Just a word of advice, the holes on the side of your lugs are to release the pins without having to get nasty scratches on the back of your watch! (if you don't already do that) I have a watch that looks like it's been through a wood chipper now, I wish mine had drilled lugs
Yes, very true. I bought this watch used and assume most of the scratches may derive from putting the spring bars back in, which can also cause scratching.
I have this watch and I feel like the lug holes actually increase the chances of scratching the lugs. Allow me to explain. First of all, with no lug holes you can simply use spring bar tweezers to dislodge both pins at the same time and remove the bracelet. With lug holes you have to insert a paper clip or spring bar tool into the hole, and what you might not realize is that the ends of the spring bars come close to the end of the holes, so if you're not very careful with the tool it's easy to slip and scratch the outside of the lug. I saw several instances of this when I was shopping for a sub. Also, you have to dislodge one side at a time, (unless you are a mutant and have three hands) and once one side is dislodged you have to try to dislodge the other side and remove the bracelet without either end of the spring bars touching the lugs. And these spring bars are much larger and stronger than normal bars. I taped off the lugs and the bars just pushed through the tape and hit the lugs. Let me know if anyone has any tricks!
This was a very informative video. Some Rolexes require a special tool to release the bracelet like the new Explorer II. Wish all watches had drilled lug holes like yours.
I just purchased the "114060" with a pdv coating..it's pretty cool ..I have the 116 date sub in stainless and wanted more if a military watch .I just was looking at straps online and grabbed a smoke grey with black hardware...I feel that will play well with the pdv...I'm so excited but it's bittersweet...this will be my last watch for a very long time unless I decide to part with something and free up the coins...we are very fortunate to have these in our collection...I feel grateful Everytime I out mine on...I had never seen a black sub... especially a blind one.
great video thanks. I am collecting my first 14060M this weekend (2003 two liner) and this has really inspired me to think about changing the straps. Is it easy to change the strap out, hows about a video tutorial !
It's pretty easy, but honestly I'm too lazy to mess with it. Unless you go from NATO to NATO you risk having a little scuffing from spring bar re-entry. Congrats on your two-liner. Steve McQueen would be proud.
Cool video, and nice suggestions! I don't have a Rolex, but a very similar vintage submariner. I for one like ditching the bracelet straps, little too blingy for everyday I think, fashion changes I suppose - also less inviting for opportunist thieves if on a standard leather strap.
Great review and perfect to see the different straps on the same watch for comparison. The Colareb stand out for me as I want to put a leather strap on my Tudor Black Bay. As it is similar to the Rolex, seeing the tan and green straps in your review, it is difficult to choose which one would suit better. Enjoyed the review very much
Awesome job! Just the video I was hoping to find as I consider some new strap options for my Submariner. I love the nato strap look and am also considering a suede strap in camel which looks REALLY hot on the submariner. Thanks again!
Nice strap choices. I got a tan nato and an olive one. Was surprised how great the tan looked on my Seiko skx, well the olive did too. Look forward to putting the tan nato on a white dialed watch.
curved springs bars will work for the Watchstrapson straps.. I use curved spring bars for all my natos too.. And Even me Omega Seamaster came with curved spring bars for the OEM nato option.. They work perfectly on the Sub too.. any watch! :)
Hi great taste in strap choices and great collection for mix and matching outfit/occasion. I am intending to dive into (pun intended) quick release straps for my 14060. I have read on forums that those smaller pins on the quick release might wear the lug holes, do you find this the case in your experience? Or you are more concern with the actual normal spring bars while changing straps?
Great presentation thank you. I like the first one. Are you sure the first strap isn’t the ColaReb Siena Brown? The Firenze you’ve shown looks so different on the websites.
Dude, I'm with you on ditching the heavy metal bracelet 100% but brown straps? You want a black Perlon all day. Looks amazing and you can barely feel the watch is on your wrist.
nice review, just FYI - the bottom strap of the 2 piece perlon is on the wrong way (the folded edge towards the lug is facing outwards instead of inward).
TheDutchSandwich hey thanks. Yes I've educated myself on these pins and bands. I'm using both thinner and curved pins to great success. Thanks for the help and keep posting this great vids.
