Omega First Omega In Space
Welcome to the third installment of Strap this Watch!
This review is a request I received from an email to the Strapsense contact me page. I would like to thank Henson for taking the time to write in, and make the request. Henson this is your FOIS Strap This Watch review.
The reason I started the Strap This Watch section of Strapsense is because some watches are very hard to find a strap for and seeing your watch on various straps can inspire you to try something new. I know what you are thinking, Speedies are the easiest watch on earth to pick out a strap for. You could literally reach into a 50 gallon barrel of straps and pick one out and it would look fairly decent as the Speedy has one of those black/white dials that can adapt to darn near any color and texture (like the seiko SARB033). However, the engineers at Omega have a sick sense of humor and decided to grace the FOIS with a 19mm lug width. Their in lies the challenge.
Now I am very aware that you can buy a nice 19m strap from several vendors, and you can also get them made custom from a few vendors as well (some of them I have reviewed) but in general it is not nearly as easy as a standard even number width watch strap. So what do you do?
Being an engineer, as a general rule I do not like trying to force 10 lbs of stuff into a 9 lb bag. However, not all 9 lb bags are created equal, meaning not all 20mm straps are really 20mm. When I do a strapsense review, I always measure the strap width and report on the ‘actual’ width. Many 20mm strap are 19.3-19.7mm. It is in this tolerance variation you can find opportunities. The straps I am going to show in this Strap This Watch article are both 19mm and 20mm from the factory, with the 20mm straps being on the low side of tolerance band purely by chance. I want to be clear that even if you buy the same strap pictured, it may not be the same size. You have to measure and hope to get lucky.
So with that said, as a general rule, I want you to buy a strap with the same size lug width as your watch if at all possible. With that said, lets get started!
First up is the B and R bands Brown Horween Classic watch strap. This is a wonderful soft and supple strap that I reviewed recently (https://strapsense.com/2018/05/24/b-and-r-bands-brown-horween-classic-vintage-watch-band/) and it really won me over with how it melts around the wrist. B and R really make the most of Horween leather. I wanted to start with this strap as it is the first 20mm strap that came in about 19.6mm and a good example of what can work. Horween Chromexcel leather is extremely pliable and almost moist with oils and waxes to the touch. Combine that soft texture and its sub 3mm thickness (2.6mm) and you have a candidate that can easily be made to fit a 19mm lug width watch. This particular B and R band is not available in a 19mm so this could be a viable option.
With the strap straight out like this, you can see some slight compression of the strap at the lugs, but its is minimal. Having worn this strap for a week just like this, the effect is not noticeable while on the wrist ( as the strap angles down around your wrist). It takes bright lights of my photo box and having the strap 180 degrees flat like this to bring it out. I find this strap looks amazing on the speedy as it fits the early non-protected pushers vintage look very well.
On previous Strap This Watch articles, I usually go into if I would put this strap on the watch, but this is a speedy, which means they will all look different degrees of fabulous. It would be like rating pizzas, they are all good, some are just ‘more’ good.
Next up is one of the first straps I ever bought for the speedy from Watch Gecko, and it is actually a true 19mm strap that tapers to 16mm. It has a great thickness to it while still being very comfortable and flexible. I reviewed this strap early on here at Strapsense (https://strapsense.com/2018/03/01/watch-geckos-simple-handmade-italian-leather-strap/) and had a great many good things to say about it. Watchgecko is one of the vendors that sell a decent amount of 19mm straps that are both well priced and of really admirable quality.
Being a 19mm strap means fitment is spot on and no concessions have to be made. The leather on this strap has a beautiful sheen to it, as the wax was applied liberally to the leather and it reminds me of an old vintage sofa or briefcase that has been worn shiny and smooth. The colors are deep and complex which adds to the vintage appeal of the speedy. The white stitching is a stark contrast to the rich deep browns of the strap. Indicies and second hands pop off the dial using those white stitches to bring them out.
The Watchgecko simple handmade italian leather strap is a fine example of doing something simple well. It feels handmade and acts as a nice contrast to the meticulous precision of the First Omega in Space.
