I bought a couple of Hirsch Liberty straps last week in the Panatime sale and they arrived today; sadly, though, they do't fit the watch they were intended for.
I was going to chuck them in the strap box and sulk, but in a rare moment of inspiration I put the black one on my 5513, and I don't think I've ever liked a leather strap/5513 combo as much as I like this one. This is really a heads-up, therefore, for anyone strugglng to find the right leather strap for an old Sub. I have a brown Liberty too, ad whilst I haven't mounted it yet it also seems to look the dog's.
Yep great straps, I've got a brown one too that I ordered for my 6309 (for when it comes back from service). Looks ace on that, recommend you try the brown one on yours.
Doh, hope I've ordered the right size for mine, you've got me worried now!
Edit: Phew! Mine is 22mm so Ok for the 6309. I'll post some pics soon hopefully when I get the 6309 back from Duncan.
Last edited by Thorien; 5th December 2014 at 15:11.
I bought one of these for my PRS17-C, but wan't happy with the mismatch of the off white stitching and the Dulux gloss white of the dial and hands on the Precista.
(And to think that before I found this place I barely knew that white came in different shades.)
Looks good, but would prefer the brown strap with the green bezel, kind of like trees.
You need to lose those little "side stitches" Tony, these straps look a lot better without them. IMHO of course. Snip them through and pull the thread out, they are only cosmetic. I have both my DA37 and Voyager on honey Liberteys, they age and darken beautifully. Possibly the best value strap available. IMHO of course. ;-)
F.T.F.A.
The Liberty is one of the best value/constructed straps in the Hirsch range.
I like the way they draw the eyes across to the lugs after following the line of the stitches up to the watch. They seem to enhance the flow of the strap to the watch head.Originally Posted by magirus
So if it was me, I'd leave the stitches in place. (If it was really me, I'd be over the moon to have a 5513!)
I like it.
The fireplace that is
If that's snipped thread head banging, don't.Bugger - wish I hadn't done it now
I had a tudor sub on a Liberty and it didn't take long for the inside of the lugs to gnaw at and fray the side stitches.
not that you keep a strap on a watch for more than five minutes ;-)
I have a couple of Liberty straps a dark brown and honey, the honey looks amazing especially as it ages.Regarding the stitching, I removed mine as I wanted it for my Everest as it fouled the lugs, imo it's an improvement.
Yes! I thought I was the only one... http://forum.tz-uk.com/showpost.php?p=3340768
Great minds....
I've got the same strap, but never found a watch Id put it on.
It's just a matter of time...
22mm brown? I have the perfect watch..£20? :)
Have a look for curved end 'Tropic' wubbah too.
20mm in black I'm afraid Monty ;) I'm sure it will go on something in the not too distant.
It's just a matter of time...
Heavier than the omnipresent Nato
There is no discussing taste ofcourse.
My observation is simply made because it is an option often overlooked whereas it was the only OEM fitted alternative to the bracelet.
Well, the NATO is an altogether different strap, to be fair. I've had three or four original Tropics, albeit they were all straight ended; I suspect the curved end would actually be preferable.Heavier than the omnipresent Nato
There is no discussing taste ofcourse.
My observation is simply made because it is an option often overlooked whereas it was the only OEM fitted alternative to the bracelet.
That was not the point. The TROPIC is an altogether different strap from the leather Hirsh too.
I responded to the TROPIC being too light to your taste.
Again; there is no discussing taste, preference and such.
The only fact is that a TROPIC was the only OEM alternative to the bracelet. When the bracelet option box was not ticked on the order form, the sub came on a TROPIC strap. The ADs were supplied with them by Rolex too.
As I observed I am a VERY surprised that this option today is all but overlooked by Rolex enthusiast.
The straight end ones I do not like one bit. Don't know, yet, if the curved end will make a difference.
Last edited by Huertecilla; 6th December 2014 at 22:10.
The tropic looks awful to me. Were Rolex offered on Tropic in the UK, or just US and with Tudor to the Navy?
It's just a matter of time...
Fair enough. The point is that it was the only OEM fitted strap for the sub.
Where does Tudor to the Navy come inWere Rolex offered on Tropic in the UK, or just US and with Tudor to the Navy?
The TROPIC was the fitment on the sub if the bracelet was not. Not a clue about on which markets this cheaper 'delete' option was possible or for how long. Cannot imagine that it was available when they could sell all sports Rolexi they could make and they could start setting the price as they pleased. No need to give away extra income no?!
What remains is that the TROPIC was the only OEM fitted strap.
