Whether elegant or sporty, stainless steel watches are among the most popular types of watches. Stainless steel is straightforward, understated, and incredibly durable, which means that a stainless-steel watch is a true lifelong companion. Brands like Rolex, Vacheron Constantin, IWC Schaffhausen, Cartier, and Breitling create classic styles in stainless-steel along with new and exciting designs in this material, for both men and women.

The three types of stainless steel watches

In the first stainless steel watches, only the case was made of stainless steel. It wasn’t until the early 1970s that Rolex became the first brand to use stainless steel in its watch bracelets. Other famous watch manufacturers such as Vacheron Constantin, Patek Philippe, and TAG Heuer then followed in Rolex’s footsteps. Over time, three different types of bracelets and cases have been developed, all of which are used in today's stainless steel watches:

1. The first type of stainless steel watch is one that has a stainless steel case with classic strap lugs. The strap lugs mean that these watches can also be fitted with straps made of leather or rubber too. These are easily recognizable because there is a gap between the spring bar and the case. One example of this type of stainless steel watch is the Superocean Héritage from Breitling which has a rubber strap.
2. The second type of stainless steel watch is a watch with a so-called integrated strap. These have the same kind of lugs but are always fitted with stainless steel bracelets as seen in the Nautilus model from Patek Philippe.
3. The third type is the classic link bracelet with lugs that fit seamlessly into the case. You can see these in the stainless steel watches from Rolex which feature the brand's Oyster bracelets which were developed in the late 1930s.

Finding the right stainless steel watch for your wrist

A stainless steel watch fits perfectly if the case horns don’t stick out beyond your wrist. When viewed from the side, the bracelet and case should form a perfect circle. Once you have decided to purchase a stainless steel watch from Wempe, we will customize your desired model to fit your wrist. If you are buying your watch online, simply specify your wrist measurements when ordering, and we’ll adjust the watch strap before shipping it to you.