What is a strap monster, and why do you need one?
Zach BlassThe watch community has its own cultural rhetoric teeming with insider slang that never registers to the mainstream ear. It all stems from a greater engagement with watches, and, as you go down the rabbit hole and discover all of their intricacies, you begin to need specific terms for purposes of clarification. One common phrase collectors often utilise is “strap monster”. It is thrown around a lot, so we wanted to take a moment to break down what it means for those who aren’t familiar and why it is beneficial to own a strap monster in your collection and suggest a few references that we believe truly fit the bill.
What is a “strap monster”?
A strap monster is a chameleon of sorts. It is a watch that is ripe for seemingly limitless strap pairings that work well with the watch. Strap monsters typically have more neutral-toned dials – such as black, white, grey or blue – and lug widths that cater to strap sizes most commonly produced (18mm, 20mm, 22mm). Often, you will see a watch release that, in its factory configuration, will attract inquiry at points of sale. But, for those who love to customise and tailor a watch to their look through a strap swap, you will see a bit of an outcry from consumers if the novelty features an odd lug width, such as 21mm. Then again, while such odd widths were harder to source historically, the present strap marketplace has become more advanced, with strap haven retailers like Delugs and Jean Rousseau catering to a very wide spectrum of widths. The biggest obstacle is when you have a watch that has a unique means of attaching the strap to the case (integrated design).
Why is a “strap monster” beneficial for your collection?
Essentially, it makes your wristwear more versatile, allowing you to diversify without amassing a large collection of watches. One very strap hackable watch can be accessorised to feel like you own a few different watches. Not everyone has the budget to fill an entire watch box with luxury timepieces, but having a strap monster allows you to own one watch that can take on multiple aesthetics. With each strap swap, you can freshen up the look of the watch – making it far less likely that you get bored with your timepiece. And these days quick-release straps are more common, making it easier to rotate between them as well. It is also great for those detail fetishists who want to better blend and match their daily wears with their wardrobes. And even if you don’t immediately see yourself removing the factory strap for something aftermarket, it can be nice to know that, at the very least, you can join in on the fun if you want to.
What are some examples of watches that are a “strap monster”?
Pilot’s watches, field watches, or other military-flavoured watches may have been born with a utilitarian purpose, but the sterile nature of their dials, and often cases, make them nice candidates to be spruced up and personalised. Let’s face reality here, these days the majority of people wearing such watches are not active military. The Bulova Hack watch is a great example of a low-cost mechanical that budding collectors can invest in, and reinvent at their leisure with various straps. The Hack, a 38mm steel watch with an 18mm lug width, will suit most wrists and a near-infinite number of aftermarket straps. Whether other styles of NATO straps, or even leather or rubber straps, the world is your oyster at an 18mm lug width. And, because the time-only watch is available in black, blue, and stone white dial options, it is very easy to colour coordinate or colour complement.
Timelessly designed dress watches are also a ripe canvas. Swapping out the likely factory black or brown strap can bring such timeless watches into the present – or at the very least better suited to your personal style and wardrobe. For example, a white dial Nomos Ludwig 35 has a lug width of 18mm – which, again, means limitless candidates for consideration. But since the overall aesthetic is predominantly white, with black printing and blued hands, I cannot think of any colour leather strap that would be offensive to put on this watch. It is just a matter of your taste and preference.
Lastly, more iconic watches are certainly potential candidates and strap hacking them can be a way to make a popular watch, one that is ubiquitous and likely to encounter on someone else’s wrist at a watch meetup, your own. In fact, the more popular a watch is, the more likely aftermarket strap manufacturers are to go out of their way to create options for them. As Delugs exemplifies above, pieces like the Omega Speedmaster and Cartier Tank are very much strap monster watches.