Watch Strap Review 74 — StrapKlub

Welcome to another installment of Watch Strap Review. Normally, my podcast partner in crime, Balazs, is behind the keyboard for these articles. Today, however, it’s me. Don’t worry, though, as this is strictly a cameo appearance! In this article, we’ll take a closer look at StrapKlub, a relatively young concern from Berlin, Germany. Germany-based strap sellers are nothing new, but what I like here is that this brand provides a local, German-made alternative to the fantastic Asia-based sites.

When I was living in Germany, I’d often shop for straps online. Frankly, for a long time, the EU-made offerings for ready-to-ship straps were relatively slim. This changed over time, and a scroll through Balazs’ articles reveals the sheer number of current choices. Still, it’s always nice to see a new entrant using cool materials, colors, and, best of all, sourcing locally within Germany. This is where StrapKlub comes in. The company seeks to offer locally produced straps at fair prices. Plus, if you reside in the EU, or especially in Germany, it’s nice to order something and avoid dealing with customs. Trust me, I know!

StrapKlub

A couple of months ago, a watch friend of mine reached out and introduced me to Knud Andresen. Knud lives in Berlin and founded the Berlin Watch Circle, a club of enthusiasts who gather at brand boutiques in the nation’s capital. He also hosts a podcast called Zero Reset. His passion project, though, is StrapKlub. As mentioned, the idea behind the brand is to offer German benchmade straps at fair prices, allowing buyers to buy a locally made product. What’s more, the brand is now working with small, independent watch brands to create straps for serial models. And while the straps I received for testing are part of the online catalog, custom-made straps are now available with a 4-week lead time. Lastly, the catalog continues to expand with new materials and finishes.

An array of offerings

A quick look at the StrapKlub offerings shows that many straps are available from 16mm to 23mm with eight different material types such as Alcantara and suede. A wide array of colors is also on offer depending on the material, including some lovely pastel shades like powder blue.  There’s even a section for straps to fit our beloved Omega watches with deployant buckles. In general, the prices range from €49 to €109, with a €50 fee for custom work. Finally, the straps are available through four authorized dealers, including the Windup Watch Shop in New York.

5 StrapKlub straps in for testing

From a sampling perspective, I worked with Knud to pick out some good representatives from the catalog. Admittedly, I should have looked closer, as the 16mm offerings would have worked well on my recently acquired group of vintage tanks. Still, the assortment of straps is made up of 19mm black pigskin, 20mm Alcantara in tritium, 18mm Alcantara in “greige”, 18mm black Novonappa with saddle stitching, and 18mm dark green French grain leather.

All came with brushed and polished stainless steel pin buckles and quick-release spring bars. The straps also all feature fixed and sliding keepers.

The 19mm black pigskin

Let’s start with one of the most conservative straps. The StrapKlub pigskin strap comes solely in black and is available in 18mm to 22mm widths. The backing is lovely in natural Haas calfskin. I decided to put this on a 1960s Breitling Top Time 2003, and it looks fantastic. Admittedly, I tend to shy away from black leather straps in the same way I avoid a white dress shirt without a tie. I often find that the look is a bit plain and anonymous. However, the Breitling has a brightly polished case with enough contrast that continues onto the dial. This makes the strap the perfect pairing.

While I also often prefer unpadded straps, the square padding also works well here and isn’t over the top. What I also really like is the pigskin grain that minimizes the amount of gloss on the surface. On the wrist, this is a strap that requires minimal break-in, but it has enough structure to avoid looking sloppy. Overall, I really liked this one. For €69, it’s also well-priced considering the quality of the stitching and general finishing. It would be nice to see some additional colors.

The 19mm Novonapa black calfskin

Before we get a tad funky, let’s talk about the other basic black strap of the bunch. Again, the French leather tannery Haas is listed as the supplier for the materials. This time, it’s for the facing and the backing. Unlike the pigskin, this material is incredibly soft and supple, requiring absolutely no break-in. It uses ultrafine saddlestitching (4 stitches per centimeter), which is a differentiator versus many other strap brands. I paired it with my Heuer Autavia 2446, as I’ve been in an internal fight about the right strap for this chronograph. Frankly, I’m not sure if this is it! Novonappa is like other leather materials that feel incredibly strong, but are much stronger than expected.

