Watch strap too shiny? Will it dull over time? How long?

The dealer will tell you whatever he needs to tell you to make the sale.

You can always put it on a different strap.

Straps tend to keep their finish if maintained. If you like the watch, find a new strap, but having to immediately swap straps at the price point kind of sucks.

That’s your concern? You can easily get any strap you like.

New strap 👍

Nice to learn that I am not the only guy who doesn’t like Breitling’s shiny straps on some of their Premier line of watches, was checking out the Datora which was fitted with a similar strap if not the same. My ad could not offer a different strap for obvious reasons of cost and what to do with the strap that came with the watch? I suspect an obvious solution for me would be to purchase the watch directly from the Breitling head office here in Toronto but I would lose the offered courtesy discount, going to consider either a different model or different brand.

My experience is the finish will not dull.

It will shine more, but in a good way. Give it a few weeks, let it get your wrists shape, however i also do not like shiny crocodile ones too😅

Thanks for the details! And yeah, the strap alone is $550 USD, so it kinda sucks to get rid of it right away

Perhaps I can use it as leverage for a discount perhaps

Put some hand moisturizer on it. It will keep the leather pliable and supple, darken it's color and begin the process of loosing the sheen.

Just get a basic handmade leather strap. It will look better than that.

Breitling straps are worth the high price but you have to like it, haha. Worth a try, that is really a nice watch from one of my favourite brands. I own quite a few Breitlings including a few gifted to me from my wife, thought I would switch the mesh bracelet on one to strap and clasp but the price was well over $1000. CAD. Better to just put the dollars towards another watch. Good luck.

This watch (minus strap) managed to get me to pay attention to Breitling which never interested me in the sleightest before. I imagine you can weather the strap to a muted tone over time.

Get a new strap, keep the old one in a safe place so if you sell it on you can include a nice new unused original strap.

Set aside some money for a couple of spare straps - lots of nice custom products out there for an affordable price

Good point

Unless you treat the strap in some way it'll stay shiny. And if you do, people would regard the watch as being not-in-original-condition. Frankly, if a shopclerk tried that baloney on me, I would have walked out of the store there and then, not a further word spoken.

Apart from the shininess I don't like the colour combination either. Put it on a £20 strap from Ali, like the one below, and it'll look much better. [Keep the old strap should you ever try this to sell.]

I handled this strap and it is quite similar to my former Longines aligator strap ( by look, not so much quality ). It will wear down a bit but not much if you maintain it well. As advised above if you like the watch just get it and change the strap ( Breitling straps sell for 550$ so not significant issue at 9k$ watch and you can add original one as unworn if watch is ever sold ). One option is to try negotiate additional strap from Breitling FOC as they have other nubuk options as additional purchase for 300$ or slight discount that would finance new quality aftermarket strap ( 5% should do it IMO ).

I also hated the strap it came on, which is really tacky and cheap-looking IMO—but my AD replaced it with Breitling’s dark brown nubuck strap at no cost (using the buckle from the original). The sueded brown tones everything down, looks more at home with the vintage detailing, and compliments the dial color so much more naturally. Ask the dealer if they’d do the same to make the sale. If not, I’d happily introduce you to mine. According to the shop I dealt with, Breitling covered the cost.

I like the alligator with that watch. Honestly it’s a banging combination

The strap would go right after I would walk out the store.

I had the Breitling Premier with the silver dial and black strap. I also felt the strap was way too shiny and that’s a big part of why I eventually moved on from that watch.

You can always put it on another strap, but ad was BSing you

If you don't love the strap it's a perfect excuse to put it on a strap you like and keep the OEM strap mint which is a nice touch if you want to resell somewhere down the line.

Beautiful watch. Love the 'pistachio' dial. On the strap, (of course, depending on your wear factor) I'd think that shine would last for a long time.

Myself, I prefer more of a matte finish. If you're ever interested, "I gotta guy." Orishandmade.com or he's on Etsy. I have two ostrich straps he's making for me right now. His gator straps are shiny too. So, I stay with the ostrich. Not cheap. But very, very high quality. Certainly, worthy of that watch.

Breitling sells OEM straps and will be happy to replace the strap with another one of your choice within the same price range free of cost or at an additional cost if you do choose a more expensive option. Just enquire with the dealer and they should offer that as an option.

Love it!!!