What Is Your Favorite Watch Strap Company?
For me, it is definitely Barton Watch Bands. I am currently wearing my Orient Defender on a canvas strap from Barton. I have looked at straps from a large number of companies, but I keep returning to Barton, and probably have as many straps from them as I do from all other companies combined. In terms of variety, price, and quality, Barton is among the best.
Islander #ISL-98 on a black suede strap
Tissot PR100 on a Horween racing strap
Bulova Devil Diver on an elite silicon strap
Timex Expedition Ranger on a top grain leather strap
Texas Instruments vintage digital on a Horween Rally strap
Orient Pilot on a sailcloth strap
Citizen Chandler Garrison on a leather/rubber hybrid strap
But my favorite is definitely the canvas strap!
Casio CA53W
Seiko SRPH33
Orient Mako II
I am sure there are companies producing higher quality straps, but (at least in my opinion) the increase in price far exceeds the increase in quality, and the quality of the straps from Barton has been great with one exception, the sailcloth strap. That is the only one that has had some small issues; the cloth became frayed around the holes.
Other than the small issue of fraying on the sailcloth strap, there have been no problems at all, and the fraying is not so bad that I cannot or will not wear the strap. I just take a lighter and burn the fraying down when it gets too bad. The sailcloth strap is still in good condition other than that. I would recommend Barton Watch Bands to anyone looking for an after market strap.
So, what are some of your favorite after market watch straps/companies?
LúmëgaudAnar is the correct spelling, and means time machine of the sun in Quenya. I've been collecting for a few years and have a decent collection of mostly budget and entry-level watches with a few...
I really like Barton and have been satisfied with them. Many of my watches are 16mm or 15mm and Barton's selection there can be limited. I have tried Debeers, Ritchie, Bison, Strapsco, and Cheapest NATO Straps. Of those, I think that Strapsco breaks in soonest. I only have a handful of watches where I will spend real money on a strap and most of those are currently being repaired.
I like Hirsch. They hit a nice spot with outstanding quality, fair pricing, wide range of options, and ease of availability.
I fully agree on Barton. I also liked everything but their sailcloth strap and their tropical strap. The best leather straps I own are on my Shinola watches. I've also received really good silicone OEM straps.
I'm trying to expand my selection of suppliers, and am currently waiting on a shipment from Sweden.
My three go-to brands are Barton, StrapsCo, and ClockworkSynergy. In a pinch, I'll pick up a Ritche.
I have to agree with the Barton Sailcloth straps same issue fraying and I only used the strap for a day I was really disappointed. the strapco nato’s are OK but very thin I guess because they only cost 10 bucks I guess you pay for what you get. uncle Seiko rubber straps are decent and stainless steel bracelet from Long Island watch was good even came with a screwdriver so that was cool in my book.
I like Hirsch. They hit a nice spot with outstanding quality, fair pricing, wide range of options, and ease of availability.
Yup, Hirsch is my choice of strap as well.
They have a nice array of colours and they're built tough.
cause i live in europe my favorites are:
for leather: Molequin (french), Joseph Bonnie (french), Nerobiglia (italien)
for natos: Erika's Original MN Straps, phenome nato straps
for rubber: Uncle Seiko (UK Store) and Hirsch (pure)
ToxicNatos/UTE for natos, Isofrane for rubber, and GasGasBones for velcro
Hmmm, I'm not sure if I have a favourite. Depends on the type of strap. So, I'll categorize them...
NATO: Esprit NATO by Select'Heure, they're thoughtful enough to offer a lot of straps in odd widths, and they offer decent quality for little.
Casual plain leather: Graf. Their "Derby" is the most soft and supple strap I've ever had.
Thick vintage-style tool watch straps: 7T2 Straps by Remie Beyer. Remie does some incredible custom straps, made to measure, with twice the durability of any OEM band.
Vintage-style dress: Watchstrapheaven. Jan offers plenty of designs, from two-stitch to repros of 1940s period-correct straps. Great choice of leathers, colours, surface finishing patterns.
Barton and Hirsch, though I do have a canvas Archer.
So far Geckota are being the ones I prefer most and after that ColaReb. Also I'm getting some of Cheapestnatostraps with signed bucle with a far better quality than the ones I got before. Hera a few straps. From front to back: Geckota, Colareb, Fluco and Fluco (Fluco had to fix them as the bucles are of verrrry low quality).
I have to agree with the Barton Sailcloth straps same issue fraying and I only used the strap for a day I was really disappointed. the strapco nato’s are OK but very thin I guess because they only cost 10 bucks I guess you pay for what you get. uncle Seiko rubber straps are decent and stainless steel bracelet from Long Island watch was good even came with a screwdriver so that was cool in my book.
Yes, I agree that Long Island Watch offers great after market bracelets, and their straps are good too. I bought one of the rubber straps for my #ISL-10, and two of the bracelets for the #ISL-53/54/84/133-137 (I have a 53 and a 134).
