Bonklip

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bonklip was the trademark of the manufacturer of stainless steel, 9 carat gold and gold-plated watch bracelets. A patent was registered for the design by D. R. HOWITT of 67 Hatton Garden, London on March 6th, 1930.

When production subsequently began the fully adjustable bracelets were soon adopted, in the stainless steel version, as standard issue on high specification service or military wristwatches during the Second World War by the Royal Air Force (RAF) for the use by air crew. This was, not least, because 'flyers' were able to adjust the 'straps' to fit over their flight overalls or jackets when on a flight mission or sortie.

They continued to be issued after the war ended and manufacture continued into the 1950s. Although not that rare, they are now a collectors item and are much favoured by watch collectors who fit them onto Jaeger le Coultre, IWC, Omega, Smiths or other quality military watches.

It is interesting to note that they are a practical watch, still often worn even though the design is 70 years old.