Artem Straps Sailcloth Watch Strap with Grey Stitching
March 10, 2020
If you have been following my website for any length of time you may recall that I am on a bit of a personal quest to find great do everything straps that are a cut above a NATO or a plain rubber strap. I appreciate it when a strap can go swimming in the morning and then easily work with jeans and a polo without taking the watch into uber tactical mode. Now the common thinking is when you ask one product to do all things, it usually does all of them with lackluster acumen. So while this search for the perfect Jack of all Trades strap may be Quixotic in nature I feel the journey and what I learn along the way is the real reward.
I have had some good luck in the past with finding sailcloth straps so I feel the bar has been raised quite high to exceed my expectations. Artem straps first came to my attention on a few horological facebook groups as well as instagram photos from both customers and Artem themselves. This Australia based company is laser focused on one thing. Producing the finest Sailcloth straps they can. They are not distracted by other products at the moment. Not producing leather straps or even a humble NATO means that we, the customers, get the all of the energy the two talented owners of Artem can infuse into one product line. The dedication is clearly evident as the product is extremely well made and looks like no other stailcloth strap I have ever reviewed.
I have been enjoying the Artem watch strap and really used it in all conditions I could for over two weeks. I have had it on three watches, but primarily wore it on my new Seiko Black Alpinist which this strap could have been made for. Here is a word from Artem about their watch strap in their own words:
The Artem sailcloth watch strap is designed for the discerning watch enthusiast. It is inspired by the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms strap, but with a twist. The Artem strap is also water resistant whilst retaining the tapered contours, padding and flexible fitment we have all come to love.
DIMENSIONS
The Artem Sailcloth strap comes in two sizes, 20mm and 22mm. I was very kindly sent the 20mm version to review so all my comments and measurements are based on that size. At the lugs the strap measures 20.1mm and at the free and buckle end it tapers nicely to 17.5mm. If you are thinking this is a typical vintage taper, you would be spot on. This is a padded strap so at the lugs the center section measures 5.5mm and at the other end of the strap thins to a very flexible 2.5mm.
The advertised length from Artem for this strap is 115mm/75mm for all variants and my calipers duplicate those within allowable tolerances. What that means to you is when worn on a 7″ wrist you will be on the 2nd to last adjustment hole for a ever so slightly snug but comfortable fit. I like to wear my watch strap so I can get my pointer finger under the strap and my wrist up to the first knuckle. This checks that box.
DESIGN
What Artem has created is an extremely interesting strap. It does not feel like rubber or cloth per say as it manages to tactilely juggle both textures quite well. This strap, like the most of the straps sold as sailcloth is not cloth at all, but rather a composite construction made from (proprietary) synthetic materials. This is no shortcoming, however, as this blend drastically increases the capabilities and longevity of the strap over standard organic fibers that break down over time. Modern synthetic materials push the boundaries in terms of weather resistance and this strap takes full advantages of the material science currently available.
The contours of the strap suggest a very rounded and organic theme. The center section is heavily padded but gives to the touch. Too much padding at the lugs can create a strap that resists any movement or bending (leading to stiff leg syndrome – that annoying characteristic of a strap to hold the watch off the wrist because the strap will not bend sufficiently). Thankfully the padding chosen by Artem while thick, does yield quite easily. I also am very keen on the way the padding was done. Some manufacturers start the padding at the lugs and then just stop it suddenly so what is left resembles a python who ate a toaster. Artem gradually reduced the pad so the transition is even and graceful to the eyes.
The top of the strap has a tight weave pattern that does a respectable job of resembling cloth. It seems incredibly durable as through my time wearing it I have picked up zero scuffs or marks of any kind. This weave is carried all the way to the sides of the strap so the look is completely uniform. The center padded portion and the rounded sides are broken up by the grey stitching which is done to a very high degree. The stitches seem to match the sheen of the strap and are neither too thick nor too thin.
On the bottom of the strap is what feels like a very thin piece of respectably soft rubber. Artem is proudly embossed on the underside in all capitals. This Rubber material adds to the incredible durability I have experienced as well as makes fastening the buckle and feeding the lose end through the keepers a joy.
