The Breitling Watch Source Forums

What are your thoughts on aftermarket watch straps?

I don't really wear bracelets and so wear my Super Avenger on a Diver Pro 2 strap as opposed to the leather. I feel the tapering on the leather makes the strap look too thin, and on a big watch like the SA, it just looks too top heavy on my thin wrist.

Anyhows, I bought a non-tapered leather strap from Banda.com to use in the summer because the rubber was getting too wet and grimey from my sweating.

Popped into Goldsmiths after work to try on a Rolex GMT IIc which I'm thinking of buying.
I was wearing my SA on the Banda strap, and the salesperson goes "is that a Breitling you're wearing? I've not seen a model that comes on a flat and thick strap like that. Where did you buy that watch?". The tone of his voice insinuated that my watch maybe a fake!

When I told him it was custom he just kinda joked that nothing compared to OEM.

Do you guys think that by adding an aftermarket strap to a Breitling it can cheapen/de-value it? Much like fitting cheap alloys to a car would devalue the vehicle.

I couldn't care less what the salesperson thinks, the majority of them don't know half the watches they are trying to sell. But at the same time, I'm wondering if other people out there might think the same, see the aftermarket strap and deduce that it's a fake.

i dont think so

I don't think do either. Salespeople suck, most of them will try to tell you that the ESQ and Movado they're selling is a step up from your SA because they don't have a clue (present company excluded). Just look at Panerai, there's a whole weird sub-culture out there centered on straps.

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"Leave the gun, take the cannoli."

If you buy a $10 strap from the local drug store then yes, it cheapens the watch. If you spend a few hundred bucks getting a high end custom strap like ABP then no.

If you are talking about resale, I would say definitely.

If you are talking about a watch you wear everyday and wonder if it "cheapens" the watch in appearance or perception, I would say it depends. There are definitely cool aftermarket straps that look cool - but there are plenty that look terrible as well.

So for resale, yes.

Everyday appearance/perception - it depends - but who cares as long as you're happy with it.

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PAM359, Omega PO Big Size, 1951 Omega Seamaster, Rolex Sea Dweller

Put it on whatever you want. Most salespeople are idiots anyway. A lot of people just dont like the OEM straps. The SA is probably the best option for a custom strap anyway..it can look good with a ton of different styles. Not only is it normal to put a Panerai on an aftermarket strap, most people dont even like the oem straps. They kind of suck.

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-RJ

I certainly agree about the oem Panerai strap, I have it on my 312 ,and cant wait til my custom straps come in . The OEM gator sucks!!!

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One Watch At A Time.

I reckon straps can be an area for a bit of experimentation and fun. Try a custom strap or a nato band or a different diver band. I usually find myself going back to the OEM, but other straps provide some variety for the watch.

Its nice to try different straps and gives the watch a whole new look, but I can't find decent aftermarket ones so tend to stick to OEM stuff. Tried a Hirsch once and it went loose around the spring bars very quickly

Personally I'm never that keen on after market straps on high end watches, they do seem to take the edge off the overall look

Hell no!! Does this look cheap??

Cheers,
Ronald

I personally think it does cheapen the watch. I don't think I'd like knowing that a watch I paid for (well the other half paid for ) had a cheap aftermarket band. I also love the security the deployant band gives me - I think I could hang from the top of a building for a couple of hours and it would still hold.

If there were good aftermarket strap then I might change my mind but I haven't seen or felt one yet.

There are plenty - this is the default quality supplier that gets mentioned, and the quality is exceptional, but there are also plenty of others - http://www.abp-paris.com/

Depends on the watch, the quality of the OEM strap, and the quality of the aftermarket strap being put on it.

If your watch is worth £50, then putting a £10 strap on it isn't going to make a single bit of difference.

If you watch is worth £3000, and you put a £10 strap on it, then yes it will cheapen it IMO. However if your £3000 comes with a poor quality OEM strap, then a decent £400 custom strap may enhance it.

That said, with something like Breitling and AP, who both make some of the best OEM straps around, no aftermarket strap is going to improve it IMO.

Personally I'm not a fan of the aftermarket tang and buckle Panerai types where you end up with around 1.5cm thickness of leather under your wrist..... but that's just me. The only watch I have an aftermarket strap on is my Lum-Tec because the OEM isn't great and I wanted to use a Panerai-style deployant on it.

And as others have said if you are looking at resale, then with prestige brands an OEM strap will always count more anyway.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Especially on my small wrist, it looks ridiculous.


But if you want a good aftermarket strap, get one. I really admire Breitling straps, but I wish they offered a same color stitching option. They won't, I know. I have a 22mm black croco inbound and might dye the stitching black.

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SHARKMAN

I wear all of my watches on aftermarket straps. I have large wrists and I like the ability to work with a strapmaker to get what I want.