Orient Mako Watch Band

S

SuzukiGS750EZ

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Dec 30, 2008
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Hey guys. Snapped the metal band on my black orient mako today. Looking for a new band. Any suggestions? I want something that isn't expensive and doesnt look out of place. No preference on material as long as its durable. The pin that holds it to the watch bent and snapped, but i was never happy with the band. Hopefully the band comes with the pins?
 
SuzukiGS750EZ said:
I've found this. Is this what I need? Are their rubber straps durable?

http://www.longislandwatch.com/Orient_OEM_Rubber_dive_watch_strap_p/vdclxsa.htm

And are these the correct spring bars?

http://www.longislandwatch.com/SDF_...-178S-22.htm?gclid=CPDZ5tn387gCFQSk4AodL00AXQ
Click to expand...

Mako has 22mm lugs, so 22mm spring bars are the right size. FYI you can buy 300+ spring bars for $5 or $6.

http://www.amazon.com/Watch-Spring-8-25mm-Watchmaker-Stainless/dp/B00A34M4DY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376201305&sr=8-1&keywords=360+pcs+watch+band+spring+bars

Some straps come with spring bars and some don't. If you buy a strap from a jeweler, they should give you two spring bars and install the strap if you ask. It shouldn't be hard to find a jeweler with a selection of Hadley-Roma straps, and it helps to see what they look like next to your watch.

If you do it yourself, you'll need a spring bar tool like this

http://www.amazon.com/7pc-Watch-Spring-Bar-Tool/dp/B005ZEWGSA/ref=sr_1_2?s=watches&ie=UTF8&qid=1376204327&sr=1-2&keywords=spring+bar+tool

Some dealers give you a tool when you buy a strap. The one I bought is better than the one I was given.

There must be hundreds of 22mm rubber straps. You can buy latex or synthetic. Some people are allergic to one or the other. It's best to handle a few and see what you like.

Any strap is going to wear out. Even steel bracelets stretch. You wouldn't have much of a watch if it didn't go through a bunch of straps.

Some people like diver watches on thick leather straps.

6685830705_c1562aac46_z.jpg


That one looks good but it wouldn't work for diving.

Some like diver watches on NATO straps.

bondtux.jpg


That's what I did with mine when I broke the bracelet.

attachment.php
 
Suzuki- When buying spring bars be aware that they are different lengths 18, 20, 22mm etc and they come in different diameters. I went thru this when replacing my SKX007 fat bars. I needed 22mm long and 20mm diameter for a good fit in my Isofrane band. Check out otto frei for spring bars, so far they are holding up really well. They have a 15 dollar min If I remember, but good spring bars never the less. edit- some bands need different diameters, but the nato will take the stock diameter ones.
 
Well, I've been looking at NATO bands and researching. I've come across two I like. A Panatime http://www.panatime.com/22bonabany3s.html with these spring bars in 22mm http://www.panatime.com/20spbapaof10.html. Will this setup work with the mako? I decided on black and gray because the mako i have it black with the stainless steel. I was also looking on internationwatchman and found this strap http://www.internationalwatchman.com/2009watchbands/1pcnylonnatoss.html with http://www.internationalwatchman.com/buckles/ASSTBOXEDSPRINGBARS.html but it looks like i'll have to contact them directly in order to order, plus, i won't get JUST the spring bars i need, i only have three watches lol. A seiko Kinetic, an orient mako and a casio original Gshock. Which would you recommend?
 
There are two kinds of spring bars you are likely to encounter:

1) "standard" (i.e. cheap) spring bars with 1.8 mm tubes and 0.8 mm tips

2) Seiko "fat" spring bars with 2.5 mm tubes and 1.0 mm tips

Seiko fat bars are unique (I think) to Seiko diver watches. They do not work with other watches. They are too fat for many straps and all bracelets designed for standard spring bars.

Standard spring bars are pretty standardized. Do I need to tell you where they are made? They are made of brass or stainless steel: brass is easier to bend, so buy stainless steel. Buy from a seller with a lot of happy customers and you will probably be happy too. The right length for a Mako is 22 mm: longer spring bars won't fit and shorter ones will pop out.
 
I think I finally settled. Figured I'd run it by you guys. 22mm 1.6mm ss spring bars (3). Gray an black striped and gray/orange/black striped polished 3 ring heat welded straps from the NATO strap co. Eh?
 
SuzukiGS750EZ said:
Well, I've been looking at NATO bands and researching. I've come across two I like. A Panatime http://www.panatime.com/22bonabany3s.html with these spring bars in 22mm http://www.panatime.com/20spbapaof10.html. Will this setup work with the mako?
Click to expand...

Any 22mm NATO strap will work with a Mako. Don't buy one too narrow like Sean Connery's. IMO it looks tacky.

SuzukiGS750EZ said:
Which would you recommend?
Click to expand...

I can only recommend what I've used. I have a Maratac NATO, a Crown & Buckle, and a UTC that I bought from Holben's. They are all good straps. Aside from quality of materials and finish, the main difference seems to be whether the nylon webbing is sewn or welded. Maratac straps have a big following, perhaps because they are sewn and welded. British MoD spec is welded and that works too.
 
SuzukiGS750EZ said:
I ended up going with this strap http://natostrapco.com/collections/...e-gray-striped-nato-strap-w-polished-hardware and 1.6mm thick 22mm stainless spring bars. Hope i'll be happy!
Click to expand...

No expert but it looks good to me. I like the stripe!

There are two different one-piece nylon straps that are called NATO straps.

ZULU-vs-nato.jpg


The one on the right is what you bought. The keeper extension with the third ring is to keep the watch from sliding off the strap if you hang it on a wall hook. I kid you not. It is British MoD spec. If you were RAF, you might call it a G10 strap — G10 is the form to requisition something from supplies — or you might call it a NATO strap because it has a NATO supply number.

Someone though "hey, the watch isn't going anywhere and it doesn't need a keeper — but just to make sure, we'll use thicker nylon webbing." That's the strap on the left with two rings. Maratac called it a Zulu® strap and copyrighted the name. Other manufacturers call them "thick NATO" straps or NATO/Zulu.

None of these one-piece straps originated with NATO. Do I need to tell you where the idea came from?

B-Uhr+-+1.jpg


heinkel-he-111-1-as-bomber-01.png
 
I like the ZULU straps better than NATO because they have slightly thicker material and bolder hardware:

DSC_6616b.jpg


DSC_6301b.jpg



If you only broke the springbar of your original bracelet then you can just put in a new springbar. There are a number of different bracelet types that will fir your watch, and very many different types of leather and rubber straps. The beauty of a watch with generic lugs is that you can swap your straps and bracelets around anytime you want a new look.
 
Nato strap company is good to deal with. Have a couple of his straps, would recommend them to anyone.
 
I use a Zulu band on my watch. I used to go through one or two watch bands a year (drug store specials). It's going on 5 years of daily use.

Ric
 
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