Of the Universal Geneve 881101/01 watches found with straps or bracelets, I have found several possible original straps, and about a dozen with period-correct, if not original, bracelets.
Bracelets
While they are of the correct date, and may be branded as Universal Geneve, none of the bracelets found on Universal Geneve 881101/01 are original to the watch, based on discussion with owners of pieces with bracelets in the Universal Geneve 881101/01 serial number database. The bracelet that gets the most press is the Gay Freres “double-grain beads of rice” bracelet. The other, from JB (Jacoby-Bender), is a “Champion” bracelet made up of smaller “links” throughout.
I have seen only one Universal Geneve brochure showing the 881101/01 on a bracelet, which is a double-grain and presumably Gay Freres. I have not found any other source information (from Universal Geneve via advertisements, marketing material or others) that otherwise shows or references the Universal Geneve 881101/01 delivered on a bracelet, but given it was in at least one brochure, presumably it was an option. If you have any advertisements or other internal material, please contact me.
Bracelets used on the Clapton take UW endlinks and are 19mm. I have seen one with UP endlinks, which were not specific to the watch, but will fit…just not as well as the UW endlinks.
If you are interested in adding a bracelet to your Universal Geneve 881101/01, look for one with an appropriate date stamp of course logo (avoiding the “thick” U logo, which is the logo from a period later than production of the Universal Geneve 881101/01).
Straps
Two of the found Universal Geneve 881101/01 are the original strap, which is black leather, with UNIVERSAL GENEVE text and logo in gold print on the lighter backing. The logo sits in between the text and the lug end of the strap.
The buckle is the “pointed” U, with text ACIER INOX and SWISS and DEPOSE (shorthand for ‘registered design’).
As with bracelets, look for the buckle logo to match the period of the watch.
