Are aftermarket straps needed afterall ?
Like most of us who've been in the hobby for a few years, I have a drawer full of Natos, leather, sailcloth and rubber straps, 18 to 22 mm, most of which have not been worn more than a few times
I have come to realise that switching back to the OEM bracelet (we're talking mainly sports watches here) was the natural move after a few years of wandering around, looking for the perfect match.
Someone said : watch collecting starts and ends with a three-hander (from an SKX to a vintage Calatrava). I will add : the watch hobby starts and ends with the watches on their original straps
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Hervé
Three-handler, no complications kind of guy Been into watches since 2012, took me 10 years to finally know what I like in a watch
Paris, France
Member since
Last active: 9 hrs ago
Mostly true if the OEM strap was great, not necessarily for field watches and sometimes not possible for vintage.
Although I tend to wear my sport watches on the bracelet most of the time, I am happy that aftermarket alternatives exist when I feel like a change of style. So I would say the straps market is absolutely a boon to the hobby.
Now, just like watches themselves, some companies aren't always honest about the quality of their materials or apply a ridiculous markup on their products preying on naive buyers. It's especially apparent with NATOs that can range from $3 to $50 for the exact same weave, but the same applies to leather straps. Capitalism baby!
Although I tend to wear my sport watches on the bracelet most of the time, I am happy that aftermarket alternatives exist when I feel like a change of style. So I would say the straps market is absolutely a boon to the hobby.
Now, just like watches themselves, some companies aren't always honest about the quality of their materials or apply a ridiculous markup on their products preying on naive buyers. It's especially apparent with NATOs that can range from $3 to $50 for the exact same weave, but the same applies to leather straps. Capitalism baby!
Fully agree here.
My point is not to say that all aftermarket offers are bad, I bought really great leather straps from Colareb in Italy, but I have often found that non OEM could cheapen the watch (a Blackbay must remain on its Tudor steel bracelet, IMO. A Speedmaster on a NATO is a cheaper Speedy)
I have also been disappointed by suppliers like Forstner who charge $ 150 (before import duties) for a flat link bracelet with a pressed clasp !
Fully agree here.
My point is not to say that all aftermarket offers are bad, I bought really great leather straps from Colareb in Italy, but I have often found that non OEM could cheapen the watch (a Blackbay must remain on its Tudor steel bracelet, IMO. A Speedmaster on a NATO is a cheaper Speedy)
I have also been disappointed by suppliers like Forstner who charge $ 150 (before import duties) for a flat link bracelet with a pressed clasp !
It is known that a rubber strap or a NATO reduces the perceived value of a watch in the eyes of non-watch enthusiasts compared to a steel bracelet. It could be because rubber is associated with cheap disposable Casio or Swatch watches, or even Apple watches nowadays. Muggles don't like the bulky style and folds of the NATO look either.
Look vs comfort is the eternal struggle of the watch enthusiast. Steel and leather tend to be less comfortable to wear in the summer, but rubber and nylon cheapen the watch as you said!
I hate bracelets, so never bother with them. I switch pretty much everything to an Erika's Original MN.
I have an identical sailcloth on my 556. It's a good perfect match for me.
I'm in the bracelet hating crew. 50 something watches in the collection 3 on bracelet (because they are integrated and I don't have a choice). Bands, bracelets etc are just accessories to be changed on a whim.
I'm in the bracelet hating crew. 50 something watches in the collection 3 on bracelet (because they are integrated and I don't have a choice). Bands, bracelets etc are just accessories to be changed on a whim.
Hi Pete. Honored to have a YT celebrity checking my humble pool.
I'd say if the watch comes with a metal bracelet, stick with it until too scratched or if uncomfortable. But some watches like Field and Flieger watches look better without a metal bracelet. I do also have a drawer full of straps and it's good to alternate, I tend to switch bracelets almost daily (each time I wear the watch in my 10 watch collection, I tend to change the bracelet to fit what I wear)