Always on the prowl for new sources
of watch straps, The Time Bum recently ventured into the online crafts
market that is Etsy. There I discovered dozens of leather workers
selling handmade watch straps, at very reasonable prices. Today, I bring
you my first review of an Etsy find, the $22 button stud watch strap by
J Grants General Store.
The straps are made by Grant Merrill
of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, using American sourced vegetable dyed
hides. They are one piece, pass through straps that fasten with a metal
stud instead of a buckle. Unlike a NATO or Zulu style, there is no
exposed tail to tuck, and no keepers. The leather is only about 1mm
thick, so it slips easily under most spring bars, and buttons with
ease.
Like many straps on Etsy, the button
stud is marketed as a replacement for the 20mm Timex Weekender, but
Grant offers them in sizes 16-22mm, and in 8-10" lengths. Silver and
gold colored studs are available. Leather colors are natural, tan,
saddle, brown, and black. The leather is hand dyed and minimally
processed so some variation is to be expected. For the review, Grant
provided a natural 22mm. My strap measured about 8.5" and with
the stud screwed into the next to last hole, it fit my 6.5" wrist
perfectly. At least for awhile. After the strap began to relax a bit, I
found it necessary to cinch it one more step. Because the tail is on the
inside, there is ample room to experiment.
Natural vegetable tanned leather
starts off very pale and darkens with time, wear, and exposure to light.
When new, the color reminds me of properly cooked pork, an off white
with a slight pink undertone. Perhaps I was just hungry. A photo from
Grant's site compares a new strap to ones with two and four months of
wear, and the transformation is dramatic. I will post an update as mine
weathers and acquires its tan patina, but for now I found it works best
with white dial watches. Grant advises that the leather will be stiff at
first but will soften with use. This is true, but even brand new, it
was not at all uncomfortable. In the interest of science, I took the
strap to Time Bum Laboratories to accelerate the breaking-in process. By
occasionally rubbing the dry strap with my hands, and wetting it with
tap water a few times, I was able to make it quite pliable by the end if
the day. The treatment also took bit of the sheen off it, making this
the first stage of the patina process. I am really looking forward to
watching the leather age, but for those who want color right away, I
would suggest the tan or saddle color options.
I had three concerns about the stud
fastener: that I wouldn't be able to work it, it wouldn't be secure, or
the stud itself would be disproportionately large. I am pleased to
report that all three fears were unfounded. The button fastens like,
well ... a button. It is really that easy, although it helps if you rest
your watch and wrist on something while you button it. Once fastened,
the strap is secure and tugging on the strap will only increase the
tension on the fastener. It will not pop free. Finally, the stud has a
flat brushed top with polished sides. In profile, it is not much taller
than a fastened buckle. The two finishes match most watch cases. It does
not stick out or interfere with a shirt cuff.
The strap is simple, but well
executed. The edges are unfinished but the overall effect is clean.
Unlike some handmade straps I have encountered, the holes are straight
and evenly spaced, and the strap width is uniform. There is no doubt
that it is hand made, but it does not look homespun. Because it is a
pass through strap with unfinished edges, it is best suited to casual
wear. The stud look is very tidy, and works well on slimmer watches like
the Nixon Mellor in the photos, less so on heavy divers. Placement of
the stud is up to you, either high on the strap near the watch head as
pictured on Grant's site, or under the wrist like a conventional buckle
as I have it.
The straps are very reasonable at
$22 each, but even more so at two for $35. If that is not enough, Grant
offers free shipping with the code FREESHIP. Don't see what you need?
Custom orders are available. Overall, I am rather impressed with the
button stud strap and could easily see it my rotation.
Pro: Appealing and uncommon design.
Con: Might not be the best choice for your 47mm Luminor.
Sum: A distinctive casual look at a great price.
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