Replacement Straps & Bracelets

I was chatting with a fellow watch enthusiast this morning, and he was interested to get a pair of Jubilee bracelet for his newly-purchased Seiko Turtle. I pointed him towards HK-based Strapcode, which I have made previous orders from although it was for different straps. The above Jubilee from Strapcode goes for USD80.

I have been purchasing many straps and bracelets from various OEM makers over the years; and one word of caution was that you need to take it with a pinch of salt when you were purchasing OEM straps and bracelets. It ain't so much issues with rubber and leather straps normally; but bracelets needed to be CNC-machined right to the very mm, so any small production variations could cause misfits to the case.

I have had to adjust spring lugs in order to accommodate such a circumstance. Sometimes, the seller would make good with replacement sets but at other times, they just ask you to re-send back to them at your own cost so the overseas courier would have made it less of a feasible proposition. So you may just cut your losses and source for a better bracelet elsewhere.

(Of course, it's always possible to get the SC to order a bracelet for your specific model, in which case, you would get a real fit minus the CNC-machining concerns.)

Background Face-Off : Isa vs Zakaria.

OEM bracelets : Solid clasps.

OEM bracelets : Solid end-links.

OEM bracelets : Solid end-links.

But then again, that's part of the fun in this watch hobby. You just try and do the best and get the best possible fit; and if it does not materialise, you could always try again. So good luck with sourcing for a well, even bracelet, mate!