KEEPER AND BUCKLE
The Artem Strap uses a standard two keeper system with a very subtle twist. The first keeper is fixed and appropriately sized to allow easy feeding while not being obtrusive or ungainly. The second floating keeper is a touch wider in construction than the first which is something I really like. Often the second keeper is identical to the first, and visually that is fine. However, the second keepers get handled far more and is moved up or down the strap with regularity. By making the clever choice to make this wider, they have given it more structural robustness and it will handle being positioned up and down (while on the wrist) without stretching or tearing. That was very clever.
The buckle on this strap is one of the finest I have ever seen on an aftermarket strap. It is a bold geometric design with the Artem logo lightly etched on the top buckle. The square tang has a small impression in the buckle for it to securely seat while being worn. The sides and pronounced chamfers are highly polished while the top of the buckle is linearly brushed. Rarely does anybody put this much effort into a buckle and I for one thank Artem for doing so.
HOW DOES IT WEAR
This is NOT a dress strap, even though it does curve nicely around the wrist, do not expect shell Cordovan suppleness with this strap. With that said, right out of the box (the incredibly luxurious and over the top box I may add), it seemed right at home on my wrist. Artem claims there is Zero break in period and I would have to say that is true. I will add though that even though it is good from day one, I found it did get better with use.
The Strap survived my pull through tests without any degradation of the outer weave pattern, the rubberlike material on the underside of the strap or the threads. I wore the strap while working on my Koi pond and washing the car and dog. I liked how it sat next to the wrist and welcomed the near 6mm at the lugs as it hugs the case of the watch and adds to the OEM look that it does a wonderful job of emulating.
The buckle whose praise I mentioned earlier was at first a slight source of irritation for my wrist. The wide ‘feet’ of the buckle mean that the ends poked the wrist when my hand was moved at certain extreme angles. However as the strap gets more and more shaped to my wrist, this occurred less and less until after 2 weeks, it has just about stopped altogether.
I spoke with the owners at Artem and they are aware of this potential issue and are already proactively working on a redesign. In my back and forth with Artem it became clear that they plan to take customer care to a whole new level. Once the redesign is finalized they will offer it to all existing Artem customers. I tip my hat to Artem for standing behind their product. It is incredibly refreshing to know they still care about their customers even after the product has been delivered.
WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR
Find and ocean, pool, lake, or river and your favorite diver or field watch and get to exploring. This strap will work well in most casual and adventure scenarios. The strap has enough thickness to handle nearly any watch and combined with the build quality and fit and finish it can pair well with some of the pricier divers out there (looking at you Tudor Black Bay and Subs)
I found this strap absolutely exceptional on my new black Seiko Alpinist. The Alpinist does not have a straight line on the case so the curved nature of the Artem Sailcloth was a perfect pairing. I also enjoyed this strap on watches like an Oris Divers 65 and my Hamilton Khaki field watch. The strap has an understated confidence about it and feels right at home on many watches. I would keep it away from dressy pieces or watches that are a bit thin. This is a hardy strap that works best with bigger watches with some heft.
WHERE CAN I GET ONE
The only place where you can buy an Artem strap is from the land down under.
Currently the price for the strap is $85 USD.
SUMMARY
What Artem has produced is an adventure ready watch strap that does not break the bank, but gives far more than the price would suggest. Thoughtful design, impeccable build quality, combined with absolutely next level customer service and you have something new in the Sailcloth world that feels special from the moment you receive the box (please take a moment to appreciate the packaging).
I want to close by taking a quote from the Artem website. I think it captures their unique philosophy better than my words could:
Artem is not only a brand, it is a state of mind, and it is embodied in the motto – “Ars est celare Artem” (true art conceals the means by which it is achieved). Our philosophy is simple, firstly, our products embody the artisan, and secondly, fine engineering defines the functionality. Artem sailcloth watch straps are designed and tested to ensure the highest level of comfort and functionality, without compromise.