Recommendations for a Dressy Alternative to Leather.
I’m in the market for a dressy alternative to leather for dress watches. I am mostly interested in fabric, maybe perlon, knitted style straps. If anyone has any recommendations for sellers, brands, that would be much appreciated!
6 comments
Sort by
Ace
Wherever you go, there you are!
Goodyear, AZ, USA
Member since
Last active: 4 hrs ago
18.42 cm
Sorry, but I do not think there is a good alternative. Metal is for sports watches, fabric is for field/tool watches. Rubber is for both, sports and tools. Leather is an ideal material for a dress watch strap.
vario has harris tweed straps, perlon on some dress watches work really well (like my cartier tank)
You could check out Delugs rubber CTS straps, they could be an alternative.
https://delugs.com/products/grey-rubber-cts-strap
Before NATO overtook the world, one could get grosgrain ribbon straps from several haberdashers. That seems to be nearly extinct now.
Years ago I got a bunch of woven nylon with that Perlonesque one piece adjustable buckle keeper from Otto Frei, but the variety is in 18mm and it's Model T color choice for 20mm. They also have woven stuff that seems thicker than Perlon.
Your best bet may be RAF straps, which are basically single pass NATO with a self fabric keeper. Oddly, CNS has Perlon in the proper open weave but with metal keepers. Don't miss their printed NATO straps either.
Lastly, everybody should go to AliExpress and search for "Alpine stainless steel strap" and get their slinky Bonklip for a very reasonable price complete with quick release spring bars.
Colareb Alcantara straps are very comfortable and look classy.
Forstner Komfit or Klip. They also do a Thin-as-a-dime for a dressier art deco vibe.
Oddly enough Lorier's RAF is extremely dressy, but only one color.
I'd also check out Crown and Buckle's Chevron adjustable straps.