Review: Trying to love the Forstner Komfit band
In my ongoing quest to perfectly strap my vintage Chronomatic to my wrist, getting to Forstner seemed inevitable. They made aftermarket bracelets when this watch was released back in the 60s, and it was really just a matter of deciding which of their revivals to try out. They're not cheap and they're only sold direct by Forstner, so it took me some time to pick the one I thought would work best and convince myself that it would be worth the money without the benefit of handling them beforehand. I ended up buying the wide-model Komfit based on the looks, the presumed comfort (hence the silly name), and the expandable lugs that would allow it to fit a variety of my watches.
After some frustration with the shipping and some unhelpful exchanges with customer service (ordered on the 7th, arrived on the 20th—you can decide for yourself it that's good or bad), my Komfit showed up today and I'm almost happy with it...
It's certainly a great looking bracelet and, as I hoped, it's period-perfect and matches the vibe of the watch beautifully. The mesh is super comfortable and articulates like fabric. Once you install it, size it, and put it on, it's mostly good news. It's those first three steps that are the problem.
While it comes in a nice presentation box, they didn't bother including any instructions, just a tiny slip of paper telling you to visit their website. There you'll find some 10-20-second videos (with no narration) that are only somewhat helpful and make the whole affair look so effortless that I still feel like I must be missing something given how difficult it is to put this thing on and take it off. Attaching the bracelet to the watch is a little tricky due to the spring-loaded end links and the added length of the center section causes them to rub against the watch case and not articulate smoothly. They tend to stick in one position and I'm worried about the damage they're doing to the case when they pop into another.
The clasp with its beautifully integrated release trigger (the raised F logo) seems ingenious at first but the act of pulling the bracelet taut, wrapping the clasp around, sliding the trigger and snapping the clasp in place is incredibly difficult to do with only one hand, especially with the weight of the watch head pulling it around your wrist. No surprise that their "using the clasp" instructional video is done without the watch on. Part of the problem is that you need to slide the logo button downward while you're pulling the clasp upward, which is tricky and counterintuitive. After several tries I got into a groove with it but it's far more complicated to put on or take off than any strap or bracelet I've dealt with before. It makes sense that this was such a big hit with astronauts at the time since they'd at least know enough about mechanical engineering and physics actually manipulate these things with ease.
My last gripe is that, because the bracelet doubles over itself when adjusted, the two layers slide around a little, with the bottom layer peeking out a bit as you move your wrist around. Not the end of the world, but not the most elegant look, either.
Overall, I love the look and I suppose all of my frustrations with it can be chalked up to this being, effectively, a 60-year-old design, but at $132 I think it's fair to expect some functional upgrades—it does feel a bit cheap overall—and more detailed instructions would be nice.
Also, the site talks about included "lug protectors" and offers a video showing how to install them, but there weren't any in my package and I do worry about what damage the spring-loaded end-links might be doing to the inside of the lugs.
But, damn, does it look good holding down this old Hamilton.
NOTE: ignore the star ratings--WatchCrunch won't let a review get published without them, even though they don't apply here...
Review: Trying to love the Forstner Komfit band
Yes
No
- Gorgeous, perfectly vintage looks
- Super comfortable
- Adjustable end links to fit different lug widths
- Difficult to put on and take off and could use clear instructions
- Expensive for what you get
- mesh slides around under the wrist
Design obsessive who loves watches but loathes the watch industry and the snobbery and flex-culture that feeds it. What’s a boy to do?
That Chronomatic is gorgeous! Very nice. 👍
That Chronomatic is gorgeous! Very nice. 👍
Thank you! It’s a very special one for me.
Nice watch and nice bracelet. 👌🏻🤘🏻🤙🏻🔥
Maybe cuz I've used The Watch Steward and Erikas straps for so long, but my method seems to work pretty well.
Don watch, grab tail to clip, rotate wrist and rest watch head, face down on a surface (soft preferable), click into place.
I will say it wears like a dream, even in the heat!
Nice watch and nice bracelet. 👌🏻🤘🏻🤙🏻🔥
Maybe cuz I've used The Watch Steward and Erikas straps for so long, but my method seems to work pretty well.
Don watch, grab tail to clip, rotate wrist and rest watch head, face down on a surface (soft preferable), click into place.
I will say it wears like a dream, even in the heat!
Yep—that’s pretty close to the system I’ve fallen into. It works but it’s certainly a lot more complicated and takes a bit more time than the other straps and clasps I deal with. But the looks and comfort make up for it!
Thank you! It’s a very special one for me.
I wish they’d bring these back, closely to the size of the original. The newer Intra-Matic chronos look great, but they’re a little thick, and the L2L is a bit much.
Keeping with the positive theme of WC, let me say that this bracelet is a great match for the bottom of your sock drawer.
Keeping with the positive theme of WC, let me say that this bracelet is a great match for the bottom of your sock drawer.
Not a fan of the Forstner eh?
Purchased this bracelet a few weeks ago but returned it for the wider version. Should arrive by end of week. Looking forward to getting it on my Speedy. Thanks for the review.
I wish they’d bring these back, closely to the size of the original. The newer Intra-Matic chronos look great, but they’re a little thick, and the L2L is a bit much.
Totally agree and it confounds me that after 55 years of theoretical development time, the new version is more expensive despite having an off-the-shelf movement and thicker for the same reason. Really feels like they’re asking more for something that should cost a lot less.
