Jump to content

Strap/Bracelet Selection

Waggy
 Share

Recommended Posts

Waggy Distinguished Member

Waggy

Posted
Posted

Just to start a thread on strap/bracelet selection as this is always something I struggle with - given that a good strap or bracelet can elevate the look of a watch and frame your hard work in the best light and, conversely, a poor choice can make your hard work look cheap and cheesy. I propose we use this thread to get the help of the forum.... more brains to help, how can we fail?!

I suggest you post a picture of your finished watch and let the creative juices flow.... can be the naked watch if you don't have any idea or the watch with the optional bracelets/straps you want to pick from.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Neverenoughwatches Distinguished Member

Neverenoughwatches

Posted
Posted
On 9/26/2023 at 5:06 AM, Waggy said:

Just to start a thread on strap/bracelet selection as this is always something I struggle with - given that a good strap or bracelet can elevate the look of a watch and frame your hard work in the best light and, conversely, a poor choice can make your hard work look cheap and cheesy. I propose we use this thread to get the help of the forum.... more brains to help, how can we fail?!

I suggest you post a picture of your finished watch and let the creative juices flow.... can be the naked watch if you don't have any idea or the watch with the optional bracelets/straps you want to pick from.

Good idea for a new thread. The choice of leather strap is almost unlimited with colours, pattern, texture , detail as with stitching, piercing, buckle, loop, clasp, a cuff design for a watch you love but just looks too small on your wrist. Rubber, nato cloth, canvas military bands, metal can get you out of a dilema 😆.  Initially i used to think silver case black strap, gold case tan strap, but that only seems to work for white dials. The dial colour dictates way past that so that classic look doesn't always work and the reverse can look better if the strap colour ties in with the dial or details from the dial as in Richard's watch.  A black strap wouldn't work here even though the case is silver and the dial face is pale. In general i think the choice of leather strap as far as colour goes must pull something from the dial. Great idea for a thread as Richard has said some folk dont have an eye for it, but there are some pretty basic rules that you must to follow.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
nrm Member

nrm

Posted
Posted
On 9/26/2023 at 3:32 AM, RichardHarris123 said:

I'm technically minded not artistically so I struggle with aesthetics.  What do you think would be the best match for this? 

As my partner says "it's all about the undertones". with the silver case I'd go for a yellow-ish tan strap that avoided red tones -- so cooler. or a teal-ish blue strap if you didn't want a brown strap. I'd also do a slightly padded strap to balance the thickness of the case.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
rehajm Super WRT Addict

rehajm

Posted
Posted

...this should be a great thread. I know I struggle with this. There are rules to follow and to be broken. Sometimes I see a combo and it just...pops. Don't we all? I'm posting a couple of things and why I think they work...

IMG_0548.thumb.jpeg.bce6760e667c19a9b3c1d6cf62fb2890.jpeg

...this is my current favorite. W10 with a smooth calfgrain Hirsch. I see so many of these Smiths with the beat up original strap or a Nato, which I find odd. I love the smooth dial with the smooth strap, like the watch is wearing a tux...

Rolex.jpeg.573568722724d52b98a646c5715b27ec.jpeg

...horrible picture but this one kind of haunts me, as I have a similar watch and wanted to copy, and could not find a similar strap. I think this one works because of the way the strap complements the dial colors- the brown of the strap doesn't match the hands exactly but what makes it for me is the greenish color in between the scales that matches the numeral color, and unlike the first the textured strap differs from the smooth black dial in a good way...

...goes to show the rules aren't always helpfull

...then there are the challenges, where nothing really works...

IMG_0196.thumb.jpeg.26c89279115320c609ea2cdd01db8735.jpeg

...I've tried black, and an orangey tan. Not really...how about light tan to work with the number ring? Straw to go with the number color? Bin it for different dial?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing


  • Similar Content

  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • Razz
      Elgin Excelle 17j auto

      By Razz · Posted

      Just picked this up earlier today. This find just about epitomizes vintage watch collecting for me and what really keeps me going. Hit 2 antique malls today and saw a couple of pieces at the first one but just nothing that I needed. At the second one saw a Accutron 218 but it was 20 minutes behind the actual time. These "malls" have numerous booths of a variety of sellers who likely go in once or twice a week. Considering that that watch should be within a couple of seconds a month, I figured it hadn't been phased so passed on that for now knowing it would need work to run correctly and the price tag. Then I found this Excelle in a display case. I never heard of the brand, but in was an auto and had a little heft. It turned out to be 40mm lug to lug, 35.3mm case width, and 12.3 mm thick. On the spiedel once size fits most flex band. At $10.80US with tax I immediately pulled the trigger with nothing to lose. Before pictures: I spent a nice 30 minutes taking it out of the case and running that through the ultra sonic replacing the crystal and gasket and recasing, but spent five minutes first getting it running close on the timegrapher. Had a new crystal already in stock. I probably could have sanbed and polished the old one, but for $3 there is nothing like a new acrylic that makes a watch pop, in my opinion. The caseback gasket was hardened and just glad it wasn't tar. Changed that as well. Here is the after Pic on a temp black strap while I decide on a leather or steel bracelet. An added bonus was doing some research and finding out the Elgin connection and the movement is a PUW 1563T which is German I am pretty sure and probably why it doesn't say Swiss made on the dial. This movement is supposed to have a hack feature and quickset date by pushing the crown. But neither of those complications seem to be working. Not sure if the stem is cut too short because there is no gap for the crown to move. Either way at some point will need to be serviced and check the keyless works to find out what is going on with the quickset and hack of the sweep second hand.
    • Michael1962
      404 Club

      By Michael1962 · Posted

      On the link that I posted, one of the watches has no crown and another has a crown that is not square to the case. Does a broken crown signify that the movement may be quite corroded, hence the stem has broken, and does the bent crown simply signify that the stem is bent? Unfortunately as the seller has a bid on the items, he is now reticent to prise the casebacks off in case he damages something. The seller did reply with this email though. Hi again Michael - brief descriptions; Oris x 2, dials and hands ok and they set ok and one I just wound and it has been running for a few of minutes as I write this response. Rocar, dial ok no crown. No name dial no good and can't pull crown out to set. Roma dial and hands ok, I think it is pin pallet movement. Unicorn, good dial and hands and plexiglass ok for age. All cases and plexiglasses show wear except as mentioned. I have no idea what movements are fitted or condition so please if you do consider bidding, please do so accordingly as I don't like to disappoint my customers - regards and thanks again for your interest - Jim
    • B1N9S
      Show us your military watch

      By B1N9S · Posted

      The incomplete Vertex DD is a new project to sort out.  The Seiko gen 1, is my favourite watch to wear and is my daily.      
    • B1N9S
      Hello from Wales, UK.

      By B1N9S · Posted

      To be fair it was a beautiful 'bumper'.  But, there was some loose parts in the case.  Perhaps 'pig' was a bit excessive 😄.    
    • oldhippy
      New member

      By oldhippy · Posted

      Thank you for your introduction and welcome to this friendly forum. We all look forward to your contributions and continued involvement. 
×
×
  • Create New...