The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I want to swap the steel bracelet on my super avenger and super ocean heritage for leather ones.
I’ve found good quality ones from a place called condor straps which would save me a few hundred pounds.
The only difference would be they don’t have the Breitling logo on the buckle.
What’s people’s opinion on this ?
Would you rather pay the extra ?
I can’t decide.
For a buffalo leather and crocodile leather from condor the total is £48 for both.
Not sure the croc prices from Breitling but I know it’s £170 for a smooth leather, I’m sure a croc adds a few hundred.

It’s what you’re comfortable with, there are many recommendations from other members who have their favourite non Breitling brands. I like Hirsch, they do some nice embossed croc straps and they’re good quality. You can often find used buckles on eBay but watch out for the fakes. Buying cheaper straps means you can buy more and swap them out as the mood takes you. Search this forum for strap recommendations and I’m sure you’ll find some sound advice.

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Breitling B-1 1999
Breitling Chrono Superocean 2004
Casio G Shock
Citizen Eco Drive AT4000-02E (for gardening)
Seiko 5 SNZG15J1
Hamilton X Wind LE

My opinion is put whatever strap you like on it. I often swapped out the bracelet and put third party leather or other straps on my Breitlings. In fact my last Breitling calf leather strap has the buckle swapped out because the Breitling tang buckle has an interior sharp edge that cuts into and destroys the leather/ thread quickly.

On the flipside, I like their black rubber with the ratchet deployant clasp and use that on many other non Breitling diver watches I have. So, I say use whatever you like that fits comfortably and enjoy it!

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Chrono Jetstream
Montbrilliant 1903
Aerospace E79362

It's your watch, so you get to decide if you want Breitling strap and clasp, or if you want to explore other options.

To me, I don't wear my watch to impress anyone, I wear it because I like it. I don't care if the inside of my strap says Breitling or not. (I actually have a rubber strap where the outside says Breitling, and I've stopped wearing it because it's too flaunting for me. But I'd also never wear a Breitling hat for the same reason.) For my values, I think the OEM deployment buckle and straps cost more than I think they are worth. I bought a couple OEM replacement straps in the first decade of owning my watch, but now I buy handmade straps for 10% the price of OEM that are 90% as nice as OEM. I now have five different colors/materials of straps for my two watches, including a red lizard skin and a green crocodile straps that I wear at Christmas. Turning to other vendors has been liberating to me, and given me more options that I was willing to purchase back when I bought OEM straps. I'll probably never buy another replacement leather strap from Breitling. I'm not knocking people who do, I've just decided what's right for me.

For some reason I've personally always liked OEM straps on Breitlings. I'm not sure why as I've used straps by ABP Paris, Mays Berlin, and Dangerous 9 (amongst others) on other brands, and they've been great.... but for some reason I just like Breitling on OEM. But that's just me and YMMV.

The problem I found, at least in the past, was that Breitling straps were always of such great quality it kind of spoils you unless you're prepared to pay almost Breitling-OEM-prices to get something decent aftermarket. For example ABP make amazing custom straps, but their prices can be OEM level. I'm not sure what the latest OEM straps are like as I've not bought a new Breitling for some time, but they look a little thinner than the straps from a few years ago.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I ended up ordering from the other site.
The croc strap was £20
It’s £500 from Breitling

I’ve always stuck with OEM straps because I knew was I was going to get. I know there are great strapmakers out there and plenty of reviews, but no matter what, I always went OEM, even when I had my Panerai with the abundance of strapmakers out there for those.

Right now, I have 2 OEM rubber straps and also 2 of ECONYL straps that I really like. When I have my Airborne, I’ll put that back on the brown Drakkar calfskin that looks amazing on it. The rubber edging is starting to peel but I’ve had the same thing happen when I had some OEM IWC straps. I’m hoping to add the anthracite nylon strap sometime as well for the Airborne.

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Justin
Please contact me via PM for the contact details for Govberg Jewelers
Govberg is an AD for over 50 fine Swiss and German watch brands.
Visit them on the web at http://www.govbergwatches.com or call 800-528-8463

How did you find the quality on that strap you ordered?

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Breitling SuperOcean Chronograph Rose Gold

Great.. it’s genuine calf leather


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Were you looking for a strap made from croc skin or a leather strap that looks like a croc skin?

No


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I am somewhat confused, there are straps made from crocodile which tend to be pricey, Breitling, Jean-Rosseau, and ABP Paris are an example of these. There are calf leather straps that are imprinted with a crocodile pattern which may or may not be passed off as real crocodile. It is somewhat difficult to compare different straps if you are not comparing apples to apples so to speak. What kind of strap were you looking for?

I bought a smooth calf leather strap.


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