Community Stories

matching straps for vintage watches

T
Posts
69
Likes
119
What do you think about the right strap for a vintage watch?
I personally prefer straps that are related in design, material, look and feel to the straps that have been used during the fiftys or sixties of the last century.
I believe in comparison to the original ones modern straps are often to thick and to shiny and ofcourse less simple.

Let me show you three of my favorite straps:

1. Eulit Oregon, mounted on the Certina. I like it, because it is cheap, has a nice texture and simply get`s the job done.

2. Eulit Kristall, mounted to the IWC, lovely simple braided nylon strap.

3. Kaufmann Tarillion, attached to the Omega, soft feel, nice texture and with this lovely vintage look.

1920-04497.jpg 1920-04502.jpg 1920-04503.jpg


Tell us about your favorite straps that have that certain vintage touch.


kind regards,


Timo
 
pIoNeErOfThEnILe
Posts
1,099
Likes
1,083
this may not be as simple as you think.

to me it comes down to does it look and feel right. thing is some people don't know if it does nor do they care about the strap as much as they do the watch itself.

certain color pairings and style, thickness is also in play. not to mention it's subjective to begin with...

throw in many different dial colors and it's easy to uglify your nice watch with a poor choice.

some peeps just don't have "the eye"
 
Dan S
Posts
24,233
Likes
53,966
Those leather straps are fine, but IMO the Perlon strap is mismatched with that dressy IWC.
 
DaveK
Posts
5,082
Likes
15,701
Is the nylon strap period correct? I have no idea, but would have guessed no. OP, nice watches 👍
 
STANDY
Posts
16,862
Likes
47,901
I like to match strap thickness to case thickness more than period correct.
Many straps from many sources is period correct though.

(Oddly the three watches below are off three different long term members and came with the straps)

Leather
F6FE1B96-71ED-4EE4-ABCC-8CCDFC1D3905.jpeg A660759F-A64E-42C2-AB00-1FAEF03DEF13.jpeg


Pig skin
8499BB61-9F50-4DC3-B794-58D54DA7D103.jpeg 9B3F33EE-C8A4-45B2-9EF2-EB5AA987F55C.jpeg


Lizard skin
ACD143B2-3735-496D-BF08-50E5AA5F2795.jpeg 05FE16A6-CCEB-42CC-B3A9-FF7AA15F7A1C.jpeg
 
T
Posts
69
Likes
119
Thanks for your replies, by the way, that pig-skin strap is awsome!

Yes, you are right, color and style should be matching also.

I always thought, perlon straps have been available on the marked since the late 40s...


kind regards,


Timo
 
JwRosenthal
Posts
16,307
Likes
44,994
T Timo832000
Thanks for your replies, by the way, that pig-skin strap is awsome!

Yes, you are right, color and style should be matching also.

I always thought, perlon straps have been available on the marked since the late 40s...


kind regards,


Timo
That pigskin is about a classic as they get. Perlon have been around that long, but a watch like that IWC would not have been an appropriate match. Something more sporty would have been paired with it.
 
cristos71
Posts
7,899
Likes
35,849
I always try to pick out one of the colours of the dial and highlight that with the strap or strap stitching, be it patinated lume, dial aging or whatever. It's trial and error a lot of times so I like to have a lot of strap inventory so I can mess around with them.

011.JPG
 
Syrte
Posts
7,651
Likes
21,950
Matching the perfect strap to a watch is probably my favorite hobby within this hobby.

Vintage straps were mostly completely flat— and while the ones above look good quality, I only like completely flat straps with only one or two exceptions.
Now if we start talking about color and texture, the sky’s the limit.... below is a random sample of my various strap-swaps and experiments.
@dsio I hope I’m not exploding the OF servers 😁
 
EA7B20CD-057B-4A8D-9D1B-DE59ABE21C8A.jpeg A4036B66-9438-44DC-BEC0-78325DD0E366.jpeg 5C73E45C-5FE4-4036-B510-BB8E70EA9B34.jpeg CD00584B-AACB-44DE-AA4A-2ADFD9BE7433.jpeg 9A96C477-2648-4470-8E33-A617260CDC03.jpeg C5A6B21A-8CD2-4345-96A7-73A2CA556FB0.jpeg 557E3D58-99B9-47E2-AEBB-EF54275C8A34.jpeg DDCD8D82-2AAD-4BEA-B3BE-498754314EF2.jpeg EF6FC34B-FCBE-497C-81F8-F974D94F2B44.jpeg CBE2073A-7AC2-4817-85DA-6939D44E1019.jpeg 5A171984-CC14-4878-87F0-0EC03726CEEF.jpeg 01E32DAC-4F12-4ED8-B1B3-9573720B4607.jpeg 7C6EAEF7-91FB-49D3-9029-C291402B1DF7.jpeg 4C57995B-9D71-450F-B77E-B7EE8A4E9ACB.jpeg FA9F773E-4F60-4FBF-91A9-6B752664FE6C.jpeg 84A47B18-0F7E-4FFE-A202-49474549D20B.jpeg EC785120-DF3C-439C-B461-54A04648C701.jpeg 88DA17B1-E4C3-4C35-A307-56D7938B9931.jpeg
TimeODanaos
Posts
1,835
Likes
3,728
I'm trying to prepare a 58 Norman Morris as a present for my daughter. On the one hand, I don't have much of an "eye", on the other, I don't want to fall into any sexist stereotyping traps. But I did want to break out of the vintage-watch-vintage strap mindset (which normally gets my vote, no question). This one wears a brown lizard affair, but the dial signature gave me the idea of taking a totally different direction, and I'm going to try Tiffany blue. Views? @Syrte and similar experts definitely welcome to comment. Thanks!
22.jpg
 
Syrte
Posts
7,651
Likes
21,950
Cool idea; I like the concept. I would try to find a strap that’s slightly more greenish, a bit more of a « lagoon » color, as I think it will bring out more the color of the lume on the hands.
 
