5127.... and its strap
Question about the glossy strap: Even though the strap I saw was new, it appeared to be cracking, due to the glossy finish. Can existing owners of the Calatrava range (or others) comment on the black glossy strap. Does it crack and become unsightly over time?
Thank you.
I have seen 2 types of glossy straps....
One type was cracking VERY much:
I was selling NOS unworn 3919. The watch was stored in the vault for many years when a gentleman sold it to me. Eventually I decided not to keep it and I sold it further before I even wore it once - since I decided to go after annual calendar. I bought a brand new glossy black genuine PP strap from my AD for this 3919 before I sold it.
This strap was cracking badly and IMMEDIATELY as soon as I tried to place the watch around a bolster in the box. I thought that I just should have kept it flat and untouched so the potential buyer could appreciate the mint condition of the watch and strap. Fortunately - it turned not to be any issue. This strap was very glossy - relatively thin and flat (no hump or padding of any kind).
From that moment I decided - only matte PP straps for me ;-)
However, last year I bought 5146G and it came with two straps. One was the stock dark brown matte. The other one was black glossy.....BUT this one was TOTALLY different than the one that I received for 3919.
No cracking at all and it was still glossy.
Differences - it was 20mm vs. 18mm, less shiny and had slight padding vs. flat on 3919.
(above you can see the pictures of 5146 on black shiny strap as well as 5127 and black shiny strap - IMO these do not crack as much as the thin super shiny straps. The one seen on 5127 in glossy black was not cracking as bad as the thin one for 3919. I presume it was made the same way as the one I had for 5146 - but 5127 was not my watch so I can not tell you with 100% certainty) However - please have in mind that it is generally thought that matte straps last longer and are slightly more durable as they show wear a little less when comparing to any glossy straps).
Any comments from Dave in Wales... and others?
I've been following Dave in Wales' posts about his 5127 grail watch
Dave any comments on the glossy strap? Any comments from others?Thanks again.
"In fact it seems to be cracking at the same part as where I saw the WG watch:@ the buckle
interesting point...as the 5146 with black glossy strap I mentioned above is on folding buckle !
It is very true - folding buckles are a LOT easier on straps than the ones with simple tang buckle for 2 reasons:
1) on folding / deployant buckle once you set the pin into the hole - that is it. It never (or only very occasionally) needs adjustment and hence staying there - without frequent daily in and out motion.. With a regular tang buckle there is stress / stretch applied to the hole on the strap every time to place the watch on the wrist AND when you take it off.
2) with folding buckle - the excess strap does not loop 'through' the buckle as it does with tang buckle where there is more additional wear / friction. With deployant buckle - the excess strap only "folds under" without stress - hence less cracking on any but especially glossy finish.
My high gloss.................
D in W
Check the manufacturer...
Tim
Cousu main..
Cheers,
pplater.
"Hand sewn"...
Hi PPlater,
it would translate to hand sewn .
Soem time ago I used to do some motor biking and destroyed an awfull lot of leather - thanks god I had a lot of luck as well and a good friend who worked for a company pducing bike wear. From there I know it's not easy to find good qulity leather - often very good leather is destroyed or almost unusable because of bad treatement during fabrication.
Many leather producing companies prefered to save a few bucks using incredibly agressive chemics ...
That may be one reason it's sometimes even for the manufacturer of the final product not easy to rely on first quality raw material as well....
Best
Suitbert
Cousu main = Camille Fournet Strap
Regards,
Daniel
