Fluco Nizza Light Grey Suede Watch Strap

One of my favorite races that has ever existed is the Paris to Dakar Rally.  This is an excruciating 10,000 km test of man as well as machine over some of the hardest terrain on earth. Started in 1978 and was open to both private and professional teams, it has been the LeMans of off-road competitions for majority of my time on this planet. Weaving the various professional disciplines together into a cohesive team that can function at the highest level together almost makes a moon landing look manageable (Almost). To even consider an attempt at such an event would be at the top of any motorsports fan bucket list.  In 1986 one of the most (if not the most) iconic cars to ever race and win this multi day torture test hit the sands and could be argued set the foundation for what we all today call a supercar.  The Porsche 959 (pronounced nine – five – nine thank you very much) was a blend of ultra high tech modern sophistication combined with rugged German craftsmanship.  Today I bring you a watch and strap combo that is perfectly personified by the legendary 959 and its trip to victory in the legendary Dakar.

Both the watch and the watch strap hail from Deutschland.  Fluco was founded in 1952 and has been making quality leather goods since.  Nomos is much younger (circa 1990) but having neighbors like Lang and Glashuette Originale has a way of bolstering your inspiration and effectively raising the bar of what comes out of your factory.  Let us call it awesomeness by association. Much like the 959 in the Dakar, the Nomos and Fluco combination represent the same dichotomy of cutting edge craftsmanship and rugged toughness surrounded by wild untamed natural beauty. 

I have enjoyed wearing this lovely suede watch strap for a few weeks and have grown to appreciate its exceptionally, dare I say luxurious feel.  Before I get to my review, as per strapsense tradition, here is what Fluco themselves say about their product on their own website:

For this watch strap we use calf leather from Germany and Italy. Velour leather gets its velvety soft touch by buffing the leather on the back. Especially with suede there are considerable differences in quality, therefore we have the claim to use only the best quality for our bracelets. All ribbons are exclusively handmade in our manufactory in the Bavarian Forest.

DIMENSIONS

One of the best things about the 37mm Nomos was the size. This smaller case size tames the usually long Nomos lugs and makes an 18mm strap fit wonderfully close to the case so the harmony between case and strap is not broken by a large opening.  This strap from Fluco was the 18mm variety (but is also available in the popular 20mm size as well).  Mine came in at 17.8mm at the lugs and tapers to 15.6mm at the free and buckle end with mostly uniform 2.4mm thick along the entirety of the length. The length of the strap as advertised is 118mm and 75mm on the free and buckled end respectively.  Mine was relatively close to this length to the point the difference is not worth mentioning. On my nearly 7” wrist (that’s 17.7cm) I am on the last adjustment hole for that all day comfortable fit.  If the watch was larger or my wrist was smaller, I would have to add more holes with some leather working tools I have.  

DESIGN

Any time I get to review a suede strap I generally get happy. Suede is easily one of my favorite textures of leather. It is not as technically intricate as a Horween Chromexcel strap that has multiple steps in its tanning and finishing, and it is worlds away from the luxurious finish of a Shell Cordovan strap which is the epitome of luxury. Suede is warm and comforting like a hug from a grandma.  It is soft and aesthetically nonchalant and exudes a carefree if not a bit rugged nature about itself.  If I was a strap, I would probably be suede.  The Fluco Nizzo Light Grey Suede Strap gets a whole lot right in the suede equation. The outside light grey texture is organic and tactile to the touch.  The color listed on the sales description, like all suede, is merely a median description of the colors you can expect.  While suede has no pull up like on some other more wax infused straps, its rough texture reflects light in various ways depending on how you interact with it. Brush it one way it is dark grey, brush it another, it is borderline off white with infinite variations in between.  This is the joy of suede.  It is not fixed into one lane and can move and change with you all on its own. For all but the chronically ODC, this is a wonderful thing.

On the bottom side of the strap is soft calf leather reportedly from Germany.  Proudly displayed in German is the manufacture of origin in a lovely script.  This light brown calf underside leather is described as being treated to resist moisture and increase durability.  During my 3 weeks with this strap, I have not noticed any degradation or shedding of either side of the strap.  The outer leather and inner leather are held together by neat color matched stitching that fully boxes the strap contours. The stitches are flush with the top and bottom of the strap and visually add an appealing bit of control and precision to an otherwise very organic material.

Two last details worth mentioning are the barely their adjustment holes sized to allow the pin to pass through and nothing more.  I am also happy to see this strap has the edges sealed with black side sealant to add longevity to the strap and again serve as a hard edge to contrast the grain of the leather.  All of these details add up to a strap that should give years of good service. 

