ColaReb Spoleto Rust
February 21, 2018
(Note: stand alone strap images are taken from http://shop.colareb.it/en/ website)
Watch strap companies are not known for large fancy advertising budgets, or product ambassadors, or nautical expeditions. Watch straps go on about the business of holding onto the star of the show with little fan fare. If it was not for the Internet and e commerce I doubt many watch companies or watch strap companies would even exist. Enter Colareb. A small Italian company based out of Rome who make beautiful husband and wife designed watch straps using trained artisans to make a very compelling product. Actual production of the Colareb straps are carried out in the Tuscany and Marche regions of Italy.
Like all my reviews, I like to allow the company to put their own value statement in their own words without my ham-fisted words diluting the message.
If watches were to be used only as a timepiece, collectibles or even this website would not make sense.
If you are here is because you think a watch is more than of case-hands-movement sum, and we think it also.
Italian history and culture, art and handicrafts are recognized and appreciated in the world and we are pleased to give a little contribution.
From 25 years we try to combine our manufactured works with the quality and aesthetics.
Labor, expertness, attention to the quality and obstinacy are our artisans merits… and we are proud of them
Well with that bit of business taken care of, we can get on to the review.
DIMENSIONS
The Colareb Spoleto Rust I have is 20mm lug to lug width (all dimensions that follow are for that model alone). The strap’s are 120mm/75mm (holes end/buckle end) in length. What that means is if you have a 6.75″ wrist, you will be on the 2nd or 3rd to last hole on the strap with plenty of free length to tuck into the keepers. The Spoleto measured about 4mm at the spring bar in thickness but tapered down to 3mm at the free end and the buckle. These numbers are about ± 0.5mm as depending on how hard you want to squeeze the calipers. As far as width, the strap starts out at 20mm at the spring bar and tapers ever so slightly to 18mm at the ends.
DESIGN
In the simplest of things lies great detail. Making bread is just flour and water and a pinch of salt and some leavening. But yet as easy as bread is to make, the outcomes are so vastly different. Details and craftsmanship come into play. The texture of the Spoleto is a coarse almost suede in feel. It is completely random and unique from one strap to the next. The folds or wrinkles in the hide can still be seen. Each Spoleto is an individual. With just a hint of contrast stitching at the spring bars and strap ends, the textured leather is the star of the show. The more it wears, the more personality it picks up. I like the detail of the 4 stitches next to the spring bar. It gives a nod to a purposeful retaining feature, while giving a light pop of color that will no doubt compliment most watches. The sides of the strap are sealed in a dark brown and if you look hard you can see the lamination of multiple layers of leather glued together. This gives the strap its design, but also great strength. and flexibility. The strap does not taper as much as some other straps, so it has an feeling of strength and purpose.
On the underside of the strap, the part that touches your skin, Colareb does something very special. It feels like a glove leather suede of some kind. Smooth and nonabrasive to the touch with their name and logo and Made in Italy proudly stamped. Construction is faultless.
KEEPERS and BUCKLE
Colareb uses a customized buckle that made of polished steel. It has a the ‘r’ surrounded by a square in relief that maybe was etched or laser sintered. It matters not, but what does matter is the logo is not merely stapped into this buckle. It has some texture and is ever so slightly three dimensional. I will say it again, details like this are what make a strap maker stand out. You can see the thought and effort put into the buckle. Next to the buckle are the standard keepers. Again we see the normal one fixed and one floating keeper. They are tanned/dyed in the same color and texture as the strap. On the non buckle end or free end, the strap is finished off nicely with more contrast stitching. The ends are ever so slightly thinner than the spring bar side of the straps. Why did Colareb go to so much trouble for this 1 mm. A thinner end is easier to insert into the buckle, and the keepers. They knew you would have a double thickness of strap on the bottom of your wrist, and saving that 1mm on each makes a 2mm thinner stack up. Again. Details.
HOW DOES IT WEAR
Straight out of the red envelope it comes packaged in, the Spoleto does not disappoint. It does not suffer from stiff strap syndrome, which is a condition I term from when the strap stands stiff legged around your wrist. It blends to the curvature of your wrist bones and feels broken in on day one. The suede like inner liner is smooth on the wrist and slides comfortable in all directions. This strap is one you never have to bend to fit you. It feels made for you. The level of flexibility in the leather and the ease at which it moves with you is spectacular.
WHAT IS THIS STRAP GOOD FOR
I have had my Spoleto on just about every 20mm watch I own. From dress watches, to field watches, to aviation watches it never fails to elevate the experience of wearing the timepiece. I would probably NOT put this strap on a diver, NOT because it would not look amazing, but because it has no marketable water resistance. I have swam with a different color Colareb before and it did get bleached by the chorine in the pool a tad. I found if you roughed it up a bit some came back, but lets say for practical purposes this is not a dive strap.
WHERE CAN I GET IT
I have purchased Colareb Straps from Amazon, and from Holbens. But you can also order from them directly as well.
Colareb
http://shop.colareb.it/en/spoleto-watch-strap/38-spoleto-brown.html
Holbens fine watch bands
http://www.holbensfinewatchbands.com
Amazon
http://amzn.to/2FkJ7ug
More images of the Spoleto
