Another Seiko diver - SLA043 and a hunt for a navy rubber strap

A favourite diver of mine is the Seiko 62MAS in it’s different iterations. I have not, as @SurferJohn , dared to get an original from the 60s (yet) but the SPB143 is a great substitute with it’s gray dial. Now I added the SLA043. I’m really wanted the blue dial and with the distorsion on the chrystal it comes with. The original rubber straps is far too long for me and during winter season it will be on a leather from Watchbandit. 19mm and it could handle the Spring bars from the Seiko diver.

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I don’t want to shorten the original rubber. Is there anyone out there who knows where to find a 19mm navy rubber strap who can fit the fat spring bars? Preferable in shorter lenght.

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What is your wristsize? You could go for one on those that you have to cut at the right length?

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Barton Watch Bands has 19mm blue silicone, sailcloth, fabric, and tropic straps with quick-release bars. Not sure if that's exactly what you want if you wanna keep using the original bars.

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valleykilmers

Barton Watch Bands has 19mm blue silicone, sailcloth, fabric, and tropic straps with quick-release bars. Not sure if that's exactly what you want if you wanna keep using the original bars.

Thanks! The plan was to use the original spring bars. If it’s too long I don’t mind shorten it. But I don’t want to shorten the original.

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mjosamannen

What is your wristsize? You could go for one on those that you have to cut at the right length?

That is perfectly fine to do. Do you know anyone that don’t use quick release spring bars?

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Congrats!

The SLA043 is a beautiful watch!

Have you checked out Uncle Seiko?

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Henrik

Congrats!

The SLA043 is a beautiful watch!

Have you checked out Uncle Seiko?

Thank you! Yes I checken US but I could only find black or orange in 19mm, no navy.

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YourIntruder

That is perfectly fine to do. Do you know anyone that don’t use quick release spring bars?

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These are the kind I'm probably are going for with my new Seiko Tuna. Fits your description?

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mjosamannen
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These are the kind I'm probably are going for with my new Seiko Tuna. Fits your description?

Looks great! Who is the supplier? Watchgecko?

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@WatchYourIntruder 

The original 62MAS isn't that great of a watch to begin with.  For example the crown is not screw down, the build quality and durability are good for the day but no way up to modern expectations.  You can forget about part supply as well, I had to purchase another watch and cannibalize it to repair mine.

Also, if you look at other watches of the period, you will find that Seiko basically copied other dive watch designs for the orginal 62MAS.  Blancpain, Waltham, and others used a VERY similar case and configuration at the time.

The first original Seiko diver design was the 6105 Willard which came out in 1968 or so.

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SurferJohn

@WatchYourIntruder 

The original 62MAS isn't that great of a watch to begin with.  For example the crown is not screw down, the build quality and durability are good for the day but no way up to modern expectations.  You can forget about part supply as well, I had to purchase another watch and cannibalize it to repair mine.

Also, if you look at other watches of the period, you will find that Seiko basically copied other dive watch designs for the orginal 62MAS.  Blancpain, Waltham, and others used a VERY similar case and configuration at the time.

The first original Seiko diver design was the 6105 Willard which came out in 1968 or so.

Thank you for your advice. I’m not so updated on most divers. I just like the look of the 62MAS including yours. I told myself several times to stay away from vintage sportwatches and been able to avoid it as is. Do you have to do the Seiko shuffle on yours or can you wind?

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They don’t have the largest stock but baraband.se have some good quality straps that I think will fit you. Just got a couple of their sail cloth straps. 

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YourIntruder

Looks great! Who is the supplier? Watchgecko?

https://www.watchgecko.com/products/zuludiver-400-mkii-italian-rubber-divers-watch-strap-yellow-black-buckle

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Matt84

They don’t have the largest stock but baraband.se have some good quality straps that I think will fit you. Just got a couple of their sail cloth straps. 

Thanks. They are practically in my back yard. Didn’t know about them.

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YourIntruder

Thank you for your advice. I’m not so updated on most divers. I just like the look of the 62MAS including yours. I told myself several times to stay away from vintage sportwatches and been able to avoid it as is. Do you have to do the Seiko shuffle on yours or can you wind?

Strictly Seiko Shuffle on these, same goes for the 6105 & 6309.

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YourIntruder

Thanks. They are practically in my back yard. Didn’t know about them.

Same here I’m in Stockholms län and just found out about them last month. 

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TimeJunkie

I had a Barton Navy Blue on my Snowflake Super Soft and comfortable I sold the watch but wanted to share some pics of the strap. Wish I still had the watch and the strap ! 
 

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Thank you! It looks nice and they still have it in 19mm. It’s quick release with normal spring bars. Maybe there isn’t any problem or possible damage to use those instead of fat spring bars. I have to investigate further.

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I'm scared of that too 😱 At that price.. I'm a 7 1/4", how big is yours 😉?

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I need to measure. I think it will be stiff and weird if It's very short 🤔

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I got this 20mm navy tropic strap from zuludiver. Had to replace with 19mm OEM spring bars and the best thing is it works with the factory Seiko tang buckle. 
 

