open end watch strap

[Fred48]

Any suggestions on where to buy a nice open end watch strap?

Thanks

[vintagewatch]

Good to see a fellow Coloradan on the Forum. I'm not sure if Toxicnatos (Colorado Springs) has any open style watch straps but can't hurt to check. website: https://www.toxicnatos.com/
I've met the owner, Terry, a few times at GTG's in Denver and he seemed like a good guy.

[L.K Johnson]

Bought one from these guys for my BM watch. Great quality! Will dig out the watch to make a wristie!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/LUXURY-Open...edirect=mobile

[Nikrnic]

You can check out Strapcode. I've bought nice quality bracelets there but no straps.

[Dan S]

https://debeerwatchbands.com/crocodile-watch-band-open/
https://www.hirschstraps.com/collect...-hirsch-straps

[barneb10]

These are nice too:
https://www.colareb.it/
https://www.techswiss.com/

[barneb10]

These are nice too:
https://www.colareb.it/
https://www.techswiss.com/

[Fred48]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys, and at reasonable prices.

It sorta begs the question as to why are OEM straps so damn expensive; i.e., hundreds of dollars. Are they really that much better?

[Toronto Soup King]

For simple straps I like Etsy - this store in particular. I have half my watches on them, and the dark grey one I bought for my buddy with a 16013 is IMO the handsomest strap I've seen on that watch. Cheap, too!

[SunTzu]

Originally Posted by Fred48

Any suggestions on where to buy a nice open end watch strap?

Thanks

Originally Posted by Dan S

https://debeerwatchbands.com/crocodile-watch-band-open/

https://www.hirschstraps.com/collect...-hirsch-straps

I second Dan's recommendation for Hirsch. I own and vouch for quality, fit, and feel. I have it on my vintage fixed lugged chronograph below. I own a DeBeers genuine alligator strap (not open ended) and I'm not too happy with it so for me personally, I'd look at Hirsch. The DeBeers feels and looks plastic-like.

I put a couple dabs of Krazy Glue to lock the flap down securely. Squeeze between thumb and index finger and hold for a couple minutes. Worked perfectly and didn't affect the leather or gold lug. But you ain't getting it off unless you cut it off!

Hope this helps. Here are super zoomed images. I just realized I should take out the rouge cloth and give her a light polish! I bought this watch from South America about 15 years ago and had it fully restored. Lugs were bent, glass cracked, movement running rough. I had a metallurgist work on the case and dip in 40 microns of 24k gold after the dents on the case and bent lugs were fixed. One of my favorite dress pieces and kinda rare I think.

[SunTzu]

Originally Posted by Toronto Soup King

For simple straps I like Etsy - this store in particular. I have half my watches on them, and the dark grey one I bought for my buddy with a 16013 is IMO the handsomest strap I've seen on that watch. Cheap, too!

Etsy is a nice place to look. Lots of hand crafted examples from talented folks around the world. Nice to support people like this in these times.

I own a few Etsy purchased straps and vouch for the quality. Plus, the seller is easily accessible and willing to answer all your questions in detail so you get a better feel for what you're buying and who you're buying from.

Originally Posted by barneb10

These are nice too:
https://www.colareb.it/
https://www.techswiss.com/

I love Colareb straps! I have them on my Seikos. Really top quality stuff. I buy mine at a retailer here in the US called Holbens. They're online. Don't know if they make open ended though. But still a great strap manufacturer nonetheless.

Colareb examples

[Cantab]

Myron at roverhaven.com makes custom Horween leather straps to your specs, and at a very reasonable cost. His website has pages of customer watches to look at and help you choose.

Disclaimer: I am an extremely satisfied customer, but have no commercial relationship.

[swish77]

On a related subject .... Where on earth can you find a nice leather strap, maybe Cordovan, that's 20mm AND has a 16mm buckle width?

It's baffling why they're so tough to find. I've seen a few, but almost every one has an 18mm buckle width. I much prefer a 20-16 taper, and you can use a vintage buckle too.

[Verdi]

I bought from Hirsch before....

https://www.hirschstraps.com/search?...q=Open*+ended*

[Cantab]

Aaron, see above. Myron will make the strap to your specs.

[L.K Johnson]

Originally Posted by L.K Johnson

Bought one from these guys for my BM watch. Great quality! Will dig out the watch to make a wristie!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/LUXURY-Open...edirect=mobile

Finally found some time to shoot some pics of my open ended strap:





hotel pictures vs real pictures

[RLXFRM]

Nice picture and i think a lot of good contributions already made on the thread already.