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Fabric straps - not NATO

Felix_La_PuBelle
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Can anyone recommend good fabric straps other than nylon / NATO style straps? I’m currently looking at Strap Bandits selection and may pick up a few of those. Wondering if anyone has experience with others?

My only real criteria is that they not be too thick. I’m no stranger to breaking in straps but I don’t need overly thick or padded straps to start with. And materials-wise it doesn’t have to be bomb proof tool watch level. It can be like a pair of socks - comfy, marginally fashionable, and easy to replace once worn out.
 
Duracuir1
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Years ago I was looking for a floppy fabric strap. Something like an old army two piece strap.

I bought a nice one on the Hamilton watch website.


IMG_1016.webp


Way better than the canvas ones that I bought from Barton, which felt like roof shingles.

And you can always check Timex. They are to watches what American Standard is to bathroom fixtures!


IMG_1017.webp


I recommend the Hamilton. (But be advised that I bought mine about 5 years ago. They may be thicker now).
 
Felix_La_PuBelle
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Thanks. These look promising. Hamilton has some good options when filtering for fabric and canvas.

Timex didn’t occur to me but at those prices I could do some trial and error and it’s no big loss worst case.

Cheers.
 
Emeister
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(Soft, comfy)
I've never tried Perlon straps myself but they certainly have their fans in the watch world.
 
Felix_La_PuBelle
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Emeister Emeister
(Soft, comfy)
I've never tried Perlon straps myself but they certainly have their fans in the watch world.
Can’t say I’ve ever handled a perlon strap either and I think I automatically dismissed it assuming it would be like any other nylon strap but on further investigation it may be worth a try.

IMG_1610.webp
 
Spruce
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Emeister Emeister
(Soft, comfy)
I've never tried Perlon straps myself but they certainly have their fans in the watch world.
Perlon very comfortable and can look quite classy on a watch
 
Emeister
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Spruce Spruce
Perlon very comfortable and can look quite classy on a watch
You'd have some outrageous colours too, I bet! 🤣
I did notice the dramatic splash of blue on today's Seiko. 😉

Do you have to take extra care with the pin of the buckle when doing it up or is it quite a natural process?
Edited:
 
Spruce
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I first became aware of them when @CPRwatch started posting photos of his lovely Grand Seiko SBGW267 on a navy blue perlon - classic👌
Edited:
 
timesofplenty
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Thanks, @Emeister 👍

One thing about Perlon straps that's sort of universally accepted but actually inaccurate:

Perlon is a fiber, not a style of strap, as is Nylon.
Perlon can be made into the braided/woven type that most call Perlon straps, and the webbing style in solid colors or striped.

These are all Perlon straps:

1755613675560.webp 1755613689183.webp 1755613704188.webp
 
Emeister
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Spruce Spruce
I first became aware of them when @CPRwatch started posting photos of his lovely Grand Seiko SBGW267 on a navy blue perlon - classic👌
Found it 👍
https://omegaforums.net/posts/2058875/ CPRwatch
CPRwatch ·
70570B6F-7B5C-4A3E-900C-AC2FF93FE720.jpeg
GS Asakage today ,
Love the watch.
Too scared to look for the price. *
Not 100٪ sold on the perlon strap, but then I never had much class. 😁

Edit:
* well that didn't last long 😥
I've got a Presage cocktail time. Maybe that's my route to discover the wonders of perlon 🤔
Edit 2: online purchase confirmed. "A touch of playful intrigue" to be added next week 🤣
Edited:
 
Emeister
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timesofplenty timesofplenty
One thing about Perlon straps that's sort of universally accepted but actually inaccurate:
Perlon is a fiber, not a style of strap, as is Nylon.
Perlon can be made into the braided/woven type that most call Perlon straps, and the webbing style in solid colors or striped
Thank you. 😎
Always learning!
 
Felix_La_PuBelle
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timesofplenty timesofplenty
Perlon is a fiber, not a style of strap, as is Nylon.
Perlon can be made into the braided/woven type that most call Perlon straps, and the webbing style in solid colors or striped.

I see a lot of descriptions about perlon being more flexible and breathable. Is that a property of the fiber or more common to braided/woven style of strap?
 
timesofplenty
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Felix_La_PuBelle Felix_La_PuBelle
I see a lot of descriptions about perlon being more flexible and breathable. Is that a property of the fiber or more common to braided/woven style of strap?
A braided/woven strap is breathable because of the open-weave construction, not because of the material it's made of.

Perlon is a trade name for a type of Nylon: Nylon 6.
Seems the word "perlon" has become an example of a brand name becoming a generic term, like "Kleenex" for tissue or "Coke" for a soda pop.

Some of the vintage Perlon straps are noticeably stiffer & rougher than the current production straps that are advertised as Perlon.
Edited:
 
impalla62ss
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Not sure if sail cloth falls under the kind of fabric you are looking for. I have bought some nice ones from eBay seller O2 Straps.
sail.webp
 
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Felix_La_PuBelle
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impalla62ss impalla62ss
Not sure if sail cloth falls under the kind of fabric you are looking for. I have bought some nice ones from eBay seller O2 Straps.
sail.webp
I’ve seen a lot of online retailers introducing sail cloth lately. I need to get my hands on it to see how it feels / wears.
 
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Emeister
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Emeister Emeister
online purchase confirmed. "A touch of playful intrigue" to be added next week 🤣
I initially rushed in and bought a "cheap" one pass strap from a local eBay seller (most likely Chinese imports though) who I've bought from before.
Then read @timesofplenty post above about two part straps, feared Nato rash, which I've been guilty of dishing out to casebacks before, and decided to have a better look at ALL @CPRwatch previous posts, thanks to @Spruce suggestion/enabling!

Probably should have sought further fashion/colour-wheel advice from Spruce but leapt again on a Eulit Palma in black from Chroonoo.com
Picked up an extra single pass that was hardly anymore expensive than postage would have been and that pushed me into 'free shipping' territory. 😃

Straps are coming (to Australia) from Germany, so a little more patience is now required on my part 🙄

Bonus points to the eBay seller who quickly cancelled my 1am order 👍

Not how I foresaw this fortnights money going and it means that my planned Uncle GL831 urezumi purchase has been delayed yet again.
The Seiko cocktail time will be de-stickered and some solar-Tuna strap juggling could also bring out another previously unworn purchase.

Small steps forward!
Participation 🏅 self-awarded 🤣
 
Spruce
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Thanks @Emeister,
Although I no longer own this watch, and because of it has fixed bars I used a single pass perlon strap rather than a two piece, I still think that the colour (and there are many colours) worked well with this W10.

IMG_0866.webp
 
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