Help me choose a strap for my 21mm Hamilton

[AcidReflux]

With a bit of luck I'll receive a new Hamilton Khaki Navy GMT tomorrow, and I'd like to replace the OEM leather deployment strap with something more durable and waterproof for everyday use. But I've no experience of choosing straps and I'd appreciate advice from experts on what will look good with this watch. I've got 7.5" wrists.

With apologies to the owner of this wrist and photo, it's this watch:



This Hamilton uses awkward 21mm lugs and I can't find many 21mm straps. Although it would be my first choice, the OEM rubber strap is £70 or so and this makes it unjustifiably poor value for me.

I think a NATO G10 will look good on a military-style watch like this so I'll buy a 22mm single-colour one of these from RLT:



Anybody got opinions (or even photographic examples) of which colour (grey/black) will look best?

And I'd like to try a chunky rubber one too. Plenty of options on RLT:
http://www.rltwatches.co.uk/acatalog/waterproof_.h...
I plan to buy a 22mm strap and cut it down slightly.
Any comments on this strap design? Will it look classy or cheap?



All thoughts and opinions would be welcome.

[aberdeeneuan]

I have that exact same watch but with the red detailing and the original rubber strap, and have been looking at alternatives myself to little avail.

I don't like natos, so I was looking perhaps more towards an aviator style, but really not sure what to do about it!

[anonymous-user]

I've had both a Nato strap and a rubber strap, my opinions are:

Nato - they look good for about a week, but don't age very well and get dirty very easily. In my mind it cheapens the look of the watch as well. What I did find annoying with a Nato strap is the weight (or lack of). What was happening on my wrist was that the Nato fabric strap is just so much lighter than the watch case itself, and because of this it has a tendency to spin on your wrist with the weight of the case. This doesn't seem to happen on leather/metal straps as the weight of the watch as a whole is much more evenly distributed around your wrist, which helps to counter-balance the weight. I wouldn't go back to a Nato strap.

The rubber one was a bit better, but still uncomfortable. The rubber mould shown above is exactly the one I had on a Seiko, but it picks up dust quite easily. I also felt that if I did get my wrist wet, it stayed wet underneath the strap for much longer due to the rubber not allowing any ventilation through the strap. I kept having to take the watch off, dry my wrist, dry the inside of the strap and refit it. Plus again, it cheapens the look of the watch somewhat.

[AcidReflux]

Mac. said:

I've had both a Nato strap and a rubber strap, my opinions are...

Thanks for those thoughts. I hadn't considered the weight/balance of a NATO strap, so that's valuable insight.

Trouble is, leather won't survive my lifestyle and I hate how most metal straps seem to trap my wrist hairs. Rubber and NATO seem to be the only options. (I don't like the look of the waterproof leather straps I've seen.) I love the look of the NATO straps on miliary watches - my dad was issued a watch on a G10 NATO when he was flying jet planes in the Navy and I guess my tastes have been influenced by those childhood memories.

[anonymous-user]

No worries - you can have the rubber strap if you want, it's just sitting in a drawer unused, although it's 20mm and not 21mm

[Pesty]

Hi Ben,

I had this on a Hirsh Golfer the couple of times I wore it and think it really suited it.its ruber with a leather covering waterproof and durable)

here is a link to some pictures on another watch by somebody else
http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?t=1565...


For leather straps I have never had a problem fitting 22mm to a 21 ( my russian watches are 21 also)

[AcidReflux]

Mac. said:

No worries - you can have the rubber strap if you want, it's just sitting in a drawer unused, although it's 20mm and not 21mm

Thanks - that's a kind offer, but I think the narrow gap either side of a 20mm rubber strap will irritate me after a while.

Pesty said:

I had this on a Hirsh Golfer the couple of times I wore it and think it really suited it.its ruber with a leather covering waterproof and durable)

here is a link to some pictures on another watch by somebody else
http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?t=1565...

For leather straps I have never had a problem fitting 22mm to a 21 ( my russian watches are 21 also)

Thanks for the info, Pesty. I saw that strap and it looks good. I didn't realise it was waterproof. I think it's a little smart for me - the original strap looks perfect if I'm dressing the watch up so really I'm looking for something much more utility.

Once the package has arrived I'll take the kids into town and see what local jewellers stock to get a feel for the options. I might end up paying a couple of quid more than I would online but as a beginner to this I need a safe way to build up some experience.

[ibbo]

Hi all. Im sellng my Khaki Navy GMT Hamilton as Ive upgraded to another Hamilton. It comes with the upgraded genuine rubber integrated strap as well as the original metal bracelet. Only purchased Oct 09 & has all the boxes & UK warranties included.

Any PH'ers interested?