The strap is much softer and shorter than the OEM waffle strap. 

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harrisc852
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I got this 20mm navy tropic strap from zuludiver. Had to replace with 19mm OEM spring bars and the best thing is it works with the factory Seiko tang buckle. 
 

The strap is much softer and shorter than the OEM waffle strap. 

Thanks! Let’s see if got this. The 20mm Zuludiver straps works without modifications. Can I use the spring bars that came with the original rubber?

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I dropped them a e-mail. If those 14cm is what's left before the microadjusts, I'll be fine. If not, no..

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YourIntruder

Thanks! Let’s see if got this. The 20mm Zuludiver straps works without modifications. Can I use the spring bars that came with the original rubber?

Yes, it’s a tight fit but you can make it work for sure. 

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A little update to you who tried to help to find a rubber strap solution for the watch. @mjosamannen @valleykilmers @Henrik @Matt84 @Fieldwalker @circleT @TimeJunkie @harrisc852 

I went with a sailcloth strap from http://Baraband.se. 20mm but I had a plan. 

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To make it easier to fit future straps I found 19mm thinner springbars from outletgoods on ebay. Thinner but with the thicker 1,1 tip.

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Finally I took the strap to the shoemaker (🧐). He polished the edges down to smaller lug width. 

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And voilà, I now have at least one working solution. 

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Thanks for your assistance.

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YourIntruder

A little update to you who tried to help to find a rubber strap solution for the watch. @mjosamannen @valleykilmers @Henrik @Matt84 @Fieldwalker @circleT @TimeJunkie @harrisc852 

I went with a sailcloth strap from http://Baraband.se. 20mm but I had a plan. 

Image

To make it easier to fit future straps I found 19mm thinner springbars from outletgoods on ebay. Thinner but with the thicker 1,1 tip.

Image

Finally I took the strap to the shoemaker (🧐). He polished the edges down to smaller lug width. 

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And voilà, I now have at least one working solution. 

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Thanks for your assistance.

Looks awesome! I am loving the sailcloth

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YourIntruder

A little update to you who tried to help to find a rubber strap solution for the watch. @mjosamannen @valleykilmers @Henrik @Matt84 @Fieldwalker @circleT @TimeJunkie @harrisc852 

I went with a sailcloth strap from http://Baraband.se. 20mm but I had a plan. 

Image

To make it easier to fit future straps I found 19mm thinner springbars from outletgoods on ebay. Thinner but with the thicker 1,1 tip.

Image

Finally I took the strap to the shoemaker (🧐). He polished the edges down to smaller lug width. 

Image

And voilà, I now have at least one working solution. 

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Thanks for your assistance.

Lookin good 👍

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YourIntruder

A little update to you who tried to help to find a rubber strap solution for the watch. @mjosamannen @valleykilmers @Henrik @Matt84 @Fieldwalker @circleT @TimeJunkie @harrisc852 

I went with a sailcloth strap from http://Baraband.se. 20mm but I had a plan. 

Image

To make it easier to fit future straps I found 19mm thinner springbars from outletgoods on ebay. Thinner but with the thicker 1,1 tip.

Image

Finally I took the strap to the shoemaker (🧐). He polished the edges down to smaller lug width. 

Image

And voilà, I now have at least one working solution. 

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Thanks for your assistance.

It shouldn’t be so much work…. But kudos for trying it all out!! 👏

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YourIntruder

A little update to you who tried to help to find a rubber strap solution for the watch. @mjosamannen @valleykilmers @Henrik @Matt84 @Fieldwalker @circleT @TimeJunkie @harrisc852 

I went with a sailcloth strap from http://Baraband.se. 20mm but I had a plan. 

Image

To make it easier to fit future straps I found 19mm thinner springbars from outletgoods on ebay. Thinner but with the thicker 1,1 tip.

Image

Finally I took the strap to the shoemaker (🧐). He polished the edges down to smaller lug width. 

Image

And voilà, I now have at least one working solution. 

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Thanks for your assistance.

@WatchYourIntruder complicating the hell out of a watch strap mod 

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Solid solution my man. Looks really good. 

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YourIntruder

A little update to you who tried to help to find a rubber strap solution for the watch. @mjosamannen @valleykilmers @Henrik @Matt84 @Fieldwalker @circleT @TimeJunkie @harrisc852 

I went with a sailcloth strap from http://Baraband.se. 20mm but I had a plan. 

Image

To make it easier to fit future straps I found 19mm thinner springbars from outletgoods on ebay. Thinner but with the thicker 1,1 tip.

Image

Finally I took the strap to the shoemaker (🧐). He polished the edges down to smaller lug width. 

Image

And voilà, I now have at least one working solution. 

Image

Thanks for your assistance.

Well done it looks great. 

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My wrist is around 16cm/6.25". I've had a difficult time finding a decent shorter strap for mine. I finally concede and spend $218 on an Artem HydroFlex strap. I'm content now.