Alligator band

[Saijin]

Can you guys recommend me a place to get an alligator band and or custom bracelets for Daytona’s?

And what price point should I be expecting?

Thanks

[padi56]

The only bracelet any Rolex needs is the one thats attached to the watch when sold from Rolex and what it was designed for. You can pay silly money for some straps that are no better quality than the ones from Hirsch .

[brian628]

Originally Posted by padi56

The only bracelet any Rolex needs is the one thats attached to the watch when sold from Rolex and what it was designed for. You can pay silly money for some straps that are no better quality than the ones from Hirsch .

Lame.

It's a watch, not the Mona Lisa. Have fun with it, OP.

Buy 50 straps and bracelets and change them every day. Shoot, change the dials and hands if you want to.

To each his own, but I guess I don't get people who treat these watches like some type of crown jewels. They. Are. Just. Watches.

[Saijin]

Originally Posted by brian628

Lame.

It's a watch, not the Mona Lisa. Have fun with it, OP.

Buy 50 straps and bracelets and change them every day. Shoot, change the dials and hands if you want to.

To each his own, but I guess I don't get people who treat these watches like some type of crown jewels. They. Are. Just. Watches.

Yah I will.

Got any recommendations for a shop ?

[Chadridv]

Originally Posted by Saijin

Yah I will.

Got any recommendations for a shop ?

I picked up the swim skin rubber b gator strap and it’s incredible! It works with your original clasp and it’s 100% water proof.

I know it’s difficult to replace the look of genuine gator but the look is spot on!

[Saijin]

Oh! And good tools too. Gonna need those

[brian628]

Originally Posted by Saijin

Oh! And good tools too. Gonna need those

Lots of people here are better experts than me, but you can google for hirsh or rubberb, or everest. Many cool ones and ranges of prices.

I usually have good luck with Otto Frei for tools and parts.
... I'm a hack and tend to do lots of breaking and losing of stuff befor I learn how to do it correctly. lol

[Michael T]

If you are looking for the highest quality alligator bands, try Camille Fournet. Standard on Patek and higher end Cartier. ABP Concept is another good brand.

[samson66]

You might want to "try out" a cheap alternative first to see if you really like the look. You can pick up a gator-grain leather from Barton for <$30. I have two of them and they look terrific, especially for the money.

[Saijin]

Originally Posted by samson66

You might want to "try out" a cheap alternative first to see if you really like the look. You can pick up a gator-grain leather from Barton for <$30. I have two of them and they look terrific, especially for the money.

Do I still need an end link for my Daytona if I try out that Barton band?

And yea, on photo they look nice.

[samson66]

Originally Posted by Saijin

Do I still need an end link for my Daytona if I try out that Barton band?



And yea, on photo they look nice.

No just try it with no end links just to see if you like the look of a leather strap on that watch. You may wind up liking it without end links, or you may hate it and decide to go in a different direction completely.

Barton is a great company and has a terrific return policy. You can easily return if you aren't happy with it. Get on their mailing list. They run sales all the time. I got 15% off a couple weeks ago on this black alligator grain leather strap for my GS.



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[Saijin]

Originally Posted by samson66

No just try it with no end links just to see if you like the look of a leather strap on that watch. You may wind up liking it without end links, or you may hate it and decide to go in a different direction completely.

Barton is a great company and has a terrific return policy. You can easily return if you aren't happy with it. Get on their mailing list. They run sales all the time. I got 15% off a couple weeks ago on this black alligator grain leather strap for my GS.



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Awesome, I'll go buy a few colors from them to test.

Do you have a video link to correctly remove the lug spring and back without damaging anything?

I'm thinking of getting a 7825 or the clone Horofix version of it.

[samson66]

Originally Posted by Saijin

Awesome, I'll go buy a few colors from them to test.



Do you have a video link to correctly remove the lug spring and back without damaging anything?



I'm thinking of getting a 7825 or the clone Horofix version of it.

Painters tape is a must. Tape those lugs!

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[Saijin]

Originally Posted by samson66

You might want to "try out" a cheap alternative first to see if you really like the look. You can pick up a gator-grain leather from Barton for <$30. I have two of them and they look terrific, especially for the money.

