The Dive Watch Connection

I've been out of the loop for a long time, especislly whern it comes to straps.

Is alcantara (we used to call it lamboshit) still a thing? What about canvas?

Who are the good strap makers working with these materials these days?

Work with custom canvas strap makers (Art, Drew, Micah) or purchase from RedRock Straps on Etsy.

I’m still baffled why Seiko increased the lug width on this reference from 22mm. The OG GS Divers are perfect on rubber and that 23mm size is a PITA.

You could probably fit a 24mm Isofrane easily and it would look great.

TSD wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 24, 2023 8:07 am

Work with custom canvas strap makers (Art, Drew, Micah) or purchase from RedRock Straps on Etsy.

I’m still baffled why Seiko increased the lug width on this reference from 22mm. The OG GS Divers are perfect on rubber and that 23mm size is a PITA.

23MM is totally a pain in the ass! Thanks, I didn't know if any of the guys who I was familiar with were still "in the game" or who the new players were.

hoppyjr wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 24, 2023 8:32 am

You could probably fit a 24mm Isofrane easily and it would look great.

I've been tempted to just get a 24mm isofrane, I love my 22mm one.
But I'm a little worried about the wear that would occur over time on the inside of the lugs with such a tight fit.

ezcheese wrote:

TSD wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 24, 2023 8:07 am

Work with custom canvas strap makers (Art, Drew, Micah) or purchase from RedRock Straps on Etsy.

I’m still baffled why Seiko increased the lug width on this reference from 22mm. The OG GS Divers are perfect on rubber and that 23mm size is a PITA.

23MM is totally a pain in the ass! Thanks, I didn't know if any of the guys who I was familiar with were still "in the game" or who the new players were.

hoppyjr wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 24, 2023 8:32 am

You could probably fit a 24mm Isofrane easily and it would look great.

I've been tempted to just get a 24mm isofrane, I love my 22mm one.
But I'm a little worried about the wear that would occur over time on the inside of the lugs with such a tight fit.

The Iso is so soft I doubt you’ll see an issue.

hoppyjr wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 24, 2023 10:24 am

ezcheese wrote:

TSD wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 24, 2023 8:07 am

Work with custom canvas strap makers (Art, Drew, Micah) or purchase from RedRock Straps on Etsy.

I’m still baffled why Seiko increased the lug width on this reference from 22mm. The OG GS Divers are perfect on rubber and that 23mm size is a PITA.

23MM is totally a pain in the ass! Thanks, I didn't know if any of the guys who I was familiar with were still "in the game" or who the new players were.

hoppyjr wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 24, 2023 8:32 am

You could probably fit a 24mm Isofrane easily and it would look great.

I've been tempted to just get a 24mm isofrane, I love my 22mm one.
But I'm a little worried about the wear that would occur over time on the inside of the lugs with such a tight fit.

The Iso is so soft I doubt you’ll see an issue.

hell, might as well try it!

I bet you could easily sand .25 mm off each side of the Isofrane for an even better fit. Just next to the lug holes, not the entire length. I’d also look for a used 24mm Iso. All the newer ones I have gotten are much stiffer than the older ones. Maybe it’s my imagination, but it feels like they changed the rubber compound a little bit.

CGSshorty wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 24, 2023 1:06 pm

I bet you could easily sand .25 mm off each side of the Isofrane for an even better fit. Just next to the lug holes, not the entire length. I’d also look for a used 24mm Iso. All the newer ones I have gotten are much stiffer than the older ones. Maybe it’s my imagination, but it feels like they changed the rubber compound a little bit.

Interesting. I’m gonna try out my 22mm isofrane first and see how that fits.

The Strapsmith does nice work with Alcantara. I have one of his, and don't really abuse it, so I can't speak to the durability of it, but it is a comfortable strap to wear.

https://www.thestrapsmith.com/alcantara

unsub073 wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 25, 2023 9:52 am

The Strapsmith does nice work with Alcantara. I have one of his, and don't really abuse it, so I can't speak to the durability of it, but it is a comfortable strap to wear.

https://www.thestrapsmith.com/alcantara

Awesome, thanks!

this is the best strap for this watch. trust me: https://www.watchuseek.com/threads/gran ... p.5455641/

toxicavenger wrote:this is the best strap for this watch. trust me: https://www.watchuseek.com/threads/gran ... p.5455641/

and it’s been up for 3 weeks so I bet he’d take $100. Do it.

hoppyjr wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 25, 2023 8:06 pm

toxicavenger wrote:this is the best strap for this watch. trust me: https://www.watchuseek.com/threads/gran ... p.5455641/

and it’s been up for 3 weeks so I bet he’d take $100. Do it.