As such it is imo the most 'authentic' option to look at. The more vintage/dive the sub, the more applicable it seems to me.
Since you mentioned Tudor, I think it is the first one to look at for p.e. the retro design Black Bay too.
OK, let us do a replay:
The Nato is lighter still yet that is very popular on the sub.
Last edited by Huertecilla; 6th December 2014 at 23:07.
Phew, I was running out of options :-)
I don't like them either and the straight edge looks even worse than straight edge leather.
It is however the one and only as far as authenticity is concerned so my 6538 homage goes on either a rivet type bracelet or a curved end Tropic. However much I abhor the nylon strap thing, I will sooner wear it on the 'Bond' G10 than on ANYthing else.
Tudor Submariners were supplied to the French navy on tropic straps.
Where does Tudor to the Navy come in
Bracelet oprion
Ok, thanks.
Makes another case for the OEM fitted TROPIC, this time for the Tudor sub.
Another authentic, although not OEM fitted, period thing is
the Olongapo band which was custom made in ... Olongapo, Philippines for US divers.
Not to the taste of many wis though.
Last edited by Huertecilla; 7th December 2014 at 00:31.
That is a killer combo. That strap looks amazing on the Sub, indeed.Quick stylised iPhone shot, to show the strap without the extra stitching. Not entirely sure that it was purely cosmetic, so Bob will get an invoice for one strap if it starts to fray ;)
I think it'll be staying on the Hirsch for the foreseeable (Celia).
Capt. Serdal
I have both the stitched and unstitched versions of the Liberty. My experience: One day while wearing my Fortis B-42 on my unstitched Liberty, I felt the strap give way and come apart as I was reaching into my car for groceries. The glue had come undone at the watch head end of the strap. Fortunately, the watch only dropped about an inch onto the carpeted floor of my SUV's rear deck. When I got home, I went online and ordered the stitched version of the Liberty. Those stitches were put in place for a reason, gentlemen, don't kid yourselves - I'm not the first person to experience a strap failure on an unstitched Liberty.
As for the Liberty on a Sub - I'm glad you like it, Tony. To my eye, the Liberty is too thick for the Sub. It works great for the B-42, but the B-42 is a much more massive watch. Your pic looks good from head on, but it doesn't give the full picture (from the side).
I am on the fence about the band perse.
It is very much a period thing and also an art form. Depends very much on the quality though and as a match for a sub I agree, regardless. Again indeed imo.
I still would very much like to own a well made one as an artefact.
Have a bunch of those and think they are a good bang for the buck.
In my experience ,I like the look when I first put Ti on a watch but get tired of the look rather soon.
If you change your mind tony, they are available still.
Mike
I have a black and a brown Liberty for my SubC. The brown looks better than the black imo but I've stopped using it due to the case scratching the strap between the lugs. The black one doesn't seem to get scratched though. Oh and I also polished the contrast white stitching with black shoe polish on the black strap. Looks great now imo.
I've wanted to try a rubber strap for a while and have been thinking about the plain black rubber Breitling strap. Quite pricey though for a new one.
I like tropic straps on non ceramic subs.
BTW what would be considered as the modern equivalent of the vintage tropic strap to go with a modern SubC? I've tried an Isofrane but it looked out of place on the sub due to the straps thickness.
I certainly wouldn't want one, because I am not a military diver.
I tried a Tropic but found it very short, even on the largest setting it was barely large enough for an 8" wrist. Did Rolex offer them in different sizes?
Yeah - I'm with you on this. There's nothing quite like a poor replica of a strap worn by a fictional character to lend real authenticity to a fake, sorry, homage of a watch worn by the same fictional character...
You must be proud of yourself; having a totally uncalled for dig at a perfectly ok and proper legal watch.
I am glad I made it possible for you to vent this frustration.
All that at midnight?!
Hope you have(had) a nice day too!
Last edited by Huertecilla; 8th December 2014 at 15:17.
This
Andy
Wanted - Damasko DC57
As well as the two I mentioned earlier Tony I also have a third (black) on my DC56, also with the offending stitching removed, so that's five in total I've done this to and never had a problem. Indeed before I ever did this I found info that someone had contacted a Hirsch dealer about doing so as the earlier versions had no such stitching. The dealer verified that the stitching is cosmetic and that they had removed it for a customer/customers. Naturally I will cover the cost of the strap if it fails, simply send it to me still attached to the watch and I will forward the funds by return. Actually, looking at the picture I do see the onset of some fraying........
Just ordered one myself to see how it goes on the 16750!
I had the stitching removed by the Hirsch rep, it's purely cosmetic I was told.
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