When I was young, a lot of people gave me watches. Cheap watches, broken watches, junk watches. At one point I got a broken watch that had a nice strap. I had another watch with a broken (half missing) strap. What I didn't know at the time, is watch straps come in different sizes. I did not have watch tools. Back then we used a knife, a push pin, and a bent paperclip, and yet somehow we got it to work. We completely destroyed the the lugs or the strap in the process. So when I got a 20mm lug width strap that I wanted to put on a 18mm lug width watch, math and physics wasn't going to stop me. I hadn't learned those yet. I just squeezed and squeezed. The fake leather was pliable enough to compress and fit between the lugs but then the spring bar would not engage because it was squeezed so tight. I realized I could just cut a notch the end of the strap by taking a millimeter off of each side. I got out my trusty hobby knife and got to cutting. I cut right through the stitch that held together that amalgamation of trash materials. That was the beginning of the end for that strap. It worked for a while and I was proud of my boyhood craftsmanship, but it soon fell apart and the watch was lost. It was a good cheap lesson that cutting corners can cost you everything, and you get what you pay for.
When I got back into watches, I learned all about watch measurements and lug width measurement is the one you need to know for straps and bracelets. I decided I like changing the look of a watch with a strap, so it makes sense to focus on watches with the same lug width if possible. I started with a 20mm lug width on my Seiko SRPB41J1 Cocktail Time Blue Moon. Timex Mk1 Aluminum watches also came in at 20mm. I then got a Casio MDV106B-2AV Blue Duro with a 22mm lug width. Which meant I needed multiple widths of straps. Then Casio digitals threw me for a loop with their skinny 18mm lug width. Then I got a Casio DW5600E-1V square G-Shock and that watch threw everything I knew about watch straps out the window and introduced me to the need for adaptors. My Casio GWM5610-1 solar powered square G-Shock has the same style of watch strap attachment. The design helps with durability but limits strap options.
Over the years, I have collected quite a few watch straps. I started with 20mm and 22mm NATO straps. They are fun and easy. You can change things up anytime you want, in just a few seconds. Then I decided I wanted to dress it up a little more and try something different, so I got some perlon straps. Perlon straps are so light weight and breathable. They are also very comfortable thanks to infinite adjustability. Perlons are one of my favorites types of straps. They provide a lot of value by being a good combination of budget friendly, unusually unique and still elegant. I then got a Casio AE1200-WH-1A World Timer in black and learned about Vario straps. They make some very nice leather straps for Casio digital watches in a variety of colors, so I go an assortment of those. Vario straps are perfect on the Casio AE1200-WHD-1A aka the Casio Royale, but also can elevate the humble and ubiquitous Casio F-91W.
Then one day while surfing the net, I saw a Casio MDV106B-2AV Blue Duro on a Strapcode jubilee bracelet and I decided to try that. It completely transformed the watch. It cost more than twice as much as the watch and it is worth every penny. Strapcode bracelets are amazing. For Duros I got the jubilee bracelet in stainless twice, first for the MDV106B-2AV blue bezel, blue dial Duro and then for MDV106B-1A3V green bezel, black dial "Kermit" or "Starbucks" Duro. Then I got a two tone gold and stainless jubilee bracelet for my MDV106G-1AV for my gold and black bezel, black dial Duro. I also got a couple brushed stainless O Boyer bracelets for MDV106B-1A2V red and blue bezel, black dial "Pepsi" Duro and for the MDV106B-1A1V blue and black bezel, black dial "Batman" Duro. For my JDM Seiko Spirit SBTR021 chronograph I went with a brushed and polished O Boyer bracelet. I love Seiko's chronograph heritage and this mecha-quartz delivers in style and quality.
Each time I change a strap or bracelet on a watch, I am amazed at the transformation that takes place. The watch becomes new to me again, and I see it in a whole different way. A Duro on the stock strap is a diver that is ready to get wet. A Duro on a NATO suddenly feels very tactical and James Bond-ish. That same Duro on a perlon feels much more light and refined. A leather strap (on a diver? oh, my!) and it could feel even more desk diver dressy or business appropriate. Then I put it on a stainless bracelet and it becomes a heavy hitter that is ready for anything. If you haven't yet tried a different strap on you watch yet, I highly recommend it. It will give you a new found appreciation for something you already liked enough to buy. A perlon strap or a NATO strap is a cheap and easy way to start. You can get rubber dive straps, rugged leather, canvas, sail cloth, NATO, paratrooper elastic, perlon, FKM, metal and more. The opportunities and unique combinations are endless.