith ladder bracelet, which has a true ’70s charm and is super comfortable.

The same goes for this Forstner Rivet Bracelet. I thoroughly enjoyed it on the Black Bay Pro, despite it not being my ultimate choice for the watch. That is simply because I like the look of it with the curved end links better. Still, I would find a different watch to strap this US$132 bracelet to and enjoy wearing it.

Forstner Klip Stainless Steel Ladder-Style Watch Bracelet

The last of the five bracelets was the 20mm Forstner Klip. We strapped it to a Rolex Explorer ref. 214270 to emphasize the Explorer’s tool-watch nature. I happen to love a Bonklip bracelet, and I thoroughly enjoyed it on the Serica 4512. We have also reviewed Forstner’s Klip bracelet before and strapped it to a series of chronographs. While the bracelet makes the watches look great, I prefer it on a classic field watch.

The principle of this Forstner Klip is simple. It is one long band that is adjusted by hooking the “tail” side over whichever rung of the ladder you prefer and then clipping the wordmark-emblazoned fastener on the opposite side. Thanks to its flexibility, the ladder construction is super comfortable. On top of that, it looks good. I was surprised by how well it suited the modern Explorer.

Granted, I would use the Forstner Klip for a vintage military field watch rather than a modern Explorer. Having said that, the bracelet is a joy to wear and easy to size thanks to the ladder construction. After my experience wearing the Serica, this was more confirmation that I love the Klip bracelet. While I currently do not have a military field watch, I have thought about buying a classic Hamilton or Benrus military-style field watch. And with the Forstner Klip available for US$129, I know what bracelet to buy for that possible future addition to my collection.

Final thoughts on these five popular Forstner bracelets

Overall, it was great to try out these five Forstner bracelets and be reminded of what makes them such great aftermarket options. The bracelets are well made, easy to size, and a joy to wear. On top of that, they are reasonably priced and offer a great solution for a wide variety of watches. These five popular bracelets are just a small selection from Forstner’s catalog. Visit the Forstner website to get a full idea of all the bracelets the brand has to offer.

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