SBGY029 New Strap Opinions

[IGY]

Dear Forum friends,

Below is my Grand Seiko Karesansui.

SBYG029_4.jpg

The watch itself is fantastic: slim, lightweight, interesting how it catches the light and throws off light beams and creates shadow. What I am not enjoying is the strap, or more accurately the strap and deployant clasp.

1) The deployant clasp add a lot of bulk and thickness to the wrist and is at odds with the thinness of the case.

2) This thickness is exacerbated by an overly long strap - at least for my 16.5cm circumference wrist. So the tongue hangs out like a puppy dog. A puppy that isn't being cute, but instead has just vomited ingested grass up onto the living room rug.

Good news is that the clasp is easily replaced with a conventional pin buckle. And likewise I can get an aftermarket strap.

So here is my question. Not really asking which manufacturer, but more ideas on what material and colour choice will look good with this Karesansui / Zen Garden watch dial. This version is the creamy dial from the UK special edition. (My understanding is that both US editions of this watch and EU editions have a more grey tint to the Karesansui pattern.) Stick with brown? Maybe try Ostrich leather perhaps? Or shark? Or croc?

Any good ideas gratefully received.

[JoseR]

Very nice and clean looking watch.

[IGY]

Originally Posted by JoseR

Very nice and clean looking watch.

Thank you.

Here is an update: I ended up going for a similar colour. In fact a bit darker brown in semi matt alligator from Jean Rousseau. It is off the awful, over engineered and thick Grand Seiko deployant clasp and onto a simple and thin Grand Seiko pin and buckle.

It has transformed the comfort of the watch. It has gone from a watch that was used maybe one a month to one that can stay on my wrist for weeks at a time.

[taura]

Very nice! I had the SBGY003 and didn’t like the strap. Replaced it with a black ostrich strap with grey stitching (Hirsch Massai), which to me was a perfect combination. It also has a matt surface.

[JoseR]

That watch would look good in many straps. Glad it worked out for you. Enjoy.