Artem Strap Review! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Model: Classic Black Sailcloth Watch Strap
Stitching: Gray
Lug Width: 20mm
Length: Standard (75/115)
Price: $85
Add-on: Deployment Clasp, $73
Review -
Look - I’m a bracelet guy, I think they’re so comfy and fit every style. When I buy a watch, I will always pick a bracelet over a strap. However, I’ve been craving a good strap, one that will act like a bracelet and go with everything.
Enter: Artem Straps. These sailcloth straps add a nice rustic look to each watch, riding the line between extra casual and business casual, and maybe can even work its way up to dress? To each their own. I love the way leather looks and ages, but I wanted something ~different. A leather strap can look good with 80% of watches, while this sailcloth strap fills that remaining 20%.
Pros:
Great build quality, stitching is excellent
Love that I can choose the stitching color (gray seems to be the most versatile, white looked too loud)
Feels and looks luxurious for what it is
Waterproof
Nicely padded
Mostly matte with a slight shine, which is nice
Specifically went with this strap vs the more expensive one because I didn’t like the reinforced strap holes and I wanted the loops vs the loopless
Deployment clasp is very high quality (granted I have limited experience with this)
Cons:
Price, holy cow. All in paid $158. I know I didn’t need the deployment clasp but I think they are essential for use with a strap (I’m too used to bracelets and couldn’t give up the convenience). There are absolutely cheaper sailcloth options, but I think this one looks the best.
Shipping took absolutely forever, coming from Australia to the East Coast (US)
Quite stiff out of the box, but I suppose this was to be expected given the material. It’ll eventually loosen up and mold to my wrist, but definitely stiffer than I thought it would be
Quick change spring bars were an additional $13, which I thought was ridiculous. In hindsight, I should’ve gotten them, because what’s an additional $13 at this point? I didn’t realize the straps wouldn’t come with quick change spring bar holes so I can’t put in my own.
Overall, satisfied! I will wear this on every watch I own that’ll fit it!
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Artem makes the best after market sailcloth straps in the world. It's the only sailcloth I can think of that stand up to the Blancpain OEMs.
I have 3 Artem straps and can recommend them. I agree that they are stiffer than expected out of the box but break in pretty quickly. Definitely not cheap but worth the money with a pin buckle. A bit pricey though with their deployant clasp.
Got 3 of them from the earlier versions. These were the stiffer ones. One of them cracked at a hole for the pin buckle. I think this was brought about by the stress of numerous insertions of the strap end through the fixed keeper where you tend to really curl the strap to a u-shape just to get through. I sent a complaint email to Artem and they were quick to respond and replace the strap. The replacement was their latest thinner strap which was more pliable thereby more durable. Problem solved! 😁
Have the same situation. May I ask how you spoke to them regarding the return