Knowledgeable Crunchers, initiate me into wristbands, please!
Dear Crunchers,
though I tolerate the bracelet on my full metal G-Shock, I usually hate them. If I see a watch on a bracelet, I will try to imagine how it would be on a wristband. They are strong deal-breakers for me.
I know about different types of wristbands and I have some to choose from. I know about different materials though I didn't dive into it yet.
But I find myself being a noob when it comes to brands, quality and comfort. Until now it is like going to the watchmaker, looking for a colour and a size but putting no thought on quality, comfort, craftsmanship and the like. I just take what's available in that moment.
There is, however, more to know. A lot of you nice Crunchers have the knowledge where to start digging in this new rabbit hole. In the fountain pen world there is content about the writing system, the papers, the inks and how different combinations play together. In the watch world there is a strong focus on the watch head and maybe on the links of bracelets. But there is only few content on wristbands, brands, quality, longevity and the like.
It will be changing to be initiated by some of you into these concealed mysteries.
I have been there, when the first Lamy Safari fountain pen hit schools. I have been there, when the first G-Shock came into the classroom. I have been there, when the ticking of my classmates' first S...
I’m a bracelet guy, so I’ve got nothing but good wishes for you as you begin your watch strap education.
I'm not well versed either but found 3 things on my travels.
Softer seatbelt NATO's which I just find more comfortable.
Cutting NATO straps to make single pass straps.
NATO straps can help make cheap Casios wear a lot nicer.
A true NATO is designed to prevent the watch falling off in case of spring bar failure - proper mil-spec NATO's have a sewn in,one piece buckle.
Imitation's have a normal springbar retained buckle , defeating the whole point of that type of strap (unless of course you just like the form without the function).
NATO's are a whole rabbit hole by themselves!
This is an interesting place to start, the history of the military strap
https://af0210strap.com/
For buying them I recommend Watchgecko Zuludiver Geckota whatever they call themselves 🤣 and CWC.
Have fun 👍
Where to start. I am certainly not an expert but I can tell you about my hits and misses. Some watches really suit a NATO (Timex weekender) and some do not. I have tried various brands and cheap ones from AliExpress. The one thing I do like is that if they get dirty you can throw them in the washing machine. For silicone I am a Barton fan, after many a stiff and inflexible strap they are a revelation. Mind you, got their sailcloth that looked great but frayed after a couple of weeks. Leather straps, so difficult as so many out there from cheap to high end. As with most things you usually get what you pay for but there are exceptions where excellent quality can be had for a decent price. I have left a few links below. I often track these sites or if they sell on Amazon as they do go on sale.
Final two tips. I often message a WC member asking "where did you get that strap?" and I have seen straps on WRUW that you never think will work with a watch and they do !
https://www.geckota.com/collections/watch-straps
https://www.bartonwatchbands.com/en-gb
https://www.aaronbespoke.com/
https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/watchgecko?mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&siteid=3&campid=5338562247&toolid=20013&mkevt=1
Straps really are like watches in a way. There are cheapo NATOs and rubber straps and more expensive ones. You start using the cheap ones and then when you upgrade to a nice one you realize you had been missing out. An increase in price tends to mean an increase in quality until the diminishing returns law hits.
Cheap NATOs fray easily, are stiff, aren’t well finished… good quality ones are the opposite. Cheap rubber bands tend to be made of silicone and attract lint and get sticky at some point. Good quality rubber bands tend to be made of FKM rubber and have a soft silky touch to them when you dry them, they evacuate sweat well and don’t get all ugly as fast.
Straps really are like watches in a way. There are cheapo NATOs and rubber straps and more expensive ones. You start using the cheap ones and then when you upgrade to a nice one you realize you had been missing out. An increase in price tends to mean an increase in quality until the diminishing returns law hits.
Cheap NATOs fray easily, are stiff, aren’t well finished… good quality ones are the opposite. Cheap rubber bands tend to be made of silicone and attract lint and get sticky at some point. Good quality rubber bands tend to be made of FKM rubber and have a soft silky touch to them when you dry them, they evacuate sweat well and don’t get all ugly as fast.
Thank you for the guidelines.There are thousand of watch brands out there, but only few have a well known reputation connected with expectations to be of certain quality and let's say tier. If I browse the web, there are strap brands without end. In the local stores they seem to have one brand I don't know which. I don't want to have a hierarchy, but maybe something like an approximation where to go and what can be expected there. This could certainly become overwhelmingly long. More on the short side would be nice to get an entry.
I understand your need. I learned about all sorts of strap materials by just observing posts on WRUW and other posts on the main page. I also learned a lot by just looking at what's available via product pics.
Design - A good start perhaps is to look first at what kinds of strap material and designs will fit your watch's dial color and watch type. Here are posts I made re. this:
https://www.watchcrunch.com/hakki501/posts/bracelet-and-strap-options-part-1-37048
https://www.watchcrunch.com/hakki501/posts/bracelet-and-strap-options-part-2-field-watch-37948
https://www.watchcrunch.com/hakki501/posts/bracelet-and-strap-options-part-3-green-dials-43749
You can also check out the Gallery of any Cruncher who has the same or similar looking watch as yours. Then you can ask the person specifically about a strap you like.
Source - I've gotten all my straps from our local e-commerce platforms -- Lazada and Shopee. They are much cheaper, yet their quality is generally on par with more expensive retailers. In Germany, that will be AliExpress. Other good strap sources shared by Crunchers are:
https://www.bandrbands.com/
https://cnswatchbands.com/
https://condorstraps.com/
https://www.crownandbuckle.com/
https://www.nomadwatchworks.shop/
https://www.strapcode.com/
For artisan customized leather straps I got for 2 of my watches, I went to Leather Craft Manila. You can reach them via IG: https://www.instagram.com/leathercraftmanila/
I understand your need. I learned about all sorts of strap materials by just observing posts on WRUW and other posts on the main page. I also learned a lot by just looking at what's available via product pics.
Design - A good start perhaps is to look first at what kinds of strap material and designs will fit your watch's dial color and watch type. Here are posts I made re. this:
https://www.watchcrunch.com/hakki501/posts/bracelet-and-strap-options-part-1-37048
https://www.watchcrunch.com/hakki501/posts/bracelet-and-strap-options-part-2-field-watch-37948
https://www.watchcrunch.com/hakki501/posts/bracelet-and-strap-options-part-3-green-dials-43749
You can also check out the Gallery of any Cruncher who has the same or similar looking watch as yours. Then you can ask the person specifically about a strap you like.
Source - I've gotten all my straps from our local e-commerce platforms -- Lazada and Shopee. They are much cheaper, yet their quality is generally on par with more expensive retailers. In Germany, that will be AliExpress. Other good strap sources shared by Crunchers are:
https://www.bandrbands.com/
https://cnswatchbands.com/
https://condorstraps.com/
https://www.crownandbuckle.com/
https://www.nomadwatchworks.shop/
https://www.strapcode.com/
For artisan customized leather straps I got for 2 of my watches, I went to Leather Craft Manila. You can reach them via IG: https://www.instagram.com/leathercraftmanila/
I knew that here are precious sources. Thank you 🙏!
Teddy Baldasserre has a YouTube video all about straps, that's where I started looking into it.