So I found this strapmaker Milano Straps on IG.

Messaged them on 31 Jan, discussed 2 custom straps (which seemed decent for the price), concluded the specs on 3 Feb, and waited for them to make the straps. By mid-March, no reply, so I email them. They reply to say straps would be ready end-Mar.

No news even up til now. My email to them mid-May goes unreplied. Fortunately I haven't paid them anything.

Anyone have similar experiences with them? They're a new outfit apparently, but service does seem a bit spotty, as some of these new strap guys on IG seem to have (according to other friends).

 

Scouting online for saffiano and pebble grained straps in the $50-100 range- Milanostraps has a decent looking collection- anyone buy from these guys? The OP never got any feedback or followed up. I would assume 2 years later someone on this forum has purchased from them.

https://www.milanostraps.com/

 

I purchased a Barenia leather strap from them a few months ago for my FOIS. It arrived in a couple of days and is an excellent quality strap - comparable to the OEM strap that came on it. Even came with a strap change tool.

so that’s at least one positive review.

 

Ok- I took a chance and ordered 3 straps from them- wow, these are exceptional! Shipping arrived in the US in 2 days, packing was fine (padded envelope), the packaging is awesome and fun, comes with goodies like the little fabric sachet, metal (not plastic) strap change tool with clever screw down covers (my Bergeron has mangled tips from drops without covers) and they even give you a little leather snap loop for your portable cables (took me a minute to figure out what that was- it’s on a card with a picture of what it’s for-duh).

The tin is a great idea for storage of other things (straps, parts, buckles) and a nice touch. Spring bars would have been nice but considering everyone includes the cheap Chinese spring bars anyway- no real loss. If they included a nice set of Swiss made spring bars- that would be extra points.
Fit and finish is on par with Bulang and a serious notch above BandR (the edge dressing is nicer and doesn’t mangle as easily- and I love BandR straps).


Holes are pre- formed for the spring bars so they slide in easily and I don’t feel like I’m gonna punch through the side while cramming them in like so many other new straps (and sometimes the bars catch in a fold inside and cause the top edge to pucker or cause a bulge (I have had this happen).
The fit is snug for sizing (20mm is more like 20.25mm), so it fills the lugs well with a little push- no spring bar showing on the edges which I hate (if you’re gonna make a strap to fit 20mm, it needs to fill the 20mm width and not be just under).
Straps are thick ( about 3-3.5m) and firm but easily conform and aren't annoying on my wrist as most new straps can be (I have that boney protrusion on the back of my wrist that always gets irritated by firm straps). Bending the tongue to get it into the keepers is a struggle but should loosen up with use.


The taper is well done but the buckle will start to bind the sides at the top notch (as I’m a 7.25-7.5 I am in the middle so not an issue for me). The buckle is sensational. I usually swap out plain buckles for deployants or factory buckles but I will keep these buckles- gorgeous.


Despite the thickness, they do lay fairly low to the wrist which is a big thing for me- too thick and they ride on the desk top as I type at the computer making my wrist sit at a funny angle (I actually use a gel/foam type wrist pad in front of my keyboard specifically because of the watch strap under bulge).

I have found a new vendor- these are really lovey straps for very little money in comparison to their competition.