Now, what I would say is that this strap easily takes a form, so it’s probably better grouped with a lighter watch. The Autavia is hefty despite its vintage size. Also, I know that quick-release spring bars are wildly popular for their convenience, but the delicacy of this material means that the thickness of the small release knob is visible from the front side of the strap. I’d clip these out and use standard spring bars for a bit more subtlety. Still, there’s no denying that this is a beautifully made strap that would work perfectly on a dressier piece. I’d love to try the 16mm model in one of the two brown shades on a small vintage tank. At €109, this is a flagship offering that would look at home on an equally pricey formal watch.

The 18mm Tiergarten green French-style cowhide

Interestingly, StrapKlub describes the third strap I tested as more formal. I don’t necessarily disagree, but due to the green shade I received, it’s probably the most fun of the bunch. Once again, this strap uses a Haas lining, but trades a smooth surface for an embossed finish. Plus, at €59, it’s approachable, available in five widths, and six hues.

With this strap, I opted for maximum contrast and paired it with a Tissot Visodate Automatic from 1955. This watch features a stark white waffle-pattern dial, and it deserves a strong partner on the wrist. Previously, I had it on a taupe strap with a similar texture, and I’d classify that as fine. However, this green is lovely. It would also work well with a dark dial. As far as quality, this strap has consistent edge dressing and uniform stitching. The trimming on the backing is also perfectly straight. As far as wearability, it’s soft but with good structure. This is a winner!

The 18mm Alcantara in neutral greige

First off, the word “greige” has now been added to my lexicon. It’s a great word, although I’d say that this strap falls more on the light tan side of things. That’s no issue, though, as these straps come in eight different colorways and five widths. The backing is the same as the top side, and the sides are folded under the lining. There is no glue used in these straps, so they are relatively durable against the elements. For the 18mm model, I decided to pair this with my Citizen Homer HO140501 from 1964. This watch is dominated by its lume profile and works well with a neutral-colored strap.

This Alcantara is among the softest I’ve felt and conforms immediately to the wrist. It’s lovely and probably my favorite. In this application, it does a nice job of mimicking natural suede, but it should hold up better over the long term. Plus, at €79, it’s a compelling option.

The 20mm Alcantara in tritium

For the final StrapKlub sample I had in for testing, I decided to live up to the adage of going big or going home. I paired the 20mm tritium-hued Alcantara strap with my beloved Rolex GMT-Master 16758. Now, I kept the quick-release spring bars in place, but I will likely clip them out and replace them with thicker Rolex-style bars for safety. As a hint, that means I like this pairing a lot! The other decision I made was to swap the stainless pin buckle for a Rolex version. Thankfully, it fit the 16mm buckle perfectly.

The 16758 is anything but a shrinking violet, but wearing it on a strap helps to tone down its bling factor. While I have opted for brighter ensembles in the past, I really like this clean look with the tritium strap. It works and feels classy and understated. Plus, I could wear this casually or in a nicer setting. Again, at €79, it’s a solid choice.

Final takeaways on StrapKlub straps

Look, unless my writing was overly confusing, it should be obvious that I really like these straps. I also like that the founder, Knud, has taken it upon himself to make a point of using Germany-based suppliers. There’s nothing wrong with supporting craftsmen in one’s country, and when it makes shipping easier, that’s even better. As far as improvements, the only thing I’d like to see is some buckle finish options and, crucially, thinner options for vintage models. On the latter topic, I was told this is under development. Aside from that, I really like the choice of smaller widths when so many sellers start at 18mm or even 20mm. I’ll definitely be looking at some of these for my 30s and 40s pieces. For now, I’d certainly recommend taking a long look at the StrapKlub website.