Lots of people try to find the cheapest straps possible and proceed to slap them on four-figure watches. I’m sure that I’m not the only one that has a few combinations where the strap/bracelet cost me more than the watch. It doesn’t need to be a huge price difference, but what do wear that you spent more for the strap than the watch head. (Inherited pieces totally count if they comply with the only rule)


My first entry is a Stuhrling GMT on a reissue JB Champion Horned Lug (@Forstnerbands)

 

Thank you, I do feel less bad now with this combination:



The Dugena wasn’t much of an investment, but the strap had to be replaced. With 28mm lug width on an overall tiny watch that wasn’t the easiest task. There are a few 28mm straps to chose from out there, but they are obviously made for huge chunks of watches and would look utterly ridiculous on the Dugena Digital. So I ended up having a strap handmade for me that narrows from 28 to 16mm on the buckle and picks up the blue and grey of the watch.

I know it’s not a watch for everyone and spending twice the money of the watch on the strap wasn’t an economical decision, but it’s still not exactly ruinous and, most importantly, makes me smile every time.

 

This is my submission. Although it doesn't get much wrist time nowadays it still holds a special place in my heart.
This is one of the first watches I ever bought and it propelled me from noob to enthusiast. It also sparked my interest in Seiko.
The strap cost me way more than the watch did but I found it to be the most deserving candidate. It was definitely a decision made by the heart.

 

If we aren’t including the cost of servicing the watch....

 

Most of these I'd have thought.....

 

So you’re the one who’s hoarding all the 18mm flatlinks!

 

My Gold Filled Admiral, which came on my Elgin, now paired with my Indian Sona. A perfect fit on the wrist, though the 17.5 width leaves a bit of play with 18mm lugs.
Best designed expansion band I've seen yet. The inner curve of the links lets it settle firmly on the flesh while no edges touch the skin.

The SONA looks much like the Elgin, very retro styling.

 

Love that you have this hmt. They were good and affordable watches.

 

I've been able to adjust it to consistently gain only four seconds from 9 AM to midnight then when placed Crown up on a shelf overnight it loses those four seconds by 9AM so I haven't had to adjust the time for months at a time.
Coupled with this wonderfully comfortable band its become the watch i wear the most.
I ordered a second of exactly the same model just in case something happens to this one.

 

Good that you were able to order. HMT Watch Co. once largest watch company in India was closed down permanently in 2016. They were having huge losses. I got my dad's and grandfather's HMTs .

 

The people dealing in these watches today assemble leftover OEM parts , some with great skill others not so well.
The crowns seem to be from a later Quartz version, not as low profile as the originals. Stems are seldom well fitted, but the HMT clone of the Citizen movement is well made and still one of the best in it's class.
When HMT discontinued this model they had just received enough parts kits from their subcontractors to assemble hundreds of thousands of these movements. Former employees and talented watch makers bought these up along with other parts for pennies on the dollar.
One day I'd like to obtain an all original made at the factory version, a truly vintage collectible, but the clones are not bad and incredibly low cost for what they are.
According to several sources the cases are heavily plated in 23.5 KT gold, the SONA is known for the high quality of the plating.
The three piece case design is very nice with drilled lugs.

PS
In my earlier post I meant to say that I leave the watch crown up overnight not dial up. If left dial up it gains seconds, if left crown up it losses 4 seconds. If I leave it crown up too long I correct for it by leaving it dial up for awhile.
I edited that post.

 

Thanks for that information

 

Not sure the bracelet is worth more - but it’s close. FOIS with 7912 and 6s.