Straps: part and parcel or rip off?
Discussion
I have just bought a Jaeger LeCoultre Master Control Date. It has a black leather strap, and won't be my daily wear.
Howver, I tend to be quite hard on straps (probably a bit too sweaty) and the jeweller was quoting me £120 for a new strap.
I thought about taking off the strap while it was still new and replacing it with a decent SS bracelet( but not JlC as they quotes £450-£500) until such time as I come to sell it and then putting the nice leather strap back on.
I know it sounds a bit tacky to do this but I don't see that the JlC leather strap is of the highest quality (certainly not £120 worth) and if I was replacing the strap every 12 months it will detract from the buzz I get from having it.
So, your opinion is sought!
Howver, I tend to be quite hard on straps (probably a bit too sweaty) and the jeweller was quoting me £120 for a new strap.
I thought about taking off the strap while it was still new and replacing it with a decent SS bracelet( but not JlC as they quotes £450-£500) until such time as I come to sell it and then putting the nice leather strap back on.
I know it sounds a bit tacky to do this but I don't see that the JlC leather strap is of the highest quality (certainly not £120 worth) and if I was replacing the strap every 12 months it will detract from the buzz I get from having it.
So, your opinion is sought!
I think straps, certainly in the U.K,. are far too expensive. I'd look at buying one online from the states. If it's croc or aligator though there can be problems with importing.
Clasps also seem to be very poor value.
I tend to like to alternate between straps and bracelets on watches so have priced many in the U.K. My wife looked at getting me a croco strap for a speedie pro and thought it was a rip off and then realised the price DIDN"T include the deployment clasp.
Clasps also seem to be very poor value.
I tend to like to alternate between straps and bracelets on watches so have priced many in the U.K. My wife looked at getting me a croco strap for a speedie pro and thought it was a rip off and then realised the price DIDN"T include the deployment clasp.
I can understand where you're coming from! I bought a Omega Speedmaster moonwatch recently and elected to change from the ss bracelet to a leather strap. But rather than buying the Omega one I got it from this guy http://atgvintagewatches.com/Straps/tabid/55/Defau... = excellent service and superb quality straps.
Dominic H said:
Why not use a top quality replacement strap such as a Hirsch?
I had a look at Hirsch today, not bad but nowhere near the quality that is fitted to even low end stuff from Longines et al. I will have another look, perhaps I am too picky. Abut £18 compared to £450 sounds a good move!Come on Leftie, if you can afford the JLC (a very good choice sir) then you can afford to look at the better options on the Hirsch stand, £18 indeed. The Master Control used to come on an Ostrich strap, think these are around £40 from Hirsch and look OE.
Just for interest I supplied a client with an original croc strap for his Breitling for Bentley 24hr Le Mans, the retail for the strap is £315!
No, this didn't include lunch....
I wouldn't put an aftermarket metal bracelet on, it won't fit correctly and will wear the inside of the lugs. It won't be as secure, and it'll ruin the look of the watch. Just my 2p.
Just for interest I supplied a client with an original croc strap for his Breitling for Bentley 24hr Le Mans, the retail for the strap is £315!
No, this didn't include lunch....
I wouldn't put an aftermarket metal bracelet on, it won't fit correctly and will wear the inside of the lugs. It won't be as secure, and it'll ruin the look of the watch. Just my 2p.
Edited by Dominic H on Saturday 21st July 13:21
Edited by Dominic H on Saturday 21st July 13:22
Same view here im afraid, straps are just part and parcel of the expense of owning such a high class watch, i looked for a gold strap for my Breitling and the dealer i got mine off said they are nearly £1500 so decided not to bother.
The leather strap is £150 plus £400 for an 18ct gold deployment buckle so again decided to wait until i realy need it, about a month (:
The leather strap is £150 plus £400 for an 18ct gold deployment buckle so again decided to wait until i realy need it, about a month (:
Dominic H said:
Come on Leftie, if you can afford the JLC (a very good choice sir) then you can afford to look at the better options on the Hirsch stand, £18 indeed. The Master Control used to come on an Ostrich strap, think these are around £40 from Hirsch and look OE.
Just for interest I supplied a client with an original croc strap for his Breitling for Bentley 24hr Le Mans, the retail for the strap is £315!
No, this didn't include lunch....
I wouldn't put an aftermarket metal bracelet on, it won't fit correctly and will wear the inside of the lugs. It won't be as secure, and it'll ruin the look of the watch. Just my 2p.
Looks like it is a decent leather strap then!Just for interest I supplied a client with an original croc strap for his Breitling for Bentley 24hr Le Mans, the retail for the strap is £315!
No, this didn't include lunch....
I wouldn't put an aftermarket metal bracelet on, it won't fit correctly and will wear the inside of the lugs. It won't be as secure, and it'll ruin the look of the watch. Just my 2p.
Edited by Dominic H on Saturday 21st July 13:21
Edited by Dominic H on Saturday 21st July 13:22
Ok, I don't mind paying £40 but the quality of the JLC strap looks, frankly not great and certainly not worth £130.
Mac. said:
Great minds think alike! I bought the http://www.watchworx.co.uk/pages/lwb/elitePop/M16-...
Excellent service, ordered this morning (after cocking up the ordder last night) and had an email 10 minutes later to say it had been posted.
Edited by Leftie on Wednesday 25th July 14:34
Leftie said:
Mac. said:
Great minds think alike! I bought the http://www.watchworx.co.uk/pages/lwb/elitePop/M16-...
Excellent service, ordered this morning (after cocking up the ordder last night) and had an email 10 minutes later to say it had been posted.
Edited by Leftie on Wednesday 25th July 14:34
The G10 'General Service' strap is quite cool...
http://www.timefactors.com/nato.htm
http://www.timefactors.com/nato.htm
Edited by steil on Thursday 26th July 11:03
Leftie said:
Mac. said:
Great minds think alike! I bought the http://www.watchworx.co.uk/pages/lwb/elitePop/M16-...
Excellent service, ordered this morning (after cocking up the ordder last night) and had an email 10 minutes later to say it had been posted.
Edited by Leftie on Wednesday 25th July 14:34
Cotty said:
Some great links there, I always have a problem finding a decent strap for my everyday watch.
Just a question, can you use a deployment clasp on a normal leather strap or does it have to be specifically made for use with a clasp
Should be a special strap, as it has a much thinner 'tail'Just a question, can you use a deployment clasp on a normal leather strap or does it have to be specifically made for use with a clasp
Leftie said:
Mine still hasn't arrived, so not looking such good value now!
Arrived today. Better quality than the original IMHO. Spring bars are slightly bent on the JLC but there was enough play on thwe new strap to get it on without bending the bars at all because the supplied spring bars were good quality.They had offered to send snother if it didn't arrive by tomorrow but it looks like the postal strike held it up. Highly recomended guy is Ken Danks.
Local jeweller fitted it for a donation to his favourite charity. But pikey to replace it when new, but I feel more comfortable now that I have a strap I can replace if it gets dirty or worn which will mean me wearing the JLC more often.
Leftie said:
Howver, I tend to be quite hard on straps (probably a bit too sweaty) and the jeweller was quoting me £120 for a new strap.
Have you considered getting a metal bracelet for the watch instead of a leather strap ?It may be better to invest in a good quality metal bracelet and end pieces for the watch than straps that have a limited life expectancy.
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