Market norms? Why vintage Tudor like snowflake or Submarine

[swingt]

are mostly sold as "watch head only"? Where are those "original" Bracelets to the watches gone?

Sorry if this question was asked before...

Thanks!
Cheers

[RollieVerde]

I have my bracelet for my '79 Tudor that I've had since new. But it's in pieces, as it's simply worn out from decades of use and I replaced it with a new one. I think this may be the case with most like it that have been worn over the years instead of sitting in a drawer somewhere.

[powerfunk]

Those old bracelets don't last forever. Many of them were probably just worn out and discarded years ago. Unfortunately, Michael Young (Hong Kong-based bracelet restorer) wasn't around back then. And, although many of us frequently use dish soap to clean our bracelets and prevent stretch, I'm sure most people don't.

[joe100]

Bracelets are semi-consumable items. They'll last a couple decades in normal wear but outside of that, without regular maintaince, they're usually at end of their safe lifespan

[Vincent65]

Also, I imagine a fair few of them have been taken off the watches and then sold separately to maximise profit. All those vintage bracelets 'out there' that are, or have been made available came off watches, of course. Sad/funny to think that many watch heads are now owned by some, and their original counterpart bracelets are owned by others, largely due to greed...

[SAAS]

Many wore out, some were sold for profit and others upgraded to the 93150 to save the pain of having wrist hair torn out on a daily basis

[V.lats97nsx]

A 9315 snowflake band will fetch over a 1000 good condition not needing michael young. A 9315 that came off a rolex sub is worth about 600.

[V.lats97nsx]

Originally Posted by Vincent65

Also, I imagine a fair few of them have been taken off the watches and then sold separately to maximise profit. All those vintage bracelets 'out there' that are, or have been made available came off watches, of course. Sad/funny to think that many watch heads are now owned by some, and their original counterpart bracelets are owned by others, largely due to greed...

Agree 100%