KEEPER AND BUCKLE

This watch strap has the standard two keeper system with one floating and one fixed.  They are made of the same grey suede as the strap with an equal amount of black side sealant applied. They are nicely sized with enough room to allow the suede free end to easily pass through. That is not a detail that is to be taken lightly.  Often suede has a very high level of friction with other materials and keepers that are sized incorrectly, are immediately off-putting.

The pin and buckle are void of any branding or manufacture.  They are slim and completely appropriate but add little visual interest to the strap.  Both the pin and buckle are full polished stainless steel and sized correctly to work well with strap without causing any undue wear and tear.

HOW DOES IT WEAR

This strap is only 2.4mm thick and has a lovely taper. This strap should be super comfortable, and I am happy to say it really is. The inner calf leather has just enough sheen to reduce friction on the wrist against your skin and it glides on and off effortlessly without affecting how supple and flexible it is. The leather had no memory at all and will stay conforming to your wrist the day you first install it without any need for a break in period.

The suede is a living material like all leather and is susceptible to wear and tear.  Suede while able to brush off minor scrapes that would be noticeable on a Chromexcel strap, cannot resist a dirty set of fingers or brushes with mud. Suede, unfortunately can pick up stains quite easily and getting them out may prove difficult. The first week I had this on my Nomos, I cleaned the filter in our koi pond.  My hands were wet and muddy and I picked up a very slight blemish on the buckle end.  It faded over time and is almost unnoticeable now, but light grey is not a color that can hide much. Something to keep in mind when picking a color for your watch. 

I did not experience any undue wear and tear over my time with the strap.  I pulled it through the buckle my customary 50 times and the strap is no worse for this typical abuse. The adjustment holes likewise show no signs of stretching or wearing out.  The black sealed edges are like new and the underside of the strap looks as if I never washed my dog, which I did much to my Brittany Spaniels chagrin.

WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR

Will skip the obvious detailed explanation as to why this is not a good strap for those who enjoy time beneath sea level.  Instead I want to talk a bit about why I think this is a great choice for the Nomos.  The Nomos is a technically modern (as modern as a mechanical wristwatch can be) wrist watch.  It was a complete departure from the other vintage inspired watches I usually gravitate toward. There is not a hint of vintage in the Nomos, none.  It is a fully polished exposé in thinness and minimalism, that blends clean German exterior design with a beautifully executed movement.  It is for this reason I first thought of a plain white silicone strap which would look the part and work flawlessly with the 200m of water resistance arguable better than the strap I chose.  So, why the Suede?  As in interior design, a strong design statement can be achieved when you combine modern and vintage things together. This strap was my attempt at that. I will let the reader decide how well I succeeded.

Enter the Porsche 959 (you thought I was going to forget about that, didn’t you).  Seeing a half a million dollar car that is usually on some polished concourse or manicured putting green during a car show hurling itself into the world of Dakar is something that has not been duplicated since and possibly ever.  The ultimate high-tech sports car waist deep in sand and rocks and dirt runs a sharp contrast to the next level technology under the cleanly designed exterior lines.  This Suede runs the same kind of dichotomy with the Nomos as the 959 did with its environment.  Yes, this strap can work on any field watch as its rugged organic nature works well with that.  That is easy. It really shines on a more polished dress watch that will never ever see a drop of dirt or water.  It would look amazing on the new Square Oris watches (ANY of them) but would also work flawlessly on a Big Crown Pointer Date.  Do not have an Oris, then a JLC Reverso would be amazing, or many of the Quartz Grand Seiko GMT’s (as long as you do not take advantage of their water resistance). Visually the strap is quite versatile as grey goes with anything, but just keep it dry and clean to ensure a long term relationship.

WHERE CAN I GET ONE

You can buy a fluco strap from many places including directly from them. But I really enjoying buying all my Fluco straps (along with a great many others) form Holbens Fine Watch Bands. Link to this strap is below:

Fluco Nizza Light Grey Suede Leather Watch Band Strap | Holben’s (holbensfinewatchbands.com)

Holbens has been selling me straps for a long time and they are 100% trustworthy. I bought one of my first straps from them and have been using them since.  They are in my recommended vendors list.

SUMMARY

My journey with suede in all its forms will hopefully never end.  It is an approachable material that feels alive on your wrist. Its ever-changing visual appeal gives it a life of its own.  Fluco is still one of the watch strap vendors that makes a strap at a very approachable price while keeping control of its construction in-house with the quality you would expect from something that calls Deutschland home.  Fluco watch straps are a firm staple in the watch strap industry for a reason, and I have never found a single reason to not recommend them with confidence.  Likewise, this light grey suede strap continues that tradition.  It is suede done right and should able to support watches in any price bracket.  Give it a try, just do not go swimming.