The Colareb are nice looking straps. But I am not fooled by their pricing. Single cut bands without a liner or base layer. The wrap around the spring bars is quite thin almost paper thin. Four total stitches in the strap. They do choose a great cut of leather to make the strap, but they do not relax the leather. So it comes stiff from the factory. For $50-60 and a few hours a person could make four such straps following the same design specifications using vegetable tanned leather, used motor oil, rubber cement, dental floss and hardware from an old NATO. Any company selling a strap for more than $35 dollars better be putting a lot of time and design into their product. Beware of costly crap. IMHO.
I like the functionality of the CS and how easy they are to change, but the leather and aging quality of the Cola Reb is tough be beat for that vintage feel.
nice video, curiously James Bond never wore what is called a NATO strap in any of his movies, a NATO strap is a fairly recent design, in Goldfinger he wore a regular nylon slip through belt strap with one buckle and did not have any of those fussy steel returns where you loop the end of the strap back over, it was a green and red striped strap that was thinner than the watch lugs, what has happened is that the manufacturer of NATO straps has produced them in those striped designs similar to the watch in Goldfinger and you can indeed buy a NATO strap in those same green and red stripes, Im not so sure why it has suddenly been called the James Bond NATO watch strap....Bond never wore one in a movie, they didn't even exist back then. Also, a word about those scratches where the spring bars enter, if you are removing them yourself just use some sellotape over the metal to protect it from scratches.
It really pisses me off how luxury watchmakers completely ignore quick release straps and it ends up damaging them in the process. They need to accept they exist and get the fuck on making every single strap with them.
In a country where crime abounds, strapping a Rolex deepsea blue lowers it and makes it go almost unnoticed by thieves and only enthusiasts can recognize it. Cheers
I just dont get why when using NATO people fold the end of the strap back in the metal piece. Its soooo ugly. Looks live we are in a savanna with a bunch of water bottles, boots and so on
speedy looks good in nato and leather. sub looks the best with bracelet
Solid advice
Spot on.
Just a word of advice, the holes on the side of your lugs are to release the pins without having to get nasty scratches on the back of your watch! (if you don't already do that) I have a watch that looks like it's been through a wood chipper now, I wish mine had drilled lugs
Yes, very true. I bought this watch used and assume most of the scratches may derive from putting the spring bars back in, which can also cause scratching.
I have this watch and I feel like the lug holes actually increase the chances of scratching the lugs. Allow me to explain. First of all, with no lug holes you can simply use spring bar tweezers to dislodge both pins at the same time and remove the bracelet. With lug holes you have to insert a paper clip or spring bar tool into the hole, and what you might not realize is that the ends of the spring bars come close to the end of the holes, so if you're not very careful with the tool it's easy to slip and scratch the outside of the lug. I saw several instances of this when I was shopping for a sub. Also, you have to dislodge one side at a time, (unless you are a mutant and have three hands) and once one side is dislodged you have to try to dislodge the other side and remove the bracelet without either end of the spring bars touching the lugs. And these spring bars are much larger and stronger than normal bars. I taped off the lugs and the bars just pushed through the tape and hit the lugs. Let me know if anyone has any tricks!
@@marshalbass7098Keep it on the bracelet and get a Seiko diver to enjoy straps on.
Nope, it's there for convenience. If you want to avoid the scratches get a proper spring bar plier.
This was a very informative video. Some Rolexes require a special tool to release the bracelet like the new Explorer II. Wish all watches had drilled lug holes like yours.
Thanks Tim!
I think that what you demonstrated is that every strap looks good on the submariner. I enjoy the video!
:) Thanks for sharing
TheDutchSandwich Does it work on the black GMT too?
I just purchased the "114060" with a pdv coating..it's pretty cool ..I have the 116 date sub in stainless and wanted more if a military watch .I just was looking at straps online and grabbed a smoke grey with black hardware...I feel that will play well with the pdv...I'm so excited but it's bittersweet...this will be my last watch for a very long time unless I decide to part with something and free up the coins...we are very fortunate to have these in our collection...I feel grateful Everytime I out mine on...I had never seen a black sub... especially a blind one.
