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Replacement FOIS strap

john_coburg
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Greetings all. I bought a FOIS four or five years ago and received a fairly worn OEM strap with it, which is missing a leather keeper. After messing around with a few different straps over the years, i decided i wanted it back on the original strap...i know it gets stick, but i like the shade/look/feel. But the tattiness of mine, and lack of keeper are a little irritating, so am in the market for a replacement. A like for like Omega replacement will likely come at a pretty penny (£250?) so i'd like members' recommendations on alternatives that have the same look and feel, but at a lower price point.
I tried the Hirsch Siena Tuscan strap, which is close (and quite nice), but it's a little stiff, rigid and shiny... and at c. £130, while cheaper, is hardly a value proposition if it's not quite right.
Does anyone have any ideas for a good alternative?
Many thanks indeed.
20230410_125913.jpg 20230410_125919.jpg 20230410_125932.jpg
 
Donn Chambers
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3,355
Vercingetorix Vercingetorix
https://panatime.com/st-petersburg-russian-leather/?color=Cognac
0901AF5E-8383-4FB3-8EC3-C6E4F4982656.jpeg

I was also going to suggest Rios1931 straps — any of their straps are good, but the “Russian Leather” in brown is a really good option.

The original strap is Barenia leather (from a single French tannery using a proprietary method). The best and cheapest alternative I have found is from Milano straps

https://www.milanostraps.com/products/cognac-barania-leather-watch-strap

It has almost identical padding to the original, but is a lighter tan color. It will darken with age (I currently wear one occasionally on my FOIS) and you can swap in the Omega buckle easily. I’ve seen other Barenia straps but all have thin padding.
 
hansmaulwurf
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1,146
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6,701
Hi,

I can recommend the ˋoriginal´ one from Omega, it is worth the price. I am wearing my for 9 years now and very often the first 6 years at work - not only an office, but a cement plant… ordered the original one this year and I am happy with it.

dsc_1487-2-jpg.1494364

https://omegaforums.net/threads/wha...ed-but-not-a-watch.82381/page-23#post-2066916

BR
Hans
 
L
Posts
67
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46
Do note the shade of brown altered over the years. I've seen two brand new FOIS next to each other and the unworn straps were noticeably different shades of brown.
 
jjjones
Posts
100
Likes
103
I love the look of the OEM strap on the FOIS but cant bring myself to wear it as it will eventually wear out (and ill be left without a "full"set). So I've been wearing my FOIS on the 321 bracelet instead. I'm also not a fan of tang and buckle straps.

So I ended up ordering an OEM Omega deployant (16mm) and ended up ordering an Omega deployant style strap from Genteel Handmade which looks extremely similar to the OEM FOIS strap (made from barenia leather) and ecru coloured stitching (was hard deciding between this colour and white). Hopefully I got the sizing right and will post pictures when it arrives.

Heres a picture of the same strap I ordered from Genteel Handmade (apparently the colour of the stiching below is ecru):
BareniaOmega-Style_1000x1000.jpg
 
Sicario Wombat
Posts
53
Likes
187
john_coburg john_coburg
Greetings all. I bought a FOIS four or five years ago and received a fairly worn OEM strap with it, which is missing a leather keeper. After messing around with a few different straps over the years, i decided i wanted it back on the original strap...i know it gets stick, but i like the shade/look/feel. But the tattiness of mine, and lack of keeper are a little irritating, so am in the market for a replacement. A like for like Omega replacement will likely come at a pretty penny (£250?) so i'd like members' recommendations on alternatives that have the same look and feel, but at a lower price point.
I tried the Hirsch Siena Tuscan strap, which is close (and quite nice), but it's a little stiff, rigid and shiny... and at c. £130, while cheaper, is hardly a value proposition if it's not quite right.
Does anyone have any ideas for a good alternative?
Many thanks indeed.
20230410_125913.jpg 20230410_125919.jpg 20230410_125932.jpg

You could try Watch Gecko... I got this one a few years ago for my Speedy Pro.
IMG_2328.JPG IMG_2329.JPG IMG_2330.JPG
 
scapa
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1,438
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2,208
Not near the watch so will add more pix later, but my favourite straps for my FOIS have come from Bulang & Sons -- have also tried a few from WatchGecko that I had lying about with varying success. The FOIS also works well with a single-pass strap like the Chevron IME.

First pic is the Bulang and second is a well-made and very affordable Flucco.

It's a fun watch to strap-shop for because it's so versatile. 3 years on and my FOIS is still my most-worn watch and now my only Omega. Classic in the making.

IMG_5702.jpg FOIS wrist.png
 
gbesq
Posts
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47,263
Try contacting Jayson at Artisan Watch Straps. If they don't have something ready made that works, they can custom make just about anything and they have a wide variety of materials and colors available.
 
Dirty Tool
Posts
20
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41
I changed my brown leather strap to an Omega cordura strap with an Omega deployment buckle, gives the watch a much sportier feel IMO
 
Screenshot 2023-04-14 at 22.48.54.png
jjjones
Posts
100
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103
Dirty Tool Dirty Tool
I changed my brown leather strap to an Omega cordura strap with an Omega deployment buckle, gives the watch a much sportier feel IMO
Hey mate. What's the reference number for that strap? Don't think I've ever seen it before. It looks like it's rubber? Anymore photos of it?

If you could also post the reference of your clasp too that would be great. I recently learnt that my 18mm clasp doesnt fit rubber straps because theyre too thick for it (while my brother's clasp wowrks). I wasnt aware Omega had different thickness clasps.
Edited:
 
guwipa
Posts
315
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739
I second @scapa with the Fluco straps. Always a great choice even on the old PeterBlake
JRSV0432.JPG


Cheers,

Winny
 
john_coburg
Posts
215
Likes
303
@Duracuir1 was extremely kind and hand-made me a keeper for my old OEM strap... so it's now back in use!
Thoroughly decent of him, and very much appreciated. May we all raise a glass to him this evening!
20230508_113318.jpg 20230508_131437.jpg
 
texasmade
Posts
2,408
Likes
2,537
jjjones jjjones
Hey mate. What's the reference number for that strap? Don't think I've ever seen it before. It looks like it's rubber? Anymore photos of it?

If you could also post the reference of your clasp too that would be great. I recently learnt that my 18mm clasp doesnt fit rubber straps because theyre too thick for it (while my brother's clasp wowrks). I wasnt aware Omega had different thickness clasps.
Pretty sure that's the strap that comes on the 39.5mm Planet Ocean Black Ceramic.
https://www.omegawatches.com/en-us/...ial-master-chronometer-39-5-mm-21592402001001
 
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