Leather wrist straps
Leather wrist straps
Author
Discussion

asn1981

Original Poster:

441 posts

190 months

Wednesday 13th July 2011
quotequote all
Soon to be buying a Longines watch (around £1800).

I've always liked leather straps but past experience has always been (on watches costing a couple £100s) that wear and tear when putting the watch on breaks the leather strap

Are these straps generally easy to come by or replace?

Or is this sort of thing less likely to happen on an expensive watch?

Paul S4

1,311 posts

241 months

Wednesday 13th July 2011
quotequote all
You could get a leather 'deployment' ( there is another spelling but I cannot recall ! ) which are a great improvement; you get the comfort/style etc of a leather strap but without the wear issues...have a look on ebay...I got a couple for about £11 each and they are very good value.


asn1981

Original Poster:

441 posts

190 months

Thursday 14th July 2011
quotequote all
As I understand those wouldn't work with the original provided strap?

The original strap is some of the appeal for me of the watch.

Are additional exact versions readily available of provided straps?

Spice_Weasel

2,366 posts

284 months

Thursday 14th July 2011
quotequote all
What does the strap look like? Colour, finish (croc/buffalo/calf etc) and what are its dimensions at the lug and buckle end? If you can post these things up, I am sure we can find you some suppliers for a strap that will give you the OEM look and save wear on the stock strap. I have done the same with some of my watches.

asn1981

Original Poster:

441 posts

190 months

Thursday 14th July 2011
quotequote all
Cant really find the info that you wanted but here it is:
http://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/product/longines-maste...

LLongines Model L26294783

Spice_Weasel

2,366 posts

284 months

Thursday 14th July 2011
quotequote all
Ok, so dark brown leather, either croc or croc-effect with white stitching. I'd guess at a 20mm lug width tapering to 18mm at the buckle though you would need to measure it to be certain. My suggestion, is buy it, measure it, then find as close as possible to the look. A few days' wear will not harm it.

You should be able to find something at one of these sites:

http://www.watchworx.co.uk/pages/lwb/classicPop/Cl...

http://www.watch-band-center.com/shop-watchstrap.h...


Mr MoJo

4,698 posts

247 months

Thursday 14th July 2011
quotequote all
Hirsch do some very nice straps at reasonable prices.

http://www.watchobsession.co.uk/HIRSCH-Watch-Strap...

asn1981

Original Poster:

441 posts

190 months

Thursday 14th July 2011
quotequote all
arh excellent.

what do most people do.. put the replacement on straight away or only once its worn away?

(sorry for the stupidish question)

Mr MoJo

4,698 posts

247 months

Thursday 14th July 2011
quotequote all
I've always waited til the strap gets worn, apart from my old Panerai where it became a bit of a hobby collecting different straps for it !!

RemainAllHoof

80,157 posts

313 months

Thursday 14th July 2011
quotequote all
asn1981 said:
arh excellent.

what do most people do.. put the replacement on straight away or only once its worn away?

(sorry for the stupidish question)
Hello, Mr Pirate wink

Not stupid at all. If you think you might want to sell it in future to upgrade to something better, why not take it off and put on a cheaper (read: lower cost but just as good quality; OEM straps normally cost over the odds compared to similar without the brand name irked ) aftermarket eg Hirsch croc strap and save the original one. That is what I would do.

Zippee

14,148 posts

265 months

Thursday 14th July 2011
quotequote all
Slightly off topic OP but I looked at the black faced braceletted version of that exact watch (this one in fact) - http://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/product/longines-maste...
and was able to knock it down to £1400 pretty easily. Just so you don't blow the full price on it.

RemainAllHoof

80,157 posts

313 months

Thursday 14th July 2011
quotequote all
Same price for bracelet version? I'd get the bracelet and buy an aftermarket strap!

andy tims

5,606 posts

277 months

Thursday 14th July 2011
quotequote all
asn1981 said:
what do most people do.. put the replacement on straight away or only once its worn away?
If buying a watch new - As has already been suggestred, get the bracelet version & buy an aftermarket strap if you want to wear it on a strap.

If buying a watch that comes with an OEM strap I remove it & fit an aftermarket jobby, keeping the OEM version to sell with the watch when it comes time for me to move the watch on.

asn1981

Original Poster:

441 posts

190 months

Thursday 14th July 2011
quotequote all
Zippee said:
Slightly off topic OP but I looked at the black faced braceletted version of that exact watch (this one in fact) - http://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/product/longines-maste...
and was able to knock it down to £1400 pretty easily. Just so you don't blow the full price on it.
Thats brilliant, when buying I will hopefully just get this version and buy a strap.

Did you negotiate in store? Did you just ask for a discount or where there special circumstances?

Quick question.. how much do OEM straps cost for a similar watch as above?

phil1979

3,672 posts

246 months

Thursday 14th July 2011
quotequote all
asn1981 said:
Zippee said:
Slightly off topic OP but I looked at the black faced braceletted version of that exact watch (this one in fact) - http://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/product/longines-maste...
and was able to knock it down to £1400 pretty easily. Just so you don't blow the full price on it.
Thats brilliant, when buying I will hopefully just get this version and buy a strap.

Did you negotiate in store? Did you just ask for a discount or where there special circumstances?

Quick question.. how much do OEM straps cost for a similar watch as above?
I got mine last year from www.watchfinder.co.uk for circa £1200.00... worth a look.



Zippee

14,148 posts

265 months

Thursday 14th July 2011
quotequote all
asn1981 said:
Zippee said:
Slightly off topic OP but I looked at the black faced braceletted version of that exact watch (this one in fact) - http://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/product/longines-maste...
and was able to knock it down to £1400 pretty easily. Just so you don't blow the full price on it.
Thats brilliant, when buying I will hopefully just get this version and buy a strap.

Did you negotiate in store? Did you just ask for a discount or where there special circumstances?

Quick question.. how much do OEM straps cost for a similar watch as above?
I went for an Omega Planet Ocean in the end as I got a good deal on it (£2100 including £100 worth of engraving) so didn't pursue the Longine any further. Thats said I'm very confident I could have gotten it for pretty close to the poster above. Have a chat with DomH on here as I'm sure he could source you a very good deal on one, the only reason I didn't use him is that I have a good relationship with a local jeweller who've looked after me for a while now.

asn1981

Original Poster:

441 posts

190 months

Thursday 14th July 2011
quotequote all
Is DomH basically Hackett Watches?

CardShark

4,263 posts

210 months

Thursday 14th July 2011
quotequote all
asn1981 said:
Is DomH basically Hackett Watches?
yes

Joecooool

1,020 posts

259 months

Friday 15th July 2011
quotequote all
Living in Florida, a leather watch band is useless. Between the humidity and sweat, the never last more than a few months.

Most of my watches that came with leather bands now sport nylon bands that don't fall apart. I suspect in a colder climate this wouldn't be an issue.

One thing that drives me nuts is seeing dive watches sold with leather bands. Omega makes several models of their Seamaster with a leather band.

RemainAllHoof

80,157 posts

313 months

Friday 15th July 2011
quotequote all
Haha, yes, I have put all my regularly worn watches on Natos or loose bracelets. I just don't like it when the watch sticks to my wrist. Horrible feeling.