StrapsCo reached out to me directly and offered to send me some straps to review.  I did not pay for these straps, but the following thoughts and findings are my own, as the straps were not sent under any conditions of right to review, positive remarks, control over the text.  Meticulist.net strives to provide actual feedback, based on actual findings, unbiased from promotional influence. 

With the formality of the above paragraph out of the way, I think you get the idea of how this works.  I should also make the disclaimer, that I almost did not go through with accepting their offer because I’m typically pretty weary of some of these bigger NATO/Apple watch/Rubber Strap do it places that are selling similar looking straps as many of the high-end popular styles at much lower prices.  I don’t love the idea of spending what a lot of the nice straps cost, but if you’re spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on a watch, you don’t want to sacrifice strap quality either.  So, my expectations for overall quality and refinement were not high, but I am very happy to report those concerns are not valid.  So much so that I even went ahead and purchased a valet tray from StrapsCo because I was now a believer in their quality for the dollar.  Let’s dive in.

Another reason I turn down most of these offers because the brand doesn’t have something I would even wear or, in many cases, they don’t offer straps in short lengths, which is a must for my 6-3/8” wrist.  StrapsCo offers short lengths in most of their styles, and at a good selection of lug widths.  Nearly all of my vintage watches up until recently have 18mm lug widths, so with the recent addition of the Zenith 156H and the Cartier Tank Basculante, I was in need of some classy 20mm options and selected the Dassari Premium Saffiano Leather Straps.  I’ve seen similar Saffiano straps offered from $75 to $125+ through the usual outlets, so I wasn’t sure what to think with these.  They came packaged in individual plastic sleeves, and the finishing overall when unboxing was great, not showing any flaws.  They were a bit stiff at first, and I worried they might be kind of plasticy, as this style has that initial feel and stiffness, but I’m happy to report they quickly broke in and that is not a concern at all. 

The only thing I ran into that I didn’t really think of when I picked these straps out is they only come with quick release spring bars.  This is a benefit for most watches and users, but it just so happens the very two watches I intended to install them had female spring bars (Zenith) and solid screwed bar (Tank).  After a little bit of wrestling, I was able to remove the quick release bars and get these installed no problem.  Not an issue for most, but something to be aware of if your watch requires something other than standard straight spring bars. 

After an initial trial with each I put them on a watch roll for a day or so to see if they would break in or curve a bit to fit my bony wrists, and I’m happy to report they have both softened up and conform to the wrist really well.  You’re probably thinking at this point, of course he has positive things to say about free straps, but the reason I wanted to write this is because I have such positive remarks to report; these straps far exceeded my expectations and at $39.99 before their regular promotions, it’s a really nice offering.  The colors shown on the site are accurate, and there’s not much more to say than they look and feel great…

We will see how they hold up over time, I’m not wearing dressier watches very frequently these days (and I’m in sweatpants or jeans around the house when I do!), but so far, I’m not seeing any creasing or indications that I will have an issue. 

I also ordered the Dassari Perforated Leather Rally Strap and the Beads of Rice Bracelet but the intended Heuer Carrera for those is currently away at service.  Once I get the watch back, I’ll update any findings with that strap too.

Bonus – Dassari Vintage Leather Valet Tray

I’ve had a decent valet tray on my Christmas list for a few years now to try and clean up the pocket dump on my dresser, and after being so happy with the quality for the price on the straps, I ordered (and paid for) the valet tray as well.  I go back and forth on these:  on one hand it’s the kind of thing that probably won’t wear out, so splurging to buy one nice one can give you years of use.  On the other, I’ve seen some valet trays costing 2-4x as much with the same folding and snap corner design, so why pay more?  Perhaps they use fancier hardware, but with the angle of the sides and the overall profile, you really don’t notice it at all.  After using it for a few weeks, my only criticism is I wish it were slightly larger. 

After reorganizing my dresser, I could see having additional trays for things like a tie clip, collar points, maybe a strap changing tool, and just a touch more space, but maybe that’s a blessing in disguise so this doesn’t become a junk drawer on display.  I typically leave my Seiko SKX out to grab for utility, and with another watch in the tray it’s a touch tight, but overall, I’m really pleased with the overall fit, finish, and appearance.  The vintage brown leather is rich and supple, and I suspect it will develop some scratches and patina over time.  I particularly like the rust-colored option as well and I just feel like although a valet tray doesn’t do much, this one is a fraction of the price of most others I’ve seen and provides a nice, elevated touch to just dumping my stuff on the dresser or counter.  I would easily consider adding another one near an entryway for odds and ends.  At $49.99 before any promotions, if you’re considering a valet tray but don’t want to spend $200-300, this is a fantastic option.

So there you have it; I am overwhelmingly, pleasantly surprised with StrapsCo’s offerings and quality for the price.  They’re selling same or similar items to many of the high-end watch retailers for a fraction of the price with free worldwide shipping, 30-day returns, and constant sales and promotions.  I was very hesitant about receiving some discount supplier type quality, but everything has been great and I have nothing to complain about or nitpick.  Simply put, it’s really hard to justify spending more if they have something that suits what you’re looking for. 

Thanks to StrapsCo for sending me the straps and bracelet for review.  They did not have any input or review of this review before posting, and the purchase valet tray was purely voluntary and unbeknownst to them. Keep an eye out for the update to the Beads of Rice roundup for a review of their bracelet offering as well.

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