Strapped for Time Tan Perforated Calfskin Watch Band White Stitch ($39.95)

 

I was thinking the other day about what a hobby is.  Certainly hobbies can range from jogging to collecting stamps to buying and selling old vinyl records. I think a hobby can be practically anything. But what it really boils down to in my eyes is this.  I feel a hobby is something you do that brings you so much happiness that you would do it even if you had nobody to share it with.  In my life I have had many hobbies, but some have faded as the friends I have shared the hobbies with have moved away (Tennis) or I just lost interest (racing R/C electric sedans).  However, a few things have stayed with me as they are as much a part of me as my fingers and toes. One of those I have developed over the years is a profound joy of buying and working on cars both new and old.

One wistful new car day dream I have would be to walk into a car dealer (pick your favorite, it all works the same) and find the specific model of car I would want. I would make small talk with the salesperson and upon deciding on the color I wanted we would both agree I have made the smartest choice imaginable and have a sip of complimentary coffee while we chuckled and toasted my good taste.  Then the conversation would get back to what options I would like.  At that point, I would be quiet for exactly 2 seconds short of what would be considered uncomfortable and toss the entire options booklet at him smiling and say, give me that.  Let that sink in. Ahhh.

Okay I know that is a totally superficial and materialistic day dream, but some things are beyond my control, I embrace my flaws.  So, again, what does this have to do with a watch strap?   Well, when I first picked up this strap from Strapped for Time,  It felt like somebody had checked all the boxes and it was saturated with options and details and it was a lot to take in at first.  That quickly faded as upon closer inspection,  this trap absolutely delivers where you would WANT a rally strap to deliver. Let me tell you about it.

But before I do, here is what Strapped for Time has to say about their Tan Perforated Calfskin Watch Band:

The Stitched Perforated Calfskin Watch Band has a rally sport style perforated leather with a variety of stitch options for your desired look. Very flexible padding and high quality leather provide maximum comfort and style. Handmade exclusively for Strapped For Time with a 5mm thick pad, tapering to 3mm thick on the tail end, and genuine leather lining.

I feel this is being a bit bare bones given the level of detail in this strap.  Let us see if I can add some more flavor to that in the review below.

DIMENSIONS

The strap I ordered from Strapped for Time is 20mm at the lug end so all dimensions are specific to that model (The strap is also available in 22mm as well in case that size suits your application).  The width at the lugs is measured at 19.9mm in width and tapes down to 17.78mm at the buckle and free end.  I often prefer a 20 to 18mm taper as it increases the usability of a strap as it opens more doors to which types of watches this strap can be used.  This strap like others comes standard with market normal 120/80mm length at the free end/buckle end respectively.  Like so many straps made in this size on my 6.75” wrist I am close to the last hole for adjustment.  On this particular strap depending on temperature, I have to wear it on the second to last hole or the last hole for a nice comfortable and controllable fit. The strap starts off with a nice 5.4mm padded thickness at the lugs, and tapers noticeable half way through its length to 2.7mm thick.  In so far as padded watch straps go, this one visually blends the padding very well.  While I like how the padding is soft to the touch, the strap design, and not the padding is still the most powerful visual effect.

DESIGN

The Strapped for Time brown rally strap is a culmination of a lot of really great features rolled up into one very tidy package. Upon first glance the first thing that hits you is the uniformity of the design. The edges are crisp and uniform. Nothing stands out as overpowering and the strap works as a whole independent designed unit. Some straps work symbiotically with the watch to give an overall look that exudes ruggedness, or sophistication, or sportiness.  This strap is so complete I think it can totally redefine a watches look and even purpose.

I have had a conversation with the owner of Strapped for Time about the quality control he puts into his products himself.  Mr. Helms hand pics the leather that will be used for his products (which are made entirely in Europe) as well as the padding and stitching.  This is almost unheard of from a company that sells on the scale of Strapped for Time. Hand picking leather is often the business style of much smaller one person operations.  This level of commitment to quality shows in the final product though. The color of the outer leather on the strap is completely uniform and even. The pores on the hide are extremely small and tight.  The strap comes without a trace of patina and has no discernable ‘pull up’ (color change when bent or twisted).  The leather will discolor a bit when you scratch it with a fingernail, but some light rubbing and the oils from your skin all but eliminate those effects. The leather is just about the perfect thickness for a padded strap. It remain supple and malleable in a way you can feel its strength while still easily yielding to the touch.  All fine leathers I have dealt have a certain amount of hysteresis when bent.  This means that when you take the leather and bend it then set it down, it tends to want to keep the memory of that shape a bit. This aids in the strap yielding to the shape of the wrist and developing a natural curve for each specific owner. All good leather does this while managing to avoid cardboard level of stiffness.

