One of the easiest ways to give your watch (new or old) a fresh look is to change out the strap on it. There are all manner of makers out there, ranging from the more affordable (C&B), to the higher end. And today, we’ll be surfing on the higher-end of the range, taking a look at three straps from Micah over at Vintager Straps.Perhaps you’ve not heard of the brand before, and that’s quite possible. Based on his handiwork, though, you can tell Micah is serious about making these straps full-time, and has been for the last five years. Wonder how he does it? Well, you can actually head on over here and see a video of him in action.
So, now on to the straps themselves. When you go to order, you’ve got your choice of 29(!) different styles. Yes, you could opt for some of his ready-made items (and perhaps one will fit your needs, so check it out), but the real fun begins if you go custom. Once you’ve settled on the style you want, you’ll provide the following information with your order:
- Your choice of buckle
- Desired width (if you check his FAQ, you’ll see he can do stepped widths as well)
- Desired length
- Thread color
- Round or oval holes for the tang to go through
- Whether or not you want tubes at the lug end
Once your order is place, you’ll need to be patient, as it will take 3-4 weeks for your strap to be crafted. Now, lets talk about sizing a bit. First off, these are thick leather straps (generally around 4mm thick), and he’s targeting larger-lugged watches (ie, 22mm and bigger; though he can handle 18 and 20mm as well). What this means is you want to pair this up with a watch that isn’t going to be dwarfed by the strap you’re putting on it.
Ok, strap fans, thats where we’re going to leave things for today. Tomorrow, we’ll get into more of what the straps have to offer, and start our closer look at the samples we were sent.
