Longines Zulutime Leather strap Quality issues? Has anyone ever bought an original leather watch strap from a big watch brand but experience QC issues with it?
I recently bought a Longines Spirit Zulutime watch strap with the deployant buckle. Love the buckle and the strap colour. However, I could not help but notice that the Longines leather strap feels very… fragile and flimsy? It’s like the top layer of leather is detaching from the inner layer?
The watch strap looks ok when it’s bent in position, but when I took it off and wanted to lay it flat, the straps started to wrinkle like crazy.
Here’s a photo of it with a bend after a day of wear.
Here’s a photo of it if I try to lay it flat:
Here’s a photo of the other side:
While curved:
While flat:
It’s worrying that the strap feels like it’s already showing signs of wear and tear after just 1 day of use. Is this something worth going back to the store and pointing out? Or is this a nothingburger.
For context, I have an IWC leather strap that I’ve been wearing for a few weeks now.
Barely any signs of creasing on the leather strap.
I know it’s not fair to compare Longines to IWC but the Longines strap costs USD$125 and the IWC costs USD$190. They’re not too far apart.
Would love to hear your thoughts.
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Is it Horween Leather?
Use a little leather conditioner on it. Softens it…the leather just looks a bit dehydrated. Should even out creases and will make it more comfortable.
Use a little leather conditioner on it. Softens it…the leather just looks a bit dehydrated. Should even out creases and will make it more comfortable.
Hmm. The only thing I have on hand is this.
https://www.timberland.com/en-us/p/men/accessories-10058/waximum-waxed-leather-protector-TB0A2K11000
Not sure if it is safe to use.
In general, big manufacturers tend to pay little attention to the straps they attach to their watches because they’re aware that the enthusiasts will simply swap the straps for something else as soon as they can. There’s no reason for them to sink money into them, so they just serve generally the minimum viable product.
Try getting a strap from TUNS Leather. They do a proper job.
The padding on your strap is poorly done, which is a real pity.
Hmm. The only thing I have on hand is this.
https://www.timberland.com/en-us/p/men/accessories-10058/waximum-waxed-leather-protector-TB0A2K11000
Not sure if it is safe to use.
To be honest mate… I use mink oil that came with my redwing boots!
I make my own straps. It is likely not great quality - it will be a middle of the road Leather
Is it Horween Leather?
Unless someone says it is it will never be. Horween is luxury
To be honest mate… I use mink oil that came with my redwing boots!
I think I’ll look for link oil. I just remembered that this timberland wax makes white stitches slightly red/pink. Thanks for the reply. I emailed Longines to see if they can check if it’s a QC issue.
Try getting a strap from TUNS Leather. They do a proper job.
The padding on your strap is poorly done, which is a real pity.
Yeah. The leather doesn’t feel that good of a quality. Compared to my IWC, the leather on it feels really good.
In general, big manufacturers tend to pay little attention to the straps they attach to their watches because they’re aware that the enthusiasts will simply swap the straps for something else as soon as they can. There’s no reason for them to sink money into them, so they just serve generally the minimum viable product.
Yeah it’s disappointing, but I’d like to give them the benefit of the doubt. I could have just received a bad one. Only reason why I bought the strap from Longines is because I wanted the complete set with the original bracelet, strap and deployant. Love the deployant clasp on the Zulutime.
I think I’ll look for link oil. I just remembered that this timberland wax makes white stitches slightly red/pink. Thanks for the reply. I emailed Longines to see if they can check if it’s a QC issue.
Remember that leather is like skin. So any oil/moisturiser will help. Just use a small amount, rub it in with soft lint free cloth (old t-shirt cotton is good) I’m sure it will help.
Looks par for the course with Longines, IME. Great watches, lots of value there, straps are sub par. Suggestions above may work but as you note I find them a little insubstantial and would always prefer to swap out for an aftermarket option.
Sorry to see this but if this is one day wearing it certainley isn't normal. I had two Longines leather straps, none looked like this after 6 months of use. I would go back and try to replace it, especially if upper part of leather deattached from lower part
Just get for yourself couple of handmade leather strap 😬
have it repalced if you are unhappy with the wear. that said, most straps need a bit of TLC, even from 'new'. A new strap can have spent upwards of 2 years between manufacture and you pulling it out of the box. In that time, it's been in a dehumified environment, probably sharing a box with a packet of silica gel - it will be dry as a bone and prone to damage from first use..
I use this https://uk.saphir.com/products/creme-universelle
It keeps them supple, and minimises any wear. Also worht using a leather cleaner from time to time.
thank you for the recommendation. I just ordered it. I have a leather condition/wax but I noticed that it makes any white threading turn slightly red/pink. Did you notice this Saphir product doing anything similar?
