Thanks HS. I have been waiting along time, but I am sure it will be worth it. 

Edipis: that is a nice collection. 7 luxury pieces is a nice balance so that nothing gets ignored. I don't count my Gshock or Galaxy watch as part of my collection as those are for very specific purposes. Gshock is for dirtbiking and UTV where I need to keep track of time but a luxury watch would get vibrated to death or might suffer a large impact. And the smart watches are for doing things when I am on call and cant carry my phone like trials riding and water park.

Received the strap I ordered for my Saxonia thin, which the leather ( 2.5mm thick ) is Chromexcel from Horween Tannery Chicago USA.

The photos are of that strap with the ALS, however because the ALS strap is extremely comfortable, and the lug width of the Grand Seiko Quartz I have is the same as the Saxonia, I may have that new strap put on the GSQ.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That looks very nice, but I would still stick with the strap that came with it. I really like taper on straps for elegant watches, but I agree that it would be great on the GS.

I received a mid-80s Leonard Paris 36x36" scarf that I found on eBay. 

Edited February 8, 20197 yr by EdipisReks1

The Graves Supercomplication? Nice!

28 minutes ago, Hopstretch said:

The Graves Supercomplication? Nice!

I'm glad I wasn't the only person to notice that.  The "digital" pocket watches are also wonderful.

I think those are IWC Pallweber jump hours?

That's what it looks like to me. I would love to see iwc put their new version of that movement in a production watch. 

I can imagine they developed it for just 775 limited edition  pieces.

18 hours ago, EdipisReks1 said:

That looks very nice, but I would still stick with the strap that came with it. I really like taper on straps for elegant watches, but I agree that it would be great on the GS.

Decided to take your advice Reks, and have kept the ALS strap on the saxonia, and had that new strap put on the GSQ.

 

Sorry about the not so clear photo.

It looks great!

As I’ve mentioned, I find the Saxonia strap to be extremely comfortable, the problem however is because of its buckle, getting the strap through the keepers can be somewhat awkward, and over time will end up damaging the strap.

To solve that problem I’ve had the Grand Seiko deployant clasp fitted to the Saxonia’s strap with them being the same width.

This depoyant clasp makes the comfort just as good as with the ALS buckle, the downside though is it doesn’t sit as flush.

So my next thing to get is an ALS deployant clasp, although I don’t know when that’ll be because they’re not cheap.

Anyway here’s a couple photos of that GS deployant clasp on my Saxonia, and a couple more of the ALS clasp.

 

Have you tried to put the strap into the retainer before closing the clasp? That's how I do it on my Zenith which had a similar issue.

1 hour ago, Torpedo said:

Have you tried to put the strap into the retainer before closing the clasp? That's how I do it on my Zenith which had a similar issue.

Yes, that’s what I’ve done since using the GS deployant clasp, which puts no stress on the strap.

 

Oh I see, I kind of misunderstood what you've done   I thought you removed the LS clasp, but if I'm not seeing it wrong your Saxonia came with a buckle, not a clasp. I agree that a clasp would cause less wear on the strap than a buckle. All my buckle straps died at the holes part where the buckle fits in (sorry if that sounds weird in English, I can't find a better way to explain it).

Straps wear out. They are like tires. Just wear the damned watch the way it was made.

Turns out that Jean Rousseau makes the straps for Omega on my Speedmaster FOIS.  Took a while for their East Coast store to get the detailed measurement info back from the mother ship, but they did.  

I filled out their "bespoke" order form....LOL.  I think this means custom and you get what you pay for.   Provided tons of detail including my desire to have a deployant buckle installed vs the tang buckle which is not my thing.  Hopefully it all goes to plan.  I'm excited.  I think the Speedy is going to look good with a brown alligator strap.

HS

Was emailed a shot of some skins to show me the hand finished semi-mat in question for the strap I'm having made.  It's the middle skin.  All in large, square scales.

Also a shot of the deployant clasp.

HS

I think it's going to look awesome, Sam!

Yeah, awe$$ome!

18 minutes ago, Augsburger said:

Yeah, awe$$ome!

I doubt it's more than $800.

It won't be nearly that much.  

HS

Well I guess it all depends on if they are "limited edition" watch bands because if they are I am guessing $800 is on the low side.

I am having the strap made to the size of my Omega Speedmaster FOIS.  It's a 19/16mm so it's a bit fussy in that most stock sized straps will not fit (at least perfectly).  

The nice alligator hide finished in a semi-matte with large square scales, calf skin backing, and with the J.R. deployant clasp is well under $500 delivered.  Closer to $400.  It would have been less if I could have used the stock size available.

Not sure where $800 came from.  That seems a lot for a watch strap, but perhaps I am uninitiated.

HS

On 2/23/2019 at 5:14 PM, HemiSam said:

Not sure where $800 came from. 

I was expecting it to actually be around $500, but you'd be shocked with a replacement OEM gator strap can cost from a dealer.

10 hours ago, EdipisReks1 said:

I was expecting it to actually be around $500, but you'd be shocked with a replacement OEM gator strap can cost from a dealer.

This I believe.  The Omega deployant clasp is silly money.  I can only imagine what one from say AP would be...

HS

2 hours ago, HemiSam said:

This I believe.  The Omega deployant clasp is silly money.  I can only imagine what one from say AP would be...

HS

Montblanc wants $650 for an alligator strap for their (admittedly very nice and cheaper than it should be) Heritage Ultra Slim. Just for the strap! It is, by the way, made by guess who.   As are JLC, AP, and Patek straps.

Edited February 26, 20197 yr by EdipisReks1