Are you a leather/rubber strap guy, or a metal bracelet guy, and why?

ffej4 · Feb 24, 2015

micampe
I hate cinnamon.

Well, maybe I'll have to rethink it, haha. Apparently they make the best cinnamon rolls in San Fran.

Any good watch shops you could recommend? I'd like to try on a 16570 before I really consider buying one.

noelekal · Feb 24, 2015

If I consider a bracelet then it doesn't need to compete with the watch for attention. Quite a few bracelets these days are elaborate. I guess I don't want too much icing on the cake.

Was there a time when the strap was considered more dressy and formal and the bracelet was considered more casual and sporty?

Nobel Prize · Feb 24, 2015

noelekal
If I consider a bracelet then it doesn't need to compete with the watch for attention. Quite a few bracelets these days are elaborate. I guess I don't want too much icing on the cake.

Was there a time when the strap was considered more dressy and formal and the bracelet was considered more casual and sporty?

ALWAYS

noelekal · Feb 24, 2015

Sergio Maclean
ALWAYS

Apparently a generation hasn't received word of this.

I'm out of style on the few occasions I make an effort to be in style. No one in my locale notices a watch at all so couldn't care less about new/vintage or brand. I dabble in them for my own amusement. A few years back though and in another city, someone of a younger generation who was manning a counter of a shop dealing in sunglasses, did mention that I needed to lose the nice exotic black strap on a '50s Glycine 18kt gold watch I was wearing and install a gold bracelet in order to "dress it up more."

STANDY · Feb 24, 2015

Living tropical with a humid build up (pre wet season)and a wet season all but vintage are on bracelets and vintage even go on cheaper straps during Nov- March
.
Rubber is a no go for me

Aging of natural rubber
Rubber aging processes, particularly as a result of atmospheric conditions, may start as early as the transportation phase, and negatively impact the quality of the rubber: The effects of oxygen, heat and light are the primary causes of aging symptoms, with oxidation processes leading to the formation of hydroxides. These in turn react either by splitting molecules or establishing new cross-linkages. The result is softening or hardening: oxidized rubber.

Temperatures greater than 30°C and exposure to sunlight, even for periods of a few hours, result in activation of the rot-causing bacteria, especially in conjunction with moisture and proteins. In addition, oxidation and the associated molecular breakdown are encouraged, and the rubber develops soft patches, stickiness and becomes deformed (oxidized rubber).

Nobel Prize · Feb 24, 2015

noelekal
Apparently a generation hasn't received word of this.

I'm out of style on the few occasions I make an effort to be in style. No one in my locale notices a watch at all so couldn't care less about new/vintage or brand. I dabble in them for my own amusement. A few years back though and in another city, someone of a younger generation who was manning a counter of a shop dealing in sunglasses, did mention that I needed to lose the nice exotic black strap on a '50s Glycine 18kt gold watch I was wearing and install a gold bracelet in order to "dress it up more."

Well, I guess there's no accounting for taste but typically dress watches are always on leather, crock, etc. Bracelets where typically for utilitarian and tool watches for obvious reasons, Nato etc wjere alternatives to steel. Gold, platinum and other precious metals cane at the time people started to use tool watches as dressy, and tool watches started to get the prestige and design elements to go with that trend. In truth, these days anything goes, but bespoke elegance always to me still leans towards straps.

redpcar · Feb 24, 2015

ffej4
I've owned one Waltham before. It was the one that Dexter wears in the TV show, and it was a huge pain to find!

There's another idea for a thread. What watches have you purchased based solely on tv or movies? I HAD to have both of Magnum PI's watches. For the longest time, I wondered by my $5 Waltham junkers were bringing $75 on ebay 😲. Never watched Dexter.

ffej4 · Feb 24, 2015

Sergio Maclean
Well, I guess there's no accounting for taste but typically dress watches are always on leather, crock, etc. Bracelets where typically for utilitarian and tool watches for obvious reasons, Nato etc wjere alternatives to steel. Gold, platinum and other precious metals cane at the time people started to use tool watches as dressy, and tool watches started to get the prestige and design elements to go with that trend. In truth, these days anything goes, but bespoke elegance always to me still leans towards straps.

[emoji108][emoji106] excellently put, Sergio.

Nobel Prize · Feb 24, 2015

ffej4
[emoji108][emoji106] excellently out, Sergio.