I've seen that one on Seiya.
The back of the strap concerns me. It's super ribbed and looks like it really digs into the wrist. Hard pass.

ezcheese wrote:

hoppyjr wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 25, 2023 8:06 pm

toxicavenger wrote:this is the best strap for this watch. trust me: https://www.watchuseek.com/threads/gran ... p.5455641/

and it’s been up for 3 weeks so I bet he’d take $100. Do it.

I've seen that one on Seiya.
The back of the strap concerns me. It's super ribbed and looks like it really digs into the wrist. Hard pass.

Screenshot 2023-01-26 at 9.31.16 AM.png

It’s ribbed for your pleasure.

hoppyjr wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 26, 2023 7:25 am

ezcheese wrote:

hoppyjr wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 25, 2023 8:06 pm

toxicavenger wrote:this is the best strap for this watch. trust me: https://www.watchuseek.com/threads/gran ... p.5455641/

and it’s been up for 3 weeks so I bet he’d take $100. Do it.

I've seen that one on Seiya.
The back of the strap concerns me. It's super ribbed and looks like it really digs into the wrist. Hard pass.

Screenshot 2023-01-26 at 9.31.16 AM.png

It’s ribbed for your pleasure.

ezcheese wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 26, 2023 6:31 am

hoppyjr wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 25, 2023 8:06 pm

toxicavenger wrote:this is the best strap for this watch. trust me: https://www.watchuseek.com/threads/gran ... p.5455641/

and it’s been up for 3 weeks so I bet he’d take $100. Do it.

I've seen that one on Seiya.
The back of the strap concerns me. It's super ribbed and looks like it really digs into the wrist. Hard pass.

Screenshot 2023-01-26 at 9.31.16 AM.png

It is slotted to keep sweat/water from building up under the strap. Comfort wise you cannot beat it. I checked one out recently at a local GS dealer.

ezcheese wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 25, 2023 2:59 pm

unsub073 wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 25, 2023 9:52 am

The Strapsmith does nice work with Alcantara. I have one of his, and don't really abuse it, so I can't speak to the durability of it, but it is a comfortable strap to wear.

https://www.thestrapsmith.com/alcantara

Awesome, thanks!

Here is the strap on it's current watch.

toxicavenger wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 26, 2023 8:25 am

ezcheese wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 26, 2023 6:31 am

hoppyjr wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 25, 2023 8:06 pm

toxicavenger wrote:this is the best strap for this watch. trust me: https://www.watchuseek.com/threads/gran ... p.5455641/

and it’s been up for 3 weeks so I bet he’d take $100. Do it.

I've seen that one on Seiya.
The back of the strap concerns me. It's super ribbed and looks like it really digs into the wrist. Hard pass.

Screenshot 2023-01-26 at 9.31.16 AM.png

It is slotted to keep sweat/water from building up under the strap. Comfort wise you cannot beat it. I checked one out recently at a local GS dealer.

Hmm

unsub073 wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 26, 2023 8:35 am

ezcheese wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 25, 2023 2:59 pm

unsub073 wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 25, 2023 9:52 am

The Strapsmith does nice work with Alcantara. I have one of his, and don't really abuse it, so I can't speak to the durability of it, but it is a comfortable strap to wear.

https://www.thestrapsmith.com/alcantara

Awesome, thanks!

Here is the strap on it's current watch.

Nice! That’s the one I was favoring on the website.

toxicavenger wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 26, 2023 8:25 am

ezcheese wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 26, 2023 6:31 am

hoppyjr wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 25, 2023 8:06 pm

toxicavenger wrote:this is the best strap for this watch. trust me: https://www.watchuseek.com/threads/gran ... p.5455641/

and it’s been up for 3 weeks so I bet he’d take $100. Do it.

I've seen that one on Seiya.
The back of the strap concerns me. It's super ribbed and looks like it really digs into the wrist. Hard pass.

Screenshot 2023-01-26 at 9.31.16 AM.png

It is slotted to keep sweat/water from building up under the strap. Comfort wise you cannot beat it. I checked one out recently at a local GS dealer.

Hey T, which GS AD did you see that strap at? I might try to get one from an AD here rather than through Seiya.

Update on the ISOfrane if anyone is curious, I took the bracelet off and realized the GS spring bars are super fat.
Too fat to fit into the ISOfrane spring bar holes. Now that's girthy!

They make thinner bars with 1.1mm fat tips for Seikos.

24mm strap and curved springbars.


Also I may have an extra 23mm strap. Need to look.

24 x 1.8 x 1.1 tip spring bars is what you needed. Preferably shoulderless if your watch has drilled lugs.