Not a fan of the Forstner eh?
Not a fan of anything with spring loaded lug extensions. I’ve seen them cause some terrible damage over time on vintage watches. I’ve also struggled with sliding mesh straps to size on various watches.
So yes, not a fan. ☹
Purchased this bracelet a few weeks ago but returned it for the wider version. Should arrive by end of week. Looking forward to getting it on my Speedy. Thanks for the review.
The wider one feels like the right choice even on this 36mm watch so definitely the way to go for a speedy
Love the look and comfort of mesh bracelets. Elegant, light, and the decent quality versions don't pull hair. The one I have is quite easy to take on and off, but it's not period-specific or vintage, so that's the tradeoff I guess.
I have 2 of these I have never used and been meaning to sell 😮
This's a really interesting thread to me cause I 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 the Komfit. I really like Forstner bracelets full stop.
Bit I'd say the exact same about the Bonklip - I reckon it's super overrated. My Sea-Gull 1963 lives on it. It looks good, but I'd pretty much echo everything you said.
Forstners best bracelet is the Rivet - it's as comfortable as any bracelet I've experienced - and looks the goods too, at least imo.
But I really like the Komfit. The clasp isn't easy - I agree, but the infinite adjustment is worth the pay off I reckon. And it's super comfortable across a heap of watches and has a really distinctive look that I really like.
I just thought I'd jump in and stick up for the Komfit - it's getting a hard time!
☻
Big fan of the Komfit too, a fairly recent convert.
Agree they are awkward to do up but they're well secure once on & the infinite adjustment makes for a comfortable fit.
I went for wide with horned lugs - & I didn't get any lug protectors either.
Will get a Bonklip next.
Good review 👍🏻👍🏻
Bracelets in general were not great in the 60ies, were they?
I just can't get behind any bracelet with a spring loaded end piece...
Ok steel on steel it may be ok, but I've seen many plated and solid gold watches get ruined by extended wear on these.
My own pawnshop find Girard Perregaux gold watch needed more than 1g of gold to be lasered back onto the lugs...
I bought the American classic millenese bracelet for my intra matic chrono, its a quality made bracelet at £130
I bought the American classic millenese bracelet for my intra matic chrono, its a quality made bracelet at £130
That looks great! Unfortunately, it’s too big for my chronomatic (I need 19mm).
That looks great! Unfortunately, it’s too big for my chronomatic (I need 19mm).
Oh no, that's so annoying, finding a 19mm strap especially a bracelet is nigh on impossible 😑 I thought yours was a 20mm
Oh no, that's so annoying, finding a 19mm strap especially a bracelet is nigh on impossible 😑 I thought yours was a 20mm
It's a vintage model (1969-1970) with a much smaller case, so it's got those hard-to-fit vintage lugs ;)
Bracelets in general were not great in the 60ies, were they?
I just can't get behind any bracelet with a spring loaded end piece...
Ok steel on steel it may be ok, but I've seen many plated and solid gold watches get ruined by extended wear on these.
My own pawnshop find Girard Perregaux gold watch needed more than 1g of gold to be lasered back onto the lugs...
Supposedly these come with little lug protectors, but there weren't any in my box. I do love the IDEA of spring-loaded end-pieces because I love being able to move the same bracelet between watches, but the potential damage is a little scary if the watch is at all valuable.
This's a really interesting thread to me cause I 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 the Komfit. I really like Forstner bracelets full stop.
Bit I'd say the exact same about the Bonklip - I reckon it's super overrated. My Sea-Gull 1963 lives on it. It looks good, but I'd pretty much echo everything you said.
Forstners best bracelet is the Rivet - it's as comfortable as any bracelet I've experienced - and looks the goods too, at least imo.
But I really like the Komfit. The clasp isn't easy - I agree, but the infinite adjustment is worth the pay off I reckon. And it's super comfortable across a heap of watches and has a really distinctive look that I really like.
I just thought I'd jump in and stick up for the Komfit - it's getting a hard time!
☻
The looks are worth the effort for sure.
I have 2 of these I have never used and been meaning to sell 😮
Post 'em for sale in this thread! You might get a couple takers...
Not a fan of anything with spring loaded lug extensions. I’ve seen them cause some terrible damage over time on vintage watches. I’ve also struggled with sliding mesh straps to size on various watches.
So yes, not a fan. ☹
Given the high price of these, I don't think it would be asking too much of them to update/upgrade this design to add some very thin material to the ends of the lugs that would prevent damage.
That Hamilton Chronomatic is one that has always hit me right where it counts. I love that watch. Im not sure about the bracelet, I've never experienced that type. It looks good!
Cool! I think it also goes well on a classic mesh too, but this 7 link is the best match I've found so far
Cool! I think it also goes well on a classic mesh too, but this 7 link is the best match I've found so far
Oh, my, that does look incredible (and your chronomatic looks amazingly clean!
Insightful review!
Bracelets in general were not great in the 60ies, were they?
I just can't get behind any bracelet with a spring loaded end piece...
Ok steel on steel it may be ok, but I've seen many plated and solid gold watches get ruined by extended wear on these.
My own pawnshop find Girard Perregaux gold watch needed more than 1g of gold to be lasered back onto the lugs...
Woah