Fellas...fill me in - who makes top notch aftermarket straps?

[turillo]

Ever since taking home my new love; ive been on the hunt for both a rubber and exotic material strap. From what ive researched; it seems OEM or AP Straps is whats available???

Can someone please enlighten me and help a brother out?

For my AP ROO 42mm Grey Novelty...aka Elephant

Many thanks in advance.

[TickTopia]

From what I've heard. Both Everest & Rubberb make great straps.

Edit: Just realised neither brand makes straps for AP

[TickTopia]

Just came across these:

http://www.apbands.com/

http://dangerous9straps.blogspot.com/

[speedfighter]

If you really want custom high calibre straps look no further. Absolute great quality and very reasonable prices.

http://www.stonecreekstraps.com

[fonglik]

Try this:
www.rayprodotti.com

A Hongkong strap master.

[PJ S]

Originally Posted by turillo

Ever since taking home my new love; ive been on the hunt for both a rubber and exotic material strap. From what ive researched; it seems OEM or AP Straps is whats available???

Not sure how your research only yielded those options.
Certainly for rubber (which requires a mould made) you're only going to have those two as options, but not so when it comes to textile and natural materials.

Best thing you can do for yourself, is simply search Google with "custom AP Straps" and then wade through the results to see which you like the look of and prices.
After that, talk to the makers and see who inspires you with confidence, etc.

[sssteel]

I'm semi-familiar with all of these companies, but using on different watch brands (not AP.)
Dangerous9 makes awesome straps! I had one on a Chopard. Great stuff. Stone Creek is also good! Had one on a Panerai.

However, the thing to keep in mind is that AP straps require inserts, to fit properly. They are either metal or a hard plastic. If correct & proper fitment is important to you AT ALL, I would research their use of (or lack of) inserts!
I have seen many straps on APs (online) that have large & unsightly gaps at the lugs!
To me - proper fitment is equally as important as quality of material and stitching!
I can't speak for any of those names listed above's, fitment for AP.

For rubber, only OEM or if you like the Camo look, Horus straps. You will be disappointed with APBands rubber, I think.

One last suggestion, that I KNOW fits well: is Analog Straps ;)
Have fun!

[slaughterer]

Nobody makes better straps for AP than AP.

[turillo]

Wow thanks for all the replies. A lot of good info coming out of this thread.

[PJ S]

Originally Posted by slaughterer

Nobody makes better straps for AP than AP.

Better isn't necessarily the primary objective — as good as, or good enough for the money, probably is, especially given straps are a consumable every couple of years.

[PJ S]

Originally Posted by sssteel

Dangerous9 makes awesome straps! I had one on a Chopard.

However, the thing to keep in mind is that AP straps require inserts, to fit properly. They are either metal or a hard plastic.!

John doesn't use inserts, but he has made a ROO strap with a tough leather in that region.
Given his straps are renowned for their quality, and not the cheapest option, I'm sure he's confident that his will last just as long.

Another, who does use inserts, is JacobStraps.

[sssteel]

Originally Posted by PJ S

Another, who does use inserts, is JacobStraps.

You hit the nail on the head there. Jacob in Spain is extremely good!! I had nearly forgotten about him.

[fonglik]

Originally Posted by sssteel

You hit the nail on the head there. Jacob in Spain is extremely good!! I had nearly forgotten about him.

Ray in Hongkong uses inserts as well.

I've order a sharp blue gator strap without horns(which I might regret) from him, I will post it on this thread once I got it.

[turillo]

Originally Posted by fonglik

Ray in Hongkong uses inserts as well.

I've order a sharp blue gator strap without horns(which I might regret) from him, I will post it on this thread once I got it.

Why would you regret it?

This mans work looks to be very good! I sent him an email.

Thanks!!!

[sssteel]

Originally Posted by turillo

Why would you regret it?

This mans work looks to be very good! I sent him an email.

Thanks!!!

He meant he might regret ordering WITHOUT Horns. (I.e. he may end up deciding he wishes he had purchased a HORNBACK strap, as AP often uses.)

He didn't mean about the maker himself. ;)

[lapince]

For rubber AP, for exotic ABP in Paris, Camille Fournet are the 2 I know of which have a perfect reputation, surely there are others...

[sssteel]

Originally Posted by lapince

For rubber AP, for exotic ABP in Paris, Camille Fournet are the 2 I know of which have a perfect reputation, surely there are others...

I've never owned an ABP Paris strap, but heard & read several good things about their quality.
I did, however, attempt to order one on their site/online. I went through all the customization steps, confirmed order, etc - but never received ANY emails from them, nor any correspondance whatsoever. I even emailed them myself. The emails did not go to my Junk/Spam folder either. ;)
At least one other member had reported the exact same thing happening to him. It seems if you're not in a position to visit their store in Paris on Rue St. Honore, as was suggested, then you may want to skip doing business with them!

So, that kinda turned me off from ABP.

[fonglik]

Originally Posted by turillo

Why would you regret it?