I've heard good things from Barton. I actually own 1 cloth strap from them. I normally buy aftermarket leather straps but for this specific watch, I wanted the full set including the amazing deployant clasp that comes with this watch.
Yeah my Oris leather strap started deaminating almost immediately. Shame but not a huge deal to me
That's a shame, I wouldn't be too fussed about it usually, but I actually went out of my way to order the strap separately. So it feels like I dropped a bunch of money for this strap only to have it almost immediately show signs of wear and tear. Though the deployant clasp is excellent.
Just get for yourself couple of handmade leather strap 😬
yes! I normally do get handmade leather goods or bespoke. However, for this watch specifically. I wanted the original full set. Also the deployant clasp is amazing from Longines.
yes! I normally do get handmade leather goods or bespoke. However, for this watch specifically. I wanted the original full set. Also the deployant clasp is amazing from Longines.
I always keep the original leather strap in the box 🤣🤣🤣
thank you for the recommendation. I just ordered it. I have a leather condition/wax but I noticed that it makes any white threading turn slightly red/pink. Did you notice this Saphir product doing anything similar?
The Saphir stuff has not discolered any of my stitching - in most cases, the main casue is bleeding dye out of the leather and into the stitching, or spreading dirt from the leather to the cotton. Worth cleaning first :D
I ordered the strap and deployant clasp separately, but directly from Longines. Together, they were around $365 which is what they are on their website. I don’t remember what the strap alone was but I agree that the clasp is superb. By far, they are the most comfortable in my collection.
I have straps from Barton and many other brands, but nothing, so far, has beaten the Longines combo. I would definitely get Longines to replace it as it is not representative of what it should be (in my experience).
Up until recently, I had worn mine every day for nearly a year, and it still shows no signs of wrinkling like yours.
The problem is that very few 3rd party straps are offered for style of clasp these have. On most, the extra part of the strap lays on the outside, requiring loops or keepers to hold it down. This type of clasp, what I’ve come to understand as the Omega-style, the extra part lays against the skin, under the strap, and no keepers are needed. The other part of the strap that connects to the clasp also doesn’t have a cutout for an unnecessary tang. This makes for a very comfortable, sleek, and slim profile.
I ordered the strap and deployant clasp separately, but directly from Longines. Together, they were around $365 which is what they are on their website. I don’t remember what the strap alone was but I agree that the clasp is superb. By far, they are the most comfortable in my collection.
I have straps from Barton and many other brands, but nothing, so far, has beaten the Longines combo. I would definitely get Longines to replace it as it is not representative of what it should be (in my experience).
Up until recently, I had worn mine every day for nearly a year, and it still shows no signs of wrinkling like yours.
Do you have any photos of your strap? Curious to see how yours have aged.
Is it Horween Leather?
It’s veal leather. According to their website:
https://www.longines.com/jp/p/strap-beige-veal-leather-l682165904
Just wear it …. When it breaks get something better , maybe put it on an Erika’s strap .
It's just a strap
Do you have any photos of your strap? Curious to see how yours have aged.
The 1st pic should be mine at a more straight or slight inward bend. Right where the padding ends and the clasp rests underneath, there is some very slight wrinkling, which can also be felt by touch, but it completely disappears in the 2nd pic, where it’s in the more natural, curved shape when on wrist. I threw in the 3rd pic of the other end showing no signs of wrinkling.
I’ll also say I sleep with this watch on most nights, so even when I’m wearing other watches during the day, this is still being worn daily.
The 1st pic should be mine at a more straight or slight inward bend. Right where the padding ends and the clasp rests underneath, there is some very slight wrinkling, which can also be felt by touch, but it completely disappears in the 2nd pic, where it’s in the more natural, curved shape when on wrist. I threw in the 3rd pic of the other end showing no signs of wrinkling.
I’ll also say I sleep with this watch on most nights, so even when I’m wearing other watches during the day, this is still being worn daily.
Thanks for the pics. I sent them your photos with mine to compare and they said that they will replace my strap. Which is nice. Though initially they did mention that it’s a normal characteristic of the strap to wrinkle, but they said they will offer a replacement after I sent the email with both our photos.
have it repalced if you are unhappy with the wear. that said, most straps need a bit of TLC, even from 'new'. A new strap can have spent upwards of 2 years between manufacture and you pulling it out of the box. In that time, it's been in a dehumified environment, probably sharing a box with a packet of silica gel - it will be dry as a bone and prone to damage from first use..
I use this https://uk.saphir.com/products/creme-universelle
It keeps them supple, and minimises any wear. Also worht using a leather cleaner from time to time.
Started applying it lightly. Will leave it to dry overnight. 👍🏻
Though Longines initially told me that it’s normal, but when I sent them a photo of the same strap from another user that’s been worn for 8 months, they are now offering me a replacement.