Horology glossaryDefined term / gay-freres
Gay Frères
A Swiss bracelet manufacturer, active through most of the 20th century, that supplied bracelets to Rolex and other major Swiss watch brands before Rolex acquired it in 1998.
Authentication note
Why this detail matters.
Vintage bracelets stamped with a Gay Frères mark can help confirm a bracelet's period of manufacture, since the company's stampings and construction changed over the decades it operated. Because Gay Frères supplied multiple brands, a Gay Frères stamp alone doesn't confirm the bracelet was made for the specific watch it's currently paired with.