When you buy a watch, the first thing you think about is the body of the piece – the case, the dial, the hands, the movement – what you’re not thinking about is the strap. Which is a mistake because a bad strap is at best uncomfortable and at worst a liability to your investment. So you want to make sure that you have a quality strap that is comfortable and fits your chosen aesthetic, and that might not be the strap that comes in the box with your watch. That’s where strap makers like Artem Straps come into play.
Artem are sailcloth strap specialists, producing a sleek alternative to traditional leather and rubbers. ‘Sailcloth’ is not actually one single material but an encompassing term used for any cloth that can be used to create the sails of boat, including various natural fibres like cotton as well as synthetics like nylon. The result is that you can never be quite sure what you’re going to get with a sailcloth strap and the majority end up being inflexible or lacking the sheen that makes the material attractive. That’s what the founders of Artem discovered and they set out to create their own superior version.
They were undoubtedly successful because their straps, which are made from a closely guarded synthetic material, are consistently flexible, durable and stylish. This is the outcome of rigorous testing by Artem, putting their design through multiple challenging tests.
They’ve examined how it reacts to different lighting conditions and they’ve even tested how the strap feels when you run your fingers over it with your eyes closed. To be honest, that last test feels a tad excessive but it’s nice to know that if your watch is on the bedside table and you’re trying to pick it up in the middle of the night it will be a nice sensory experience for your fingertips.
There are several size options available: 20mm, 21mm, 22mm and 23mm with plans to expand the range to include a 19mm version to fit even more lug sizes. The material is predominantly black but there are lots of different colour stitching that can add extra character including white, grey, black, red and blue.
If you want a cool alternative to regular strap materials, Artem Straps are more than worth a consideration, especially as they won’t break the bank at $85 (approx. £60). Think of it like a Fifty-Fathoms strap with a twist and a satin-sheen.
More details at Artem Straps.