There are exceptions I suppose on the jewelery bracelet watch category, specially women's gold bracelet watches etc. And probably a few other exceptions.

browncow · Feb 24, 2015

Bracelets all the way!
Only my 3 dress Seikos are on straps.
And of course the panda Zenith A385, - but only because it's on permanent loan to the wife - I do have the bracelet for that too!

base615 · Feb 25, 2015

I like both. I prefer dressier watches on leather and casual tool watches on bracelet. It also gives a wider variety of looks. I tend to change most of mine around pretty regularly though. My Speedy Reduced gets runs on bracelet, black and brown leather and my vintage connies on leather tend to switch colour but the SMPc will stay on mesh and my SM300 will stay on the 1171 bracelet.

From a comfort point of view I think I prefer bracelet (except in the case of the shitty bond bracelet)

ffej4 · Feb 25, 2015

base615
I like both. I prefer dressier watches on leather and casual tool watches on bracelet. It also gives a wider variety of looks. I tend to change most of mine around pretty regularly though. My Speedy Reduced gets runs on bracelet, black and brown leather and my vintage connies on leather tend to switch colour but the SMPc will stay on mesh and my SM300 will stay on the 1171 bracelet.

From a comfort point of view I think I prefer bracelet (except in the case of the shitty bond bracelet)

You don't like the Bond bracelet? I thought that was commonly thought as one of the most comfortable bracelets out there! Granted it is a very busy bracelet, I think it's beautiful. Just my two cents on it.

Nobel Prize · Feb 25, 2015

ffej4
You don't like the Bond bracelet? I thought that was commonly thought as one of the most comfortable bracelets out there! Granted it is a very busy bracelet, I think it's beautiful. Just my two cents on it.

I'm still on the fence on that one. I think it would be better on a simpler bracelet but at this point it's part of the identity

ffej4 · Feb 25, 2015

Sergio Maclean
I'm still on the fence on that one. I think it would be better on a simpler bracelet but at this point it's part of the identity

I personally am a fan of that one. In my opinion, that's one watch that should be on the bracelet - at least for me!

base615 · Feb 25, 2015

ffej4
You don't like the Bond bracelet? I thought that was commonly thought as one of the most comfortable bracelets out there! Granted it is a very busy bracelet, I think it's beautiful. Just my two cents on it.

I absolutely hate it. The most uncomfortable bracelet I've ever worn. I was considering losing my SMPc after only owning it a few months as I was just not bonding with it. I put it on mesh and now I love wearing it. I personally think it looks much better too.

ulackfocus · Feb 25, 2015

ffej4
I'm going to San Francisco over my spring break! I'm super excited. I have always wanted to see California.

Eat at John's Historic Grill in the Union Square area. Excellent filets!

ffej4 · Feb 25, 2015

U ulackfocus
Eat at John's Historic Grill in the Union Square area. Excellent filets!

I'll give that a try! Sounds delicious 😀

Truck Guy · Feb 25, 2015

Metal bracelets. I like the heft and feel of a heavier piece.

CdnWatchDoc · Feb 25, 2015

ffej4
Well, maybe I'll have to rethink it, haha. Apparently they make the best cinnamon rolls in San Fran.

Any good watch shops you could recommend? I'd like to try on a 16570 before I really consider buying one.

hqmilton is a fantastic vintage shop. Be sure to give them a call and let them know you are coming around, and they (usually Jacek) will be eager to help out. Lots of Rolex and Omega, but also other classic pieces. Check out their website (http://www.hqmilton.com/) to pre-drool...uh, pre-shop. SF is one of my favorite places to visit; save plenty of time for checking out Fisherman's Wharf area-great food there too!!

I am definitely a leather/hide/NATO strap guy, but the Speedys are on their original bracelets, I agree with Northernman, bracelets can be too cold in our climate in the winter, but perfect for the warm summers.

ffej4 · Feb 25, 2015

CdnWatchDoc
hqmilton is a fantastic vintage shop. Be sure to give them a call and let them know you are coming around, and they (usually Jacek) will be eager to help out. Lots of Rolex and Omega, but also other classic pieces. Check out their website (http://www.hqmilton.com/) to pre-drool...uh, pre-shop. SF is one of my favorite places to visit; save plenty of time for checking out Fisherman's Wharf area-great food there too!!

I am definitely a leather/hide/NATO strap guy, but the Speedys are on their original bracelets, I agree with Northernman, bracelets can be too cold in our climate in the winter, but perfect for the warm summers.

Thank you for the suggestion! I'll check out their website. I'm very excited to go on this trip; it's nice to get out of the tiny city once in a while.

I could see the bracelets getting super cold in the winter. We have pretty brutal winters here in Montana, but I have all my watches on bands currently, so I have not experienced the cold bracelet issue. I bet it can get pretty uncomfortable, though!