It was one of those things where once I noticed it I could not unsee/unfeel it. It makes all their watches wear bigger than the otherwise perfect dimensions. I see no added benefits to it over female end links.

It's from the Godfather.
May your first watch ... Be a masculine watch.

JAFO wrote: ↑Wed Dec 21, 2022 9:55 pm It's from the Godfather.
May your first watch ... Be a masculine watch.

It comes down to case design. The current case designs allow CW to only alter end links while still using the same bracelet.

ScofieldReturns wrote: ↑Wed Dec 21, 2022 8:26 pm . . . . . .otherwise perfect dimensions.

Surely this depends on a number of factors, not least of which case width, lug-2-lug length and wrist size & shape.

Male end links? Can't say I've really noticed, until pointed out now, and it certainly has never bothered me.

Guy

It definitely makes a difference if you wrist is say sub 7 inches. Looking at my Ombré right now I can see what Kip means. There would be an odd short link right at the top if the current bracelet design were used.

One of the reasons the old Rolex's wear so well.

Kip wrote: ↑Wed Dec 21, 2022 10:56 pm It comes down to case design. The current case designs allow CW to only alter end links while still using the same bracelet.

This could potentially be even easier with female end links. In many bracelets using female links the end link isn’t directly attached to the rest of the bracelet (Tudor use this style, as did Omega (often) on their female end link bracelets). It is literally just a case of fitting the correct end link for the case. This was also the style of attachment used on older Rolex bracelets, before they moved to solid male end links. E.g. the bracelet for a 36mm DateJust was the same reference number as for a 40mm GMT Master, the end links had a different part code for each of the watches.

However thinking as I am typing - CW couldn’t just use loose end links, as this wouldn’t fit with the QR bracelet functionality.

Bahnstormer_vRS wrote: ↑Wed Dec 21, 2022 10:59 pm Surely this depends on a number of factors, not least of which case width, lug-2-lug length and wrist size & shape.

Male end links? Can't say I've really noticed, until pointed out now, and it certainly has never bothered me.

Guy

Yep all down to the points you mention Guy. There are some watches that moved from female to male end links, where I prefer the newer male version, for a good wrist fit. E.g. Explorer.

However the opposite is true for me with the modern Seamaster 300 Heritage. I tried on the watch when released a few times, but the male end links just didn’t work on my wrist. Fast forward a few years and Omega changed the design to female and the watch is now one of my favourites. Neil

Hello there

I wonder if anyone offers a choice, when buying.
Surely it wouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility.

Edit.
I just watched a video by Long Island watch.
He started selling conversion kits as lots of his customers, requested female end links.

Regards Steve

nbg wrote: ↑Thu Dec 22, 2022 9:05 am

However thinking as I am typing - CW couldn’t just use loose end links, as this wouldn’t fit with the QR bracelet functionality.

Shoot, I think this is the actual answer. It's the only way to make those quick release straps work...

Aesthetically the flow of the bracelet into the case looks better when comparing the two in my opinion.

With a general switch to smaller sizes and a lug to lug of around 47mm or less on most watches that CW provide incl the 41mm cases there are so many options for smaller wrists without maybe the demand for a further change.

It also may be more difficult to configure the QR system into a female end link layout. I don't remember it been on the list of the what would people like for the latest Trident so it may not be a thing for most particularly as you point out their otherwise perfect dimensions. If all watches were 42mm though I could see it as a deal breaker for a lot more people.

I personally do not have a problem with the end links i do think the bracelet taper's too much.
This is my new Trident 300 42mm case with a C65 bracelet on it , it does fit and does not taper as much.

I see a lot of people complaining about the end links on the CW bracelets but yet i do not hear the same about Rolex. I am not wanting to upset people here but i buy CW watches because that's what they are, they are a Christopher Ward and nothing else.

Apologies for the rant.

Female end links can be a game changer with small wrists. My Speedmaster was transformed with the addition of a female end link bracelet, and now fits very comfortably on my smaller wrist compared to the OEM bracelet.

Lavaine wrote: ↑Fri Dec 23, 2022 7:06 pm Female end links can be a game changer with small wrists. My Speedmaster was transformed with the addition of a female end link bracelet, and now fits very comfortably on my smaller wrist compared to the OEM bracelet.

I agree with this. The first time I tried a Speedy Moonwatch the male end links on the bracelet made it wear a bit too large for me. I recently tried the same watch with the latest OEM bracelet with female end links and it wears so much better.

I normally go for female end links - for my 7 inch wrist it tends to work better.

Although I have a grand seiko (40mm) and the bracelet has mâle end links but it just works.

It will always depend of the full design of the watch I guess


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