All rally straps have holes in them to allow the skin to breath better than a solid strap. This functional design feature which helps keep the skin cool and dry is the driving definition of what a rally strap is.  The holes in this strap are cut out in a pleasant uniform pattern that is neither too busy nor too sparse. They do pass through the strap all the way to the inner leather layer near the skin.

The stitching on the Strapped for Time trap is bright contrast white with is very tidily done. All the stitches are uniform and equal in tension and length. I like how the stitching near the lugs serves to create a complete boundary around the padding and rally holes in the strap. It is just like so many other features on this strap that the creators did not HAVE to do, but I think it adds to the finished feel fothe strap. The edges of this strap are sealed in black. I have grown to really like colored sealed edges on straps.  It adds a bit of polish to the strap and adds a dimension of color and design that I think elevate the look. The black edge of this strap will serve to support black dialed watches amazingly well all while serving to keep the strap edge from fraying or getting worn. The black sealing on the strap’s edges also have a slight waxy feeling and I have found this sealing helps in making the strap pull up smoother through the buckle as well.  The underside of the strap has very grey toned leather that has a very resilient satin finish to it. It feels like it would have some amount of water resistance, but all the same, I would not count this strap as one you would want to swim with.

There are no markings of any kind on the back side of this strap save for a 20 stamped into it denoting the lug width.  I would have liked to see the vendor take some credit for this product in some kind of way as it is worthy of some branding.  Overall from every angle aside from complete immunity to moisture this strap has ‘all the options’ you could possibly ask for at this price range.

KEEPER AND BUCKLE

If you think the attention to detail stops at the leather on the strap, then you are in for more wonderfully delicious details on the keepers and buckle. The keepers are of the one fixed and one floating variety that is pretty much industry standard at this point.  They are made of the same uniformly dyed leather as the outer leather on the strap. The color match is spot on.  However, the keepers have details worth noting.  They are also sealed with the same durable black sealing as the strap, and they really tie in with the design well. They have a slight roll mark on the edges to make them more visually interesting come off well designed rather than an afterthought as in many other straps on the market. The buckle is fully polished stainless, and is of decent thickness and typical in design. One thing I noticed is that the sides of the buckle are smooth, showing now spring bar holes. This is not an earth shattering detail, but taken with the rest of the watch, it was a detail Mr. Helms chose to keep the lines clean and flowing.  This strap is all about details.

HOW DOES IT WEAR

As I mentioned before, this leather is of good quality. It has no evidence of stiff leg syndrome (that annoying tendency for some watch straps to act like hard cardboard and hold the watch of the wrist with stiff ‘legs’).  It yields to the curves of your wrist without much fuss.  More importantly it takes a set around your wrist well and holds the watch in place. Since this is a rally strap I must confess, that it does do an admirable job of keeping your wrist dry.  I helped coach a 3 hour little league game in the humid Houston spring and never felt a hit of sweat or irritation.  The strap remained comfortable and compliant. I have to think with even more wear, this strap will get even better with time.

WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR

This strap has strong character and definitely moves the strap more toward the sporty side of the watch spectrum.  The more I wear it, the more I feel it comes across as a thoroughly modern style rally strap.  There is not a hint of vintage in this strap and the clean lines and precise manufacturing means I think it can be used to give a great many watches a new lease on life. I could see this working on a few Seiko SARBs (033,035 for example) as well as any Tag Carrera every made. Naturally, on any motorsports themed watch, this is a match made in heaven.  I personally would probably not put this on any vintage piece with heavy amounts of patina as I think the strap is a bit too modern. However, on but any daily wear watch that needs to be kicked up a notch, this can work wonders.

WHERE CAN I GET IT

For great service and quick shipping I recommend you buying straight from Strapped for Time

https://strappedfortime.com/shop/tan-perforated-calfskin-watch-band-white-stitch/

I want to say that Mr Helms at Strapped for Time did not give me this strap, nor did I get a discount on it.  He was perfectly happy to hear I was writing a review and answered all my questions and queries I had with great enthusiasm.   I am very pleased with this strap. It has an amazing array of features that are often not found on one single strap.  With that said, being feature rich is only really good if the quality of each feature is present and accounted for. I am happy to say this strap manufacturer has taken the time to make every detail of this strap executed to a high degree, especially when you stop and realize you are getting this level of quality for the price of less than 40 bucks.