This mans work looks to be very good! I sent him an email.

Thanks!!!

Sorry for the confusion mate, sssteel just explained it perfectly for me

And yes his products are very good, I purchased some straps for my PAMs and the qualities were top notch.

[fonglik]

Originally Posted by sssteel

He meant he might regret ordering WITHOUT Horns. (I.e. he may end up deciding he wishes he had purchased a HORNBACK strap, as AP often uses.)

He didn't mean about the maker himself. ;)

Thank you Sir for your explanation and sorry for my poor English causing the confusion.

Yeh like you said I'm kinda regretting getting the flat type instead of the classic hornback. I thought it would be easier to match different style of outfit and looked less aggressive with the flat type, but somehow the hornback style grows on me.

[bzabodyn]

Originally Posted by sssteel

I'm semi-familiar with all of these companies, but using on different watch brands (not AP.)
Dangerous9 makes awesome straps! I had one on a Chopard. Great stuff. Stone Creek is also good! Had one on a Panerai.

However, the thing to keep in mind is that AP straps require inserts, to fit properly. They are either metal or a hard plastic. If correct & proper fitment is important to you AT ALL, I would research their use of (or lack of) inserts!
I have seen many straps on APs (online) that have large & unsightly gaps at the lugs!
To me - proper fitment is equally as important as quality of material and stitching!
I can't speak for any of those names listed above's, fitment for AP.

For rubber, only OEM or if you like the Camo look, Horus straps. You will be disappointed with APBands rubber, I think.

One last suggestion, that I KNOW fits well: is Analog Straps ;)
Have fun!

I definitely would vouch for Dangerous9 however when I last contacted him for a custom strap for my Chronometre Bleu the wait time was crazy long...

I'm intrigued by Analog Strais and may give them a go. Looking for a camel hornback for my black dial 15300 for a change of pace. Also planning on ordering city of sails rubber strap/plots/etc.

BZ

[Islatate]

Aaron Pimentel of Combat Straps/Aaron Bespoke in Montreal makes top notch straps. He has the most amazing selection of exotic skins/materials, and a wide variety of bold colours. Workmanship and quality are superb. I had the pleasure of meeting Aaron this past weekend at his atelier shop in Montreal.
A true gentleman who gives incredible attention to detail. Here is my recent acquisition from Aaron, a cognac alligator strap with white stitching. Have another one coming next week for my black themes - canary yellow python strap with light grey stitching for my ROO. Will post pics as soon as I receive it.

[fonglik]

My new gator strap by Ray

[turillo]

Originally Posted by fonglik

My new gator strap by Ray

WOW that looks MINT!!!!

[turillo]

So, I decided to buy a strap from Ray @ Ray Prodotti.

Looking forward to it - his workmanship looks to me amazing and the straps come with inserts. Very nice guy to deal with.

Ill post pics when it comes.

Cheers and thanks to everyone for your help!

[sssteel]

Originally Posted by turillo

So, I decided to buy a strap from Ray @ Ray Prodotti.

Looking forward to it - his workmanship looks to me amazing and the straps come with inserts. Very nice guy to deal with.

Ill post pics when it comes.

Cheers and thanks to everyone for your help!

Awesome and congrats to you!
Smart choice choosing a maker who uses inserts.
Hope it turns out wonderful and you love it! Definitely post photos.

[fonglik]

Originally Posted by turillo

So, I decided to buy a strap from Ray @ Ray Prodotti.

Looking forward to it - his workmanship looks to me amazing and the straps come with inserts. Very nice guy to deal with.

Ill post pics when it comes.

Cheers and thanks to everyone for your help!

Ahha! I'm so glad you take my suggestion mate, you won't regret it!

Ray is a hugely successful entrepreneur and making straps and watch accessories is his hobby, very nice guy to deal with.

Hope you will receive your customized strap soon, normally he will finish one in 7~10 working days.

[fonglik]

One more pic to lure you mate. :)

[turillo]

Originally Posted by fonglik

One more pic to lure you mate. :)

Thanks soo much for your lead...

I'm pumped to see and use the strap Ray makes for me. I feel I made the right decision - he's made over 30,000 straps, so I'm sure he knows a thing, or two about making straps.

Also, that blue on yours in incredible. Enjoy it for a long time

[salvadorsantana]

Originally Posted by TickTopia

Just came across these:

http://www.apbands.com/

http://dangerous9straps.blogspot.com/

Bought from APBands and it was plain crap, ended up buying OEM.

[fonglik]

Originally Posted by turillo

Thanks soo much for your lead...

I'm pumped to see and use the strap Ray makes for me. I feel I made the right decision - he's made over 30,000 straps, so I'm sure he knows a thing, or two about making straps.

Also, that blue on yours in incredible. Enjoy it for a long time

You're very much welcome Sir, it feels good to share.

I love this sharp blue a lot, especially for the summer. It's shame that changing straps is such a pain in the a$$ of AP, if it's as easy as the Panerais I would've bought a bunch from Ray to switch around all the time lol.