Nice
Great helpful video. The black submariner is perfect for band Changes. The olive band looks awesome.
Agreed and thanks for watching
great video thanks. I am collecting my first 14060M this weekend (2003 two liner) and this has really inspired me to think about changing the straps. Is it easy to change the strap out, hows about a video tutorial !
It's pretty easy, but honestly I'm too lazy to mess with it. Unless you go from NATO to NATO you risk having a little scuffing from spring bar re-entry. Congrats on your two-liner. Steve McQueen would be proud.
Cool video, and nice suggestions! I don't have a Rolex, but a very similar vintage submariner. I for one like ditching the bracelet straps, little too blingy for everyday I think, fashion changes I suppose - also less inviting for opportunist thieves if on a standard leather strap.
Great review and perfect to see the different straps on the same watch for comparison. The Colareb stand out for me as I want to put a leather strap on my Tudor Black Bay. As it is similar to the Rolex, seeing the tan and green straps in your review, it is difficult to choose which one would suit better. Enjoyed the review very much
Thanks so much Lawrence - I'm glad it helped.
Awesome job! Just the video I was hoping to find as I consider some new strap options for my Submariner. I love the nato strap look and am also considering a suede strap in camel which looks REALLY hot on the submariner. Thanks again!
Thanks Ron! Glad it was helpful to see different options.
Nice strap choices. I got a tan nato and an olive one. Was surprised how great the tan looked on my Seiko skx, well the olive did too. Look forward to putting the tan nato on a white dialed watch.
As a rule, I generally try to buy olive, navy, khaki, black, or white. One will work.
No date and proportional case size. Love this sub. The new ones looks like a body builder with skinny legs lol
haha This one is tough to beat
Nice review! Thank you so much for the kind words! (aren't Quick-Release pins awesome!?)
You bet!
This video has sent me to your site. I thought quick release bars were only for FP Journe's and Patek's. I hope you ship to Australia!!
curved springs bars will work for the Watchstrapson straps.. I use curved spring bars for all my natos too.. And Even me Omega Seamaster came with curved spring bars for the OEM nato option..
They work perfectly on the Sub too.. any watch! :)
Good call!
I ordered one of the Watchstrapson straps.. they are great!
The blue or the grey and black nato. Good vid.
john strachan also good for an Omega
Awesome video buddy. The simple, cheap Bond looks so good on a Sub.
Thanks Greg
Yeah, I would consider the Bond strap. Though I wished to buy an original Omega one, but now I could use this one for both my speedy and my SD
Great video thanks for the ideas, can you do a video with straps that are waterproof , Thanks again & all the best
I really want a oyster flex bracelet on my 16610 . Do you know where we can buy a real one with the glide lock and if it fits?
You can also use curved spring bars to fit the strap
Great idea!
Can you send me exact link for that tan strap at end of video please? Thankyou
Hi great taste in strap choices and great collection for mix and matching outfit/occasion. I am intending to dive into (pun intended) quick release straps for my 14060. I have read on forums that those smaller pins on the quick release might wear the lug holes, do you find this the case in your experience? Or you are more concern with the actual normal spring bars while changing straps?
You have to try a Canvas Strap, I really love to wear my Omega SMP on a black canvas Strap.
the tan nato is incredible!
Great presentation thank you. I like the first one. Are you sure the first strap isn’t the ColaReb Siena Brown? The Firenze you’ve shown looks so different on the websites.
It may be. It's been a while
Just bought the Gentleman's Strap and two Nato Straps.
Thanks for making this vid my man.
Awesome. Glad it helped
I’m going with a Rubber B strap... $240 bucks. Made in Switzerland, and the best out there.
Very nice choice
On that Submariner what size is the width of the strap 20mm or 21mm?
20
Thinking about buying a submariner no date...just the vid I needed !! TNX ! Bedankt !
Hup Holland
@@TheDutchSandwich yup
What is your wrist size? Just so I have an idea how big these straps really are :)
7 inches
Great video, what was the name of the last watch strap? I did not quite catch the name. Thanks!
Perlon?
I do really love sand, khaki nato too.