And yes, I did buy a bracelet for each one so I don't have to switch. 🤣
i live in different part of the world but my current favourite is from hnmd straps. this is probably the entry level straps but they made some high end and different kind of leather too. also you can customized it
Strapcode,Holbens,Barton and Panatime.
Geckota/Zuludiver got super pricey, so now I search alternatives on eBay and am very pleased with the rando strap sellers I find. Currently I’m obsessed with FKM rubber straps and have gotten a ton of them lately for generally half the price the big names are selling them for. 👌
as others have said barton is great for choice availability size quality ....minus the sail cloth
same issues
really like their silicone strap
as others have said barton is great for choice availability size quality ....minus the sail cloth
same issues
really like their silicone strap
Yeah, their silicon straps are really comfortable!
I really like the look of the newer loop-less version, as it looks so much cleaner without the keepers. I had previously been using a genuine Omega deployant with an aftermarket strap with keepers, and I always felt that the keepers detracted from the overall look.
I agree that the RM style deployant looks like it might be better than the Omega style deployant that came with mine, but I find the Omega style is just fine. Their web site is a bit confusing, since the page for the loop-less strap includes the verbiage "Can be paired with our Omega Style Deployant Clasp", and it only offers a drop down option for selecting an Omega style deployant. They do show all the various styles of deployant buckles available under their "Accessories" page, so perhaps the RM and Blanpain deployants are only suitable for the straps that already come with buckles? In the Peter Kosta video, the straps shown have the keeper loops.
I feel so stupid. I just realized that both the RM and Blancpain deployants are designed to have the excess strap on the outside, so they obviously need straps with keepers, and therefore can't be used with the loop-less straps. The Omega deployant is the only one that tucks the excess strap underneath to hide it, and therefore the only one suitable for the loop-less straps.
I love Artem sailcloth straps. Not cheap but very good quality. I have this feeling they always look new no matter how often I get to use them. I recently got their deployant which also turned out amazing.
I also got the silicon and top grain leather straps from Barton. Good value for the money. 😊
It's a rainy day in Michigan City this morning, so I went with another Barton canvas strap on my Orient Mako II. 😀
Nick mankey
i can really recommend steveostraps. All straps are handmade to order and cost about the same as your average hirsch, gecko etc. I've ordered a few over the years but I think this leather two piece NATO style is my favorite.
I really like Barton and have been satisfied with them. Many of my watches are 16mm or 15mm and Barton's selection there can be limited. I have tried Debeers, Ritchie, Bison, Strapsco, and Cheapest NATO Straps. Of those, I think that Strapsco breaks in soonest. I only have a handful of watches where I will spend real money on a strap and most of those are currently being repaired.
If you can stand silicone (I am technically vegan), I use Ullchro from Amazon for 16mm. Black, orange and red.
I think they do alright - they are slightly cheaper than Barton, but the good Barton silicone stop at 18mm. I have used the standard 16mm Barton silicones, mainly chocolate brown, but I think it looks more like excrement than chocolate.
What can I say, I’m cheap and I have Prime, so I’m also impatient.
This is on the black - I quite like it
NATO: Crown and Buckle, Moose straps and Zuludiver.
Leather: Fluco, Hirsch and Colareb, I tend to get leather from Holbens.
I have to agree with the Barton Sailcloth straps same issue fraying and I only used the strap for a day I was really disappointed. the strapco nato’s are OK but very thin I guess because they only cost 10 bucks I guess you pay for what you get. uncle Seiko rubber straps are decent and stainless steel bracelet from Long Island watch was good even came with a screwdriver so that was cool in my book.
Yes, I also got a strap from Long Island Watch company, a water resistant leather strap, for only $15. Looks great, fits comfortably. I only wish it came with quick release lug pins.
NATO: Crown and Buckle, Moose straps and Zuludiver.
Leather: Fluco, Hirsch and Colareb, I tend to get leather from Holbens.
I like Holben, good selection, good prices, owner is a good guy.
Yes, I also got a strap from Long Island Watch company, a water resistant leather strap, for only $15. Looks great, fits comfortably. I only wish it came with quick release lug pins.
StrapHabit is my favorite, but I might be slightly biased :)
https://straphabit.com/
I found WatchStrapCentralUK on etsy for natos.. solid quality for the price (feels better than Barton natos in my opinion).
I’m mad at Barton. My last order for some reason didn’t ship and when I called to see what was going on, they said sorry there was an issue on our end. (This was 6 weeks after my order was submitted) They abruptly canceled my order and gave me a refund. I told them that I didn’t want the refund, I wanted the G-Shock adapter I ordered and compatible NATO and I was happy to wait as long as it took. About a week later, I got a reply saying, too bad, the refund has already been issued. And that was it, no attempt make it right.
Since that experience, I’ve picked up a number of straps from, Crown & Buckle, Strap Mill Canada, StrapXPro and StrapsCo and have had very positive experiences with all of those vendors. I’ll be be buying alot more straps, but, I’ll never buy another Barton strap again.
P.S. I’ve also got the same Orient Defender II in my collection and I love it. This watch looks great on just about any strap you can throw at it. Where it well!