JwRosenthal
Posts
16,307
Likes
44,994
To speak to @Syrte ’s sensibility- I matched this strap against lume color which made it pop. With a black or brown strap, the dial colors were just there.
DAD71D5D-2E8F-41DD-938A-5C1BCA67E4CE.jpeg
 
pIoNeErOfThEnILe
Posts
1,099
Likes
1,083
TimeODanaos TimeODanaos
I'm trying to prepare a 58 Norman Morris as a present for my daughter. On the one hand, I don't have much of an "eye", on the other, I don't want to fall into any sexist stereotyping traps. But I did want to break out of the vintage-watch-vintage strap mindset (which normally gets my vote, no question). This one wears a brown lizard affair, but the dial signature gave me the idea of taking a totally different direction, and I'm going to try Tiffany blue. Views? @Syrte and similar experts definitely welcome to comment. Thanks!
22.jpg

no.gif
 
wagudc
Posts
4,810
Likes
12,179
TimeODanaos TimeODanaos
I'm trying to prepare a 58 Norman Morris as a present for my daughter. On the one hand, I don't have much of an "eye", on the other, I don't want to fall into any sexist stereotyping traps. But I did want to break out of the vintage-watch-vintage strap mindset (which normally gets my vote, no question). This one wears a brown lizard affair, but the dial signature gave me the idea of taking a totally different direction, and I'm going to try Tiffany blue. Views? @Syrte and similar experts definitely welcome to comment. Thanks!
22.jpg

I agree with @Syrtle's suggestion. This strap is to flat and glossy for the watch. The blue strap is more 80s sporty look, almost like a Swatch. In all fairness, this is not an easy task. I have a drawer full of straps that I ordered, but weren't quite right. I think that this watch needs a warm color, not cool. That blue is very cool. Here is an option that is a little brighter and flasher than brown lizzard.

Screenshot_20200519-153546_Chrome.jpg
 
wagudc
Posts
4,810
Likes
12,179
Syrte Syrte
Matching the perfect strap to a watch is probably my favorite hobby within this hobby.

That lip looks great on the perlon.
 
wagudc
Posts
4,810
Likes
12,179
TimeODanaos TimeODanaos
I'm trying to prepare a 58 Norman Morris as a present for my daughter. On the one hand, I don't have much of an "eye", on the other, I don't want to fall into any sexist stereotyping traps. But I did want to break out of the vintage-watch-vintage strap mindset (which normally gets my vote, no question). This one wears a brown lizard affair, but the dial signature gave me the idea of taking a totally different direction, and I'm going to try Tiffany blue. Views? @Syrte and similar experts definitely welcome to comment. Thanks!
22.jpg


I think that my green suggestion is not so good. I am now thinking more of a mocha color would be a nice feminine choice. You have to take her style into account as well. You can make your best effort and then give her the option of strap shopping.
Screenshot_20200519-154844_Chrome.jpg
 
JwRosenthal
Posts
16,307
Likes
44,994
wagudc wagudc
I agree with @Syrtle's suggestion. This strap is to flat and glossy for the watch. The blue strap is more 80s sporty look, almost like a Swatch. In all fairness, this is not an easy task. I have a drawer full of straps that I ordered, but weren't quite right. I think that this watch needs a warm color, not cool. That blue is very cool. Here is an option that is a little brighter and flasher than brown lizzard.

Screenshot_20200519-153546_Chrome.jpg
That would look fabulous on that Omega, and Holbens is where my green Fluco Goatskin on the above Timecraft came from
 
wagudc
Posts
4,810
Likes
12,179
wagudc wagudc
I think that my green suggestion is not so good. I am now thinking more of a mocha color would be a nice feminine choice. You have to take her style into account as well. You can make your best effort and then give her the option of strap shopping.
Screenshot_20200519-154844_Chrome.jpg

I have this ecosuede strap in black. It is quite nice.

20200413_155036.jpg
 
64 More Posts...
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

T

Straps for vintage watches

Thisonepaul Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
Dan S
Dan S
Posts
4
Views
1K
xrono

Looking for good US mail-in repair for vintage watches

xrono Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
jsducote
jsducote
Posts
11
Views
4K
blubarb

Who wants to predict the future for Vintage watches?

blubarb Open Discussion
spacemission
spacemission
Posts
140
Views
15K
fizz

Since when did present day UG start providing repair services for vintage watches?

fizz Universal Genève Watches
mikeo1
mikeo1
Posts
10
Views
2K
alane24

Bracelets/straps for vintage divers

alane24 Open Discussion
timesofplenty
timesofplenty
Posts
16
Views
4K
S

UK VAT for vintage watches bought from EU/Switzerland?

sphdsdb Forum News & Member Support
fergusm
fergusm
Posts
5
Views
4K