Good idea for a video, the sand does indeed look good!
Thanks. Agreed
Dude, I'm with you on ditching the heavy metal bracelet 100% but brown straps? You want a black Perlon all day. Looks amazing and you can barely feel the watch is on your wrist.
Interesting advice. I might have to try it someday
nice review, just FYI - the bottom strap of the 2 piece perlon is on the wrong way (the folded edge towards the lug is facing outwards instead of inward).
👍
black or black and gray
Can these straps work with the Yachtmaster 16622?
yes
100%
Love the video. Question. I have a Rolex Submariner and the first darn nato I bought is too thick. What do I order in pins to get it to fit?
Thanks
Natalie Mitchell thanks for the reply. I just ordered a couple 1.5mms off your recommendation.
You may also try curved pins
TheDutchSandwich hey thanks. Yes I've educated myself on these pins and bands. I'm using both thinner and curved pins to great success. Thanks for the help and keep posting this great vids.
The Colareb are nice looking straps. But I am not fooled by their pricing. Single cut bands without a liner or base layer. The wrap around the spring bars is quite thin almost paper thin. Four total stitches in the strap. They do choose a great cut of leather to make the strap, but they do not relax the leather. So it comes stiff from the factory. For $50-60 and a few hours a person could make four such straps following the same design specifications using vegetable tanned leather, used motor oil, rubber cement, dental floss and hardware from an old NATO. Any company selling a strap for more than $35 dollars better be putting a lot of time and design into their product. Beware of costly crap. IMHO.
If you're looking for a weekend project I guess you could do that. I'd rather just leave it to Colareb and I'm fine with them having some profit.
Were r the rubber straps
I went more upper end. I could've thrown in a Rubber B or Everest come to think of it
What mm are the straps for the submariner?
20mm
Nato Strap 👍
Do you prefer the Colareb or Clockwork Synergy straps?
I like the functionality of the CS and how easy they are to change, but the leather and aging quality of the Cola Reb is tough be beat for that vintage feel.
just received my colareb its quite thick but soft too ..for the price one of the best leather strap imho
very nice
nice video, curiously James Bond never wore what is called a NATO strap in any of his movies, a NATO strap is a fairly recent design, in Goldfinger he wore a regular nylon slip through belt strap with one buckle and did not have any of those fussy steel returns where you loop the end of the strap back over, it was a green and red striped strap that was thinner than the watch lugs, what has happened is that the manufacturer of NATO straps has produced them in those striped designs similar to the watch in Goldfinger and you can indeed buy a NATO strap in those same green and red stripes, Im not so sure why it has suddenly been called the James Bond NATO watch strap....Bond never wore one in a movie, they didn't even exist back then. Also, a word about those scratches where the spring bars enter, if you are removing them yourself just use some sellotape over the metal to protect it from scratches.
Thanks for sharing Chris!
For so many of us in cyberland, all I need is the Rolex.
It can definitely be a one stop shopping kind of watch
Hodinkee watch straps are my favorite.
They're sweet for sure
They're $155................ bit of a con, perhaps?
It really pisses me off how luxury watchmakers completely ignore quick release straps and it ends up damaging them in the process. They need to accept they exist and get the fuck on making every single strap with them.
02 straps vucanized rubber!
In a country where crime abounds, strapping a Rolex deepsea blue lowers it and makes it go almost unnoticed by thieves and only enthusiasts can recognize it. Cheers
Interesting thought
Just picked up a one piece perlon. Not everyones cup of tea
👍
Rolex needs to take notes from panerai's quick strap swap system
Wouldn't that be cool? To start, they could bring back the drilled lugs.
I just dont get why when using NATO people fold the end of the strap back in the metal piece. Its soooo ugly. Looks live we are in a savanna with a bunch of water bottles, boots and so on
interesting share
The straps are thicker than the watch.
".
Taking that oyster bracelet off that watch is sacrilegious.
A lot of people share your sentiment
Ok . You have a Rolex lucky man.
. But it is a diver . Why would you put a leather strap on a diver ? It is just not done . Lol
Most divers don't get diven?dove? whatever the word is, but I definitely get your point.