Please inspire me - a JPS 6138-8030 needs a strap

MtV · Mar 3, 2022

Hey folks,
after a long wait, I’ve finally gotten my only non-Omega (the blasphemy, I hear you say!) back. I have a personal connection to it, as it’s the only mechanical watch my dad ever had, and I just find the look of this chunk pretty cool. Now, in between very long work days I’ve used this welcome distraction to ponder about possible strap choices. Two evenings and a lot of trial and error later, I still have no clue, so I’m hoping for some inspiration. Here it is on an intermediary solution I’m not really happy with:

The help I’m seeking is twofold:

1. If I put it on a leather strap, which I think I’d prefer, what would your suggestions be? Color, material, style, every idea is welcome and I’m not shying away from a bit of matching color. Plain black isn’t an option. Also, are there period correct Seiko buckles?

2. I know these came on Seiko bracelets, seen them on both two-tone and SS-only. The latter might be an option, and I have pictures of NOS examples as they were delivered, but these didn’t seem to have a reference number in the clasp like Omegas do. How do I find the correct one, if that’s even a realistic endeavour?

Curious to read about your input. Thanks in advance!

vbrad26 · Mar 3, 2022

I think anything with a tachymeter can pull of a rallye...

Of course does not have to be brown.
And there are a couple different styles of rallye.

Dan S · Mar 3, 2022

Post a photo of the correct bracelet.

BAJJ · Mar 3, 2022

You see a lot of Seiko's on Milanese bracelets these days, I think one could work nicely.
It's a super looking watch by the way, and a great connection too, wear in health.👍

YYTIN · Mar 3, 2022

Not sure...
A few option from Josephbonnie

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Some others from GLCstraps @65euros

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Hope it helps

MtV · Mar 3, 2022

Dan S
Post a photo of the correct bracelet.

Makes sense. Here you go:

(Also happy to stand corrected, should this be not the right one)

Thanks everybody. The rally strap with the large diameter holes might indeed be something. Probably hard to match the gold tone of the sub dial, might pick up the Lotus color scheme even further and go for a British racing green maybe?

@Dan S I’d take a bracelet regardless, if you have any chance to point me in the right direction for a search I’d be very thankful indeed! The Z044 on the endlinks revealed all kinds of different versions in a google search. Lug width is 18mm.

gatorcpa · Mar 3, 2022

Although not technically correct, I like this style from Uncle Seiko:

https://www.uncleseiko.com/collecti...3138-kakume-h-link-tapered-link-bracelet-18mm

You could always find a older Seiko buckle top on eBay for a few bucks to give it a proper vintage look.

Here’s my JPS to say hello:

gatorcpa

waterchestnut · Mar 3, 2022

The bracelet ref for the 6138-8030 should be a z077, the z044 refer to the h-link type bracelet for the 6139-706x models.

gatorcpa · Mar 3, 2022

Here is original catalog page:

So you can see what the bracelet should look like.
gatorcpa

MtV · Mar 4, 2022

gatorcpa
Although not technically correct, I like this style from Uncle Seiko:

https://www.uncleseiko.com/collecti...3138-kakume-h-link-tapered-link-bracelet-18mm

You could always find a older Seiko buckle top on eBay for a few bucks to give it a proper vintage look.

Here’s my JPS to say hello:

gatorcpa

Very nice! Thanks for both the Uncle Seiko suggestion and the original ads. I think the US one won’t fit, it says it’s for 6138-003x, which wouldn’t include the 6138-8030. I’ll try my luck with a hunt for the correct one, I think, even though they seem to be pretty scarce, judging from a first scroll through eBay and google.

Also, @waterchestnut cheers! Appreciate it. That’s what I needed for the hunt. 😀

Emeister · Mar 5, 2022

Whilst not mirroring the shape of your subdials exactly i think something like this would add to the Seventies vibe.

https://www.veblenist.com/straps/black-rallye-watch-strap
The owner of Veblenist.com is a member here ( @Optimizer13 ) and could possibly customise a strap in brown leather for you, though personally I think this 'plain black' would be perfect.

Those hidden lugs should open up a world of straight endlink bracelets for you.
Try searching for NSA and Novavit/Novafit(?). Some huge price tags for some of these out there (anything mentioning links to vintage Heuer) but the fun is in the hunt for the bargains.

MtV · Apr 2, 2022

Thought I’d update this with my current strap choice. I’ve tried a Rallye style but it looked a little too busy for me. Very happy with the green though, which I’ll wear happily for a while, searching for the right bracelet.

mostlywabisabi · Oct 2, 2022

Nice clean looking John Player Special! The case lines look pretty sharp! I have a 6138-8039 with the gold two tone bracelet. I also have the all stainless steel Seiko Stelux bracelet that came from a 6138-8030 variant and may be willing to part with it if you're interested.

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ekallus · Oct 3, 2022

MtV
Thought I’d update this with my current strap choice. I’ve tried a Rallye style but it looked a little too busy for me. Very happy with the green though, which I’ll wear happily for a while, searching for the right bracelet.

Which strap is that? Looks good.

MtV · Oct 3, 2022

ekallus
Which strap is that? Looks good.

Its from Matteo @torrestraps - haven’t handled anything better yet.

rspace · Oct 5, 2022

I know this doesn't help but I've always felt these kind of chunky cases looks best on a bracelet.

Syrte · Oct 5, 2022

YYTIN
Not sure...
A few option from Josephbonnie

Hope it helps

You can’t go wrong with a Matteo strap and this green’one looks great. However if you ever felt like a change, I too was instinctively going to suggest a rallye strap in the same style and texture as the Joseph Bonnie one above- but black color.

Would not pick raw edges or perpendicular stitch as in your first strap- I think it’s nice to dress the watch up a little bit.

janice&fred · Oct 5, 2022

I also would go with a Seiko bracelet but if you have your heart set on a strap I would go with Syrte's suggestion 👍

topfox59 · Jun 12, 2024

Hi Matt hope you are well?
Spending time on the web looking for bracelet options for my Seiko JPS.
imagine my surprise when I saw your post asking recommendations for the very same thing!
I haven’t found the ‘as supplied by Seiko’ bracelet yet. Knowing you are now looking for one and budgets are not an issue for you() doesn’t leave me with much confidence I will find something very soon.
I did find these options. On nicely distressed smooth leather, both black and dark brown colours are available and despite the black dial I’m swayed to the dark brown as the distressing is almost two tone
Keep safe
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