Artem Takes A Bold Step With The Introduction Of Barenia Leather Straps In Its Loop-Less Style
Having iterated upon its Sailcloth and Signature Nylon ranges to near perfection, Artem turns its attention to unexplored territory. The typically adventure-focused Australian strap maker seeks to put its spin on classic leather straps. Its well-renowned Sailcloth and HydroFlex watch straps suit all climates and excursions, standing up to whatever you can throw at them. In contrast, leather straps cater to traditional everyday wear rather than extreme or aquatic adventures. Leather straps can break down in water, trapping moisture and becoming brittle. Even short exposure to water can cause staining on the top surface of a leather strap. So how is Artem overcoming the pitfalls of leather straps to keep the new offerings in line with its durability mantra? Let’s explore.
Despite Artem venturing into new frontiers, the brand isn’t starting from square one. Its Sailcloth watch strap evolved through many revisions before the flagship Loop-less Hydroflex. Taking that know-how and applying it to leather straps, Artem can build on its knowledge base with a new material. Specifically, the new material is a French Barenia leather with a buttery-soft top surface. Sourced from the Haas Tannery in Eichhoffen, France, the leather undergoes a double dose of vegetable tanning with chromium. This process maintains the natural leather grain while adding a premium and consistent tan. The three shades of leather include Forge Black, Saddle Tan, and Bridle Brown. All colors are available in five widths — 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22mm. Sizes 18–21mm all taper to 16mm, while the widest 22mm strap tapers to 18mm at the clasp.
Artem Barenia leather Loop-less straps
The tanning techniques used for these straps allow them to achieve earthy tones with a supple structure. However, significantly for Artem, the chrome tanning increases the strap’s water resistance, making them less prone to permanent staining. I once returned from a country walk and needed to hose down my muddy rain boots. Unfortunately, I forgot that I still had my Speedmaster First Omega in Space still on the wrist, and the spray from the boot soles showered the brown leather strap. Even drying it in the sun didn’t restore the strap’s original sheen. While leather straps have shorter lives than rubber or nylon ones, seeing a beloved strap stained during a fairly innocuous activity can be disheartening. That’s why Artem’s choice of chrome tanning offers water resistance, making the straps more suitable for everyday life.
However, chrome tanning can drop eco credentials in the conscious-luxury world due to chemical waste. Thankfully, the French tannery is committed to sustainable and traceable practices and works to reduce environmental impact. Developing the sweat-proof abilities further, these Artem straps also use a Zermatt calfskin lining from Haas. This lining uses premium hides for comfortable contact with the wrist. It’s also breathable to prevent moisture from building up and improve comfort. This lining extends the strap’s life and is hypoallergenic for sensitive skin. Also extending the life of the strap is the Loop-less deployant clasp. This buckle style for Artem fixes the position of the desired adjustment, circumventing the need to pull and stretch the leather through a traditional pin buckle every time.
Hands-on with the Artem Barenia leather strap collection
When trying out the straps, I thought I’d put them to the test. I wore each dye color in the pouring rain and observed how the raindrops interacted with each strap. Rather than soaking into the leather, the drops bead off the surface, preserving the tan’s color. That said, the Artem leather straps will naturally patina over time. Importantly, the patina will be even across the surface, maintaining its color gradients. The straps feel durable and strong, but they’re also supple enough to be worn without any break-in period. It was surprising how pliable the straps were out of the box. Setting the Loop-less clasp to my preferred length ensures a consistent feel. As the name suggests, there are no loops, also known as “keepers,” to tuck excess strap into. The remainder of the strap tucks underneath the clasp for a clean and comfortable design.
A curvaceous padding peaks at the lug end before flattening towards the adjustment holes. This padding gives the strap shape and contours to continue the flow from the watch case. The color-matched stitching adds a vintage quality to the design with nicely finished edges. Artem’s Barenia leather straps are supremely comfortable to wear, with added durability seldom seen in leather straps. The pliability offers zero break-in time and immediate comfort. I appreciate the taper to a subtle 16mm deployant clasp for the 18–20mm straps. However, the 21mm strap’s 5mm taper is slightly too exaggerated and perhaps could more gently flow to an 18mm clasp. The deployant clasps are made of stainless steel and are also available with an optional stealthy black DLC coating to complement a darker wristwatch style.
Final thoughts and pricing
These new Artem Barenia leather Loop-less straps are compatible with the existing deployant clasps on Omega watches. So, if you already have the 16mm clasp for the 18–21mm straps or the 18mm clasp for the 22mm one, you can buy the strap separately. Other watch brands may have similar buckle systems, but I have only tested with Omega. It’s good to know that you can preserve the OEM look with the logo while swapping the strap for fresh new styles. Each strap also has quick-release spring bars for tool-less affixing to the watch case.
Artem’s Barenia leather straps cost US$189 / £155 each, with the added deployant clasp in steel or DLC retailing for an extra US$87 / £68. However, Artem is offering 30% off the deployant clasp when purchased with any of the new Barenia leather straps, making it US$60.90 / £47.60.
This use of a new material is a bold step for Artem, but the leap of faith was worth it for a contemporary spin on classic leather straps. The durability will help elongate the life of the straps for all-day wear and comfort. Check out the Artem Straps website here for further information about these new Barenia Loop-less leather straps.
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