What watch do you wear?

glitch · 4 Feb 2020 at 18:42

mrk said:
Got the Crown & Buckle Obsidian one piece adjustable NATO today...

...Easily top NATO strap for quality and design I have had yet. Not as stiff as a genuine Maratac but I only had those in 22mm which tend to be thicker anyway.

Do you have a list of all the NATO straps you have tried out, over the years?

My interest is primarily 22mm for my potential Pelagos, but that size would also fit my other watch as well.

BananaDunka · 4 Feb 2020 at 19:32

glitch said:
Do you have a list of all the NATO straps you have tried out, over the years?

My interest is primarily 22mm for my potential Pelagos, but that size would also fit my other watch as well.

Too many to list off the top of my head but I have photographed the majority of the good ones!

I can vouch for Watchgecko's Zulu NATOs as well as genuine Maratac branded ones. RSM straps have a substantial quality in look and feel Herringbone series as do Crown & Buckle's new Chevron range. My ultimate favourite though is the surgical rubber grade NATOs from Watchgecko (branded by Zuludiver). They are so soft, so comfy and look so good. They do cost a bit between £28 and £42 depending on model, but they are worth every penny.

Pelagps specifically then my favourite NATO will remain the Zuludiver 328 from Watchgecko.

But if you are no a fan of rubber materail for straps then the Crown & Buckle Chevron or RSM straps Herringbone canvas are extremely high quality whilst the Zulu brand ones come with buckles with removable springbars so you could use the Tudor buckles on those.if you wanted to I guess.

Here's what my fav ones looked like, all available in 22mm too.

Crown & Buckle Chevron Obsidian (currently my favourite looking non rubber NATO on the market I think due to the weave design and quality):

RSM straps Herringbone:

ZuluDiver 328:

The Horween ChromXL was a great soft leather NATO on the Pelagos too:

Other classics include the Vintage Bond but it's not as thick as the others:

Monkeyswag (MKS) also do some Maratac rivalling NATOs in canvas but only WatchGecko seem to sell the Zulu brand which offers removable buckles.

Timefactors version with newer design hardware:

Perlon selection, I had black and green:

The best til last though, Zuludiver 328, I have the later model seaton on my current watch though. Same type of rubber, just slightly different buckles:

vanpeebles · 5 Feb 2020 at 08:42

Seeing the titanium Hamtun made me think of the Poljot SS-18 that I own:

V_R · 5 Feb 2020 at 09:47

That Tudor Palagos is a stunning watch.

BananaDunka · 5 Feb 2020 at 21:34

My fav watch to date for sure, probably even of all time. If I ever got another Pelagos I would get the right hand version to wear on my left purely because I like the crown on the left.

vanpeebles said:
Seeing the titanium Hamtun made me think of the Poljot SS-18 that I own:

You need to calm your hands down when changing straps!!!

vanpeebles · 5 Feb 2020 at 21:39

Not my fault, I guess a previous owner has took the original strap off (the one shown) and fitted another one, then changed it back when I got it. You rarely see them with the original strap.

BananaDunka · 5 Feb 2020 at 21:43

Really nice watch though. The bead blasted case I am a big fan of. That functional tool watch approach.

vanpeebles · 5 Feb 2020 at 21:52

I have another Poljot that I bought new and can’t find. Also a Vostok Komandirskie Automatic.

BananaDunka · 6 Feb 2020 at 07:54

Anyone seen these in person?

https://cornichewatches.com/

Specs and design certainly look excellent.

randomshenans · 6 Feb 2020 at 08:27

I think they look a bit argos for me lol trying to be top end, but just don't hit it for me. IMO anyway

Skidder · 6 Feb 2020 at 09:16

Basher · 6 Feb 2020 at 09:28

mrk said:
Anyone seen these in person?

https://cornichewatches.com/

Specs and design certainly look excellent.

Looks pricey for what they are to me. I also suspect they'll feel pretty cheap in person.

glitch · 6 Feb 2020 at 09:45

mrk said:
Too many to list off the top of my head but I have photographed the majority of the good ones!

Thank you very much for all of that information! I'm off to the US later this month, so will probably put an order in for some of the US straps you mentioned.

Let me know if you want anything and I'll add it to the order.

glitch · 6 Feb 2020 at 09:50

I have found a private seller who has a BNIB Pelagos, with all the original stickers still in place as well as a purchase receipt... but I have no way of knowing for sure if the watch is genuine. The chap seems legit, but you would certainly want to appear legit, right?

Is there a way of authenticating a Tudor, for a small fee? Could I take it to an AD for them to inspect?

chanjy · 6 Feb 2020 at 09:59

The average AD probably knows less about watches than you do...

Maybe an official service centre would be able to help?

Richdog · 6 Feb 2020 at 10:11

mrk said:
Anyone seen these in person?

https://cornichewatches.com/

Specs and design certainly look excellent.

Dude they look pretty naff... lots of clone designs and overuse of gold colour.

glitch · 6 Feb 2020 at 10:12

Just called Rolex and they will take the watch in for service and only give an estimate if it is genuine, but will not officially state that the watch is genuine.

Richdog · 6 Feb 2020 at 12:02

glitch said:
Just called Rolex and they will take the watch in for service and only give an estimate if it is genuine, but will not officially state that the watch is genuine.

Get the estimate to ensure it's genuine, then refuse to have the work done and get it sent back to you.

glitch · 6 Feb 2020 at 12:16

That is the plan! It will certainly settle some of the nerves I have about not buying through an AD.

eviled · 6 Feb 2020 at 13:49

glitch said:
Is there a way of authenticating a Tudor, for a small fee? Could I take it to an AD for them to inspect?

I use https://watchguy.co.uk/ for verification + inspection.

You get the watch posted directly to him, he inspects, times, and opens if necessary and then advises you to reject or accept the watch.