Next up is a grey leather strap from Bas and Lokes. This is completely contrary to the previous two straps as this is a suede padded strap and it is not really vintage and certainly not really rustic. The craftsmanship, however, is not in question as Bas and Lokes makes outstanding quality straps in all colors and materials, and most likely widths. And while this is 20mm, Bas and Lokes can make you a strap in any width and taper you like. They offer so many options, you can bet you can match it to anything from 18mm to 24mm in lug width.
The color is very modern and the padding is incredibly generous. It does not echo any racing or space vibes that the speedy naturally resonates. However, it is a very well put together piece and if you lean toward grey as a likable color palette, this strap could be for you. Naturally the speedy can carry a grey strap just fine, and while I think it is not the strongest pairing, it still does work well.
I want you to focus on the color combo and how the padding look in these pics, not so much the fitment, as I think the 20mm here looks a bit cramped. However, this is available in a 19mm. Bas and Lokes offers any color and any finish (suede or padded or smooth, etc.) you would want. They are worth your time to look at as they can make any strap they offer in 19mm. The prices are on the premium side, but the quality is absolutely worth the price.
Switching gears back to a purpose built 19mm strap from Fluco shows how the Speedmaster shines on a traditional rally style strap. Racing is in the Speedmasters DNA, as much or more than its Moon credentials, racing was at the very origin of the watch. Rally straps of all kinds have found their way onto Speedmasters and for good reason. They look amazing.
The fluco shrunken leather strap is very unique in construction and texture. The leather is dense but extremely flexible. The texture is unlike any other hide I have seen as the creases and ridges have a rounded organic appearance created by the drying and shrinking process. Not many vendors use this technique as it reduces the amount of leather available for sale. Fluco manages to produce a near luxury feeling strap for an extremely good price that is not only eye catching but supremely comfortable.
The official name for the strap is the Fluco Hunter Racing Tobacco. I reviewed this strap as well and it is still one of my favorites (https://strapsense.com/2018/03/28/fluco-hunter-racing-tobacco/). The fact that it is conveniently made in a 19mm strap and available from Holbens is just icing on the cake.
Next up is an old channel favorite, and one of the first straps I ever bought. The old Urban Gentry favorite, the Colareb Venezia Ocher in 20mm. I had written off Colareb straps for my speedy as they routinely come in darn near spot on perfect at advertised dimensions. However this particular one was a bit under and the leather is such a high quality that it compressed without much issue. Colareb to my knowledge does not make 19mm straps, so if you are in love with the color or style then you are going to have to do some squeezing.
Luckily in the picture above the strap looks comfortable in the watch. No bulging or wrinkling is seen. In fact even though the Colareb is a notoriously broad sided strap, the pliable leather does a great job of masking any compression effects.
I think this strap just shows how versatile the speedy really is. Bright orange/yellow still managed to look quite nice against the technical dial of the Omega. The soft open pore leather offer a wonderful contrast to the brushed steel sides of the watch and the white stitching works well with the dial. The great news is since this Colareb fit, others may fit as well, and the variety available in the lineup is vast. I would take a look at Holbens to see what they offer. By the way I reviewed this very strap as well (https://strapsense.com/2018/02/21/colareb-venezia-ocher/)
Next up on the list is the very definition of a No Brainer. This is the OEM factory First Omega In Space strap. As you would expect it is 19mm and fits perfectly. I included it as I think it is valuable to take into consideration what the OEM thinks its watch should be paired with. As much as we see ourselves as watch fans, their are people who live and breath Omega night and day and whose only job is to pick a strap to accompany its products. Now I would love to corner these folks and say “19mm, really! WHY!” but it would probably come down to ratios of diameters to lug width and some Speedmaster metric or ratio I am not privy to. Fair enough.
The OEM strap is a splendid blend of sportiness and craftsmanship that is hard to find fault with. The stitching is brilliantly done, the padding is neither too bulky or too sparse. The taper while extreme goes very well with the vintage vibe the FOIS possesses. Keep in mind this particular speedy is only 39mm in diameter, not the professionals more robust 42mm. It can really have a tapered strap without overpowering it. This is the elegance of the FOIS.
Notice the subtle taper in the strap in the pic above the very elegant way the padding evens out. The strap looks natural and at ease with the watch. The leather is elegant and supple and is nicely backed with black leather to keep the moisture away form the soft outer shell.