Do you know if the Barton would fit my Daytona oyster flex that already had the end links?

Just bought a crimson and black bands.

[samson66]

Originally Posted by Saijin

Do you know if the Barton would fit my Daytona oyster flex that already had the end links?



Just bought a crimson and black bands.

No idea, sorry. In general I'm more of a fan of leather straps without end links. Gives it a classic vibe. Post some pics when you get them.

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[Saijin]

Originally Posted by samson66

No idea, sorry. In general I'm more of a fan of leather straps without end links. Gives it a classic vibe. Post some pics when you get them.

Sent from my Galaxy S20 using Tapatalk

Just got my Barton.

The end points of the spring bar looks so small.
Are they strong enough? Yours never broke off or bend?

[samson66]

Originally Posted by Saijin

Just got my Barton.

The end points of the spring bar looks so small.
Are they strong enough? Yours never broke off or bend?

I have several and have never had an issue

[Saijin]

Awesome, thanks.

I'd also need some custom end links right? WHere can I get some rose gold plated ones?

[bp1000]

I like jPm and hirsch straps

Not sure if an AD could get you end links but you could try

[Saijin]

Originally Posted by bp1000

I like jPm and hirsch straps

Not sure if an AD could get you end links but you could try

Oh I’ll ask mine. Just never occurred to me.

I think someone here recommended George in Singapore but he said he can’t do rose gold just 18k plates yellow gold.

[Saijin]

Oh and thanks to everyone who gave me tips! Helped a bunch!

And I'm very happy with my new piece that I just picked up today too.

[Richard Carver]

Ordering a custom alligator strap is a watch collector rite of passage that should not be missed. :) I've had good luck with Camille Fournet in Paris. You decide what you want, send the measurements and in a month or so you have one of the finest watch straps in the world.

https://www.camillefournet.com/en/38...her-watch-band

I had an alligator made for a Day Date and I wasn't happy with the thinness of most commercial straps so I had CF make the thickness of the spring bar end of the strap 6.5 mm which was perfect against the 12mm thickens of the DD. Construction quality is superb.

This alligator strap is over 20 years old. It is not a custom but is high quality, I couldn't count the number of watches it's been on in all those years. :)

Here it is on 3 different watches...











CF has an excellent selection of stock straps as well.

[Big Tex Rolex]

Originally Posted by Richard Carver

Ordering a custom alligator strap is a watch collector rite of passage that should not be missed. :) I've had good luck with Camille Fournet in Paris. You decide what you want, send the measurements and in a month or so you have one of the finest watch straps in the world.

https://www.camillefournet.com/en/38...her-watch-band

I had an alligator made for a Day Date and I wasn't happy with the thinness of most commercial straps so I had CF make the thickness of the spring bar end of the strap 6.5 mm which was perfect against the 12mm thickens of the DD. Construction quality is superb.

This alligator strap is over 20 years old. It is not a custom but is high quality, I couldn't count the number of watches it's been on in all those years. :)

Here it is on 3 different watches...











CF has an excellent selection of stock straps as well.

Thank you for this. I just bought a Black Alligator and Brown Alligator for my Breguet.

[t3bkmzd]

U could always try crafting your own. Highly satisfying

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[jltait]

Originally Posted by t3bkmzd

U could always try crafting your own. Highly satisfying

[IMG][/IMG]

I’m not one to pick up puncturing gator hide but this looks fantastic.

[doboy007]

Originally Posted by t3bkmzd

U could always try crafting your own. Highly satisfying

[IMG][/IMG]

No, I’m not wrestling an alligator, haha.

[Saijin]

Originally Posted by doboy007

No, I’m not wrestling an alligator, haha.

Loooooooool

[Richard Carver]

Originally Posted by Big Tex Rolex

Thank you for this. I just bought a Black Alligator and Brown Alligator for my Breguet.

Post pics when you get them!

[daveswordfish]

Another custom strap choice would be Aaron Bespoke out of Canada. Great work and an incredible array of skins to choose from.


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[MRBolton]

Go check out Combat Straps. He also sells the end links.

You probably won’t find a bad review of his stuff.