Best place to purchase OEM/replica straps

wyliss · **Posted:** Thu Jan 10, 2013 6:30 am

Hi
First post so please take it easy with me

I have SuperOcean A17360 with a rubber strap that has the holes in it.
Periodically I'd like to change straps and was wondering where is the best place to get them from.
Particular straps I am interested in are the Pro Diver and also a quality black leather strap with yellow stitching; the face on my watch is yellow.
Many thanks

Roffensian · **Posted:** Thu Jan 10, 2013 7:09 am

Let's go with aftermarket rather than replica - replica has nasty connotations of fake.

For OEM you are best to stick to ADs, there are a lot of hard to identify fakes on places like eBay and grey market prices are often higher than ADs.

For aftermarket there are a lot of very good options at a lot of different price points, take a look at some of the threads in this section for specific vendors. Here's a starter:

viewtopic.php?f=29&t=32627

Welcome to BreitlingSource.

nickzac · **Posted:** Thu Jan 10, 2013 6:26 pm

I personally prefer aftermarket straps over anything else. That's because I have a smaller wrist meaning I can get the length that best fits me, and I prefer shark to all other materials. I also favor the large PAM-style Pre-V buckle, which I think is more masculine than other smaller buckles, and I prefer a strap be 22mm all-around to compliment the buckle rather than 22mm at the lugs and 20mm at the buckle (AKA 22-20) or the even more narrow 22-18. (Most production straps will be either 22-20 or 22-18).

I went on a bit of a strap kick because I found many makers I liked and so I figured I would purchase 20-30 straps and sell a few and keep the ones I like most. Thus far, I have been very impressed with overall quality. I have straps from Breitling, StrapSmith, ABP Paris, Stone Creek Straps, Strapped For Time, K-Straps, Kain Heritage (forum sponsor), Vero Squalo (the original by Dirk), and numerous others. Materials range from shark to cow to horse to ostrich to python to lizard to croc/gator to fish to fabric to synthetic. All of the above are exceptional products with unique characteristics, but I would have to say that the Vero Squalo is my personal favorite and I think it is probably the best quality strap money can buy.

If you are on a budget, Strapped For Time makes some OEM-spec Breitling straps that are exceptionally well-made. This strap ( http://www.strappedfortime.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=23 ), made to Breitling's specs (years ago they offered shark) is IMO the best strap you can get for under $50 and it's quality is absolutely exceptional. If you purchased the black model, you could have it re-stitched. They also sell a carbon fiber model I have which I like more than 5 other carbon fiber models I have/have owned (http://www.strappedfortime.com/shop/ite ... itemid=169). And believe it or not, it's the cheapest price out of all of the ones I had/have. You can get the yellow stitch on that.

Watch nut · **Posted:** Thu Jan 10, 2013 6:46 pm

nickzac wrote:

I personally prefer aftermarket straps over anything else. That's because I have a smaller wrist meaning I can get the length that best fits me, and I prefer shark to all other materials. I also favor the large PAM-style Pre-V buckle, which I think is more masculine than other smaller buckles, and I prefer a strap be 22mm all-around to compliment the buckle rather than 22mm at the lugs and 20mm at the buckle (AKA 22-20) or the even more narrow 22-18. (Most production straps will be either 22-20 or 22-18).

I went on a bit of a strap kick because I found many makers I liked and so I figured I would purchase 20-30 straps and sell a few and keep the ones I like most. Thus far, I have been very impressed with overall quality. I have straps from Breitling, StrapSmith, ABP Paris, Stone Creek Straps, Strapped For Time, K-Straps, Kain Heritage (forum sponsor), Vero Squalo (the original by Dirk), and numerous others. Materials range from shark to cow to horse to ostrich to python to lizard to croc/gator to fish to fabric to synthetic. All of the above are exceptional products with unique characteristics, but I would have to say that the Vero Squalo is my personal favorite and I think it is probably the best quality strap money can buy.

If you are on a budget, Strapped For Time makes some OEM-spec Breitling straps that are exceptionally well-made. This strap ( http://www.strappedfortime.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=23 ), made to Breitling's specs (years ago they offered shark) is IMO the best strap you can get for under $50 and it's quality is absolutely exceptional. If you purchased the black model, you could have it re-stitched. They also sell a carbon fiber model I have which I like more than 5 other carbon fiber models I have/have owned (http://www.strappedfortime.com/shop/ite ... itemid=169). And believe it or not, it's the cheapest price out of all of the ones I had/have. You can get the yellow stitch on that.

Thanks for that link, I just checked them out they have some nice straps.

wyliss · **Posted:** Fri Jan 11, 2013 12:43 am

Guys many thanks for taking the time to reply; it is appreciated.
My Breitling is a beautiful piece of equipment but at times I'd like to change straps to give a differing look if you all see what I mean.
I'm based in the UK so it looks like import taxes for me

Cheers

zak57 · **Posted:** Fri Jan 11, 2013 1:43 am

Have a look at Toshi straps, they are UK based and produce some very nice hand made straps in a wide range of styles and colours.

wyliss · **Posted:** Fri Jan 11, 2013 1:57 am

Cheers Zak

wyliss · **Posted:** Fri Jan 11, 2013 2:25 am

From looking through various site, of which there are many!, I think I want either a leather or rubber strap that is thick but it has to have yellow detailing/stitching to match the face of my watch.

zak57 · **Posted:** Fri Jan 11, 2013 3:04 am

wyliss wrote:

From looking through various site, of which there are many!, I think I want either a leather or rubber strap that is thick but it has to have yellow detailing/stitching to match the face of my watch.

Post a pic for us all to see when you have made your purchase. Don't stop at one strap, you'll need at least 10!!

wyliss · **Posted:** Fri Jan 11, 2013 3:59 am

zak57 wrote:

wyliss wrote:

From looking through various site, of which there are many!, I think I want either a leather or rubber strap that is thick but it has to have yellow detailing/stitching to match the face of my watch.

Post a pic for us all to see when you have made your purchase. Don't stop at one strap, you'll need at least 10!!

I think I will also purchase a Bergeon 6767F!

zak57 · **Posted:** Fri Jan 11, 2013 4:02 am

Yep, wise choice. You'll definitely need one of those and a good pair of specs.................

wyliss · **Posted:** Fri Jan 11, 2013 4:11 am

Quite like this with the yellow
http://www.strappedfortime.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=83

Roffensian · **Posted:** Fri Jan 11, 2013 5:22 am

Just go to the ABP site and use their configurator (put several hours aside). You'll need a second mortgage to get a collection of straps, but they are mighty fine! :-)

nickzac · **Posted:** Sat Jan 12, 2013 1:12 am

I don't know how in the UK import tariffs work, but in the US most imported watch straps are oddly exempt from laws that would normally assess a % tax on the overall item value...even most exotic materials aren't assessed.

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