Say hello to another entry from B and R bands (you will see yet another one as well, as I really think they are one of the very few vendors who strike a remarkable balance with ultra high quality and price). This strap is the 20mm Navy Horween Chromexcel Classic Watch band. This strap shown is a 20mm strap, but this exact strap is available in a 19mm as well which is why I wanted to try to show it.
Even though it is 20mm, it was quite easy to get it to fit on the FOIS. Like all B and R straps made out of Horween leather, the softness and pliable nature of the product is incredible. The strap yields at the slightest touch and is infinitely comfortable for all day wear. The blue color is rich with slight greenish/blue tone to it. I struggle with the NAVY descriptor in the name as it is very much influenced by the green spectrum.
None the less, the color is not an issue as the speedy can pair with any color. It would be a real struggle to find a strap the speedmaster would not be happy with. I think it has to do with the lengthy heritage of the watch and the black/white color palette give this watch a been their done that air about it. The speedy is meant to go with anything and has stood the test of time long enough to reach the lofty goal of icon. That does not happen without near limitless versatility.
Keeping the B and R bands train rolling, I managed to fit the Roadmaster Classic Vintage Horween Strap on the speedy and well. I had reservations about this one as it was very close to 20mm as advertised and is not nearly as supple as the other Horween offerings. The treatment of the strap to achieve that asphalt look does something to the leather to make it less ‘moist’. Thankfully flexibility was not sacrificed nor was quality.
Thankfully the Horween quality is evident the second you wrap it around your wrist. I wanted to include this strap as it takes distressed and raw leather to a whole new level. It reminds me of some of the black distressed straps that came on a few of the Tudor Black Bays. When I saw it, I had to give it a go on the speedy. Naturally like any other strap, it does work and takes on a new personality with the watch. I like the pairing as the crackled leather and raw unsealed sides give the watch a well worn look. It makes the watch look like it has lived an active and amazing life.
Remember here at Strapsense I always say the Watch is the main character but the strap is the story. This strap evokes a life well lived. While not available in a 19mm, and it took a bit of convincing to get in the watch, the results are worth the effort.
I want to conclude this Strap This Watch edition with this spectacular strap from Worn and Worn (see the review here https://strapsense.com/2018/09/02/worn-and-wound-model-2-premium-rye/) called the Model 2 Rye. This was a 20mm strap that came in at a hair over 19mm. The generous spring bar loops make this watch strap wear as easily on a 20mm as it does on a 19mm watch. Simple and wonderfully elegant construction and design is everywhere.
From the moment I took this strap out of the package it literally had me at ‘hello’. It is that well made and crafted that the Horween and Wickett and Craig Leather positively embrace your wrist and welcome you to wear it forever. The sides of the strap are attractively sealed in a contrasting color and the black stitches seems to do a Vulcan Mind Meld with the black in the dial. This could have easily been an OEM strap in my mind. 
The flexibility of the leather and the gradual taper of the strap make it a shoe in for old world vintage craftsmanship. The single metallic keeper is highly polished and rounds out the straps symbiotic relationship with the watch. The orange/brown color called Rye by worn and wound is organic and the small pores in the hide feel ‘healthy’ to the touch, meaning it feels both tough and resoundingly supple at the same time.
The First Omega in Space like all Speedmasters is a master of all straps. Finding one to go with the watch is not a challenge as they will almost all work. Finding one to match your personality is the real challenge. What story do you want your Speedmaster to tell. Racing legend? Space Traveler? Vintage watch afficionado? Dress watch? Casual Watch? The Omega Speedmaster has done it all, and then some. Take some time when looking for a strap for your speedy. What I have shown here is only the smallest tip of the iceberg of what the Speedmaster is capable of. The FOIS has some unique challenges as it is 19mm but as you can see, that can be overcome with planning and choosing straps with very high quality and suitably thin leather (sub 3mm if I had to put a number on it). Again, try to find 19mm straps for you FOIS. They are available and some are of the ultra high quality variety.
Having said that as rule number one, if you fall in love with a 20mm strap and you simply must try it, consider its material, construction and thickness. 19mm watches do not have to equate to not being able to have fun with straps, it just means you need to be smarter. Have fun and good luck.