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Update! One more RetroChron Seaserpent update.

Ricky Lee
May 09, 2012 06:22PM
 Registered: April 2005
Posts: 13,412 (2012-05)

I'm happy to report that the issue with the wrong-sized NATO which I reported on May 4 has been sorted out. Watchbandgirl shipped a Safety Orange replacement in 22mm on May 5, plus a "freebie" NATO by way of apology, along with a postage-paid return envelope for me to return the incorrect strap. It arrived on May 8, ironically much quicker than the original order. Mind you, that can only be attributed to the vagaries of the gummint postal service.

Now, I admit that I was a bit perplexed at Bandgirl's decision to have me send the 20mm orange strap back. I've had a few other sellers offer complimentary straps in the case of a mix-up, but to a man they told me to simply keep the old one, and they shipped the correct replacement. If a freebie is to be part of the deal anyway, why would the seller eat the expense of return postage (with Delivery Confirmation!) on a used strap that they probably won't even be able to re-sell? Then it hit me.. Bandgirl's obviously a bit skeptical that I actually did get the wrong item! Smile OK, fair enough. There certainly are unscrupulous no-goodnicks out there who wouldn't be above lying Eek! to scam a free strap. Oops! I have meself requested the return of merchandise under similar circumstances, so I am happy to oblige.

OK! Some photos. The orange 22mm strap was the exact same shade as the 20mm (a Good Thing!), of identical length, and with the same polished hardware. So I decided to try the "freebie" strap first. Laughing

Photo by Ricky Lee
Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

The thickness of the wider straps is virtually identical to the 20mm jobs, at 1.08mm. And, again, the length is identical.. for an 8" (20.3 Cm) wrist they're A-OK, but anything beyond that and you'll have no "tail" to tuck in. But, of course, some consider that A Good Thing.

Photo by Ricky Lee
Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

Now, you extremely observant types may notice something a bit odd.

Photo by Ricky Lee
Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

See it? Smile

Yeah. In my communication with WatchBandGirl, it was..

'net photo

..the 3-stripe black-orange that I requested as the "freebie", and what I actually got was the 5-stripe black-gray-orange. I am confused

Now. I'm not the sort of churlish prat who's gonna complain about a Free Strap. Smile I mean, it looks A-OK to me. In fact, after seeing it in person I reckon it might after all be a better choice than the 3-striper! However. Note to WatchBandGirl: No one's perfect. And you're doin' a fine job overall! Still, Accurate Order Fulfillment is an area you might want to consider as An Area For Improvement.

I'm just sayin'. Smile

Photo by Ricky Lee
Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

So all in all, I've got to stand by my original conclusion.

Balancing authenticity against price, it's mighty hard to beat these straps. IMHO they are 95% as "authentic" as the (admittedly excellent!) NATO straps from WestCoasTime, at well under half the cost. That's a powerful recommendation! Provided your wrist is 8" (20.3 Cm) or under, I believe that WatchBandGirl does offer The Best PMW Value in NATO straps out there. Thumbs up!

I tell you what..

Photo by Ricky Lee
Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

..I'm chuffed about the way this one looks! WIS Honeymoon

And it Wears Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr8! Laughing

Cheers!

-Ricky

Messages In This Thread

One more RetroChron Seaserpent update. Jpeg Attachments URL

 Ricky Lee 133 May 09, 2012 06:22PM

Good news!Smile (n/t)

 IF 11 May 11, 2012 10:00AM

Thumbs up!I like the new strap! (n/t)

 itschris 19 May 10, 2012 09:59AM

When will you get this on mesh? Laughing Snob
pics pls!!! Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off

 Ethan_Mack 22 May 10, 2012 08:36AM

Re: pics pls!!! Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off
Tell ye what. If you say "Pretty please", I'll see what I can do. Tongue

Seriously though, I do have a couple of mesh bracelets that would fit. And I'm kinda curious meself. Innocent

Hmmmm. Perhaps we haven't seen the last RetroChron Seaserpent Update after all... Whistle

 Ricky Lee 16 May 10, 2012 09:18AM

The freebee looks smashing Ricky!Thumbs up! (n/t)

 jeremd676 18 May 10, 2012 06:50AM

Ricky, do me a favor? >>
>>on the NATO, can you give me the measurement of how much strap sticks out of the watch?

In other words, if it were a 2-piece strap, how long is the short side, not including the buckle.

You said that the OAL was on the short side; I'm trying to gauge if the "position keeper strap" is short as well.

 Dave M 24 May 10, 2012 05:41AM

My pleasure!

Quote
Dave M
..how much strap sticks out of the watch?

..if it were a 2-piece strap, how long is the short side, not including the buckle.
48mm.

But remember, I like my buckle to fall on the side of me wrist, so I may have the strap positioned a millimeter or five different than would be your preference. Which, of course, would affect the measurement in question...
Quote
Dave M
You said that the OAL was on the short side; I'm trying to gauge if the "position keeper strap" is short as well.
Ah, I see where you're going.

They're not short in that regard. The total overall length of the "position keeper strap", not including the buckle, is 114mm. I checked the WatchBandGirl strap against some of my longer NATO straps, and the Position Keeper Strap is practically identical in length(within +/- 1mm).

 Ricky Lee 21 May 10, 2012 06:22AM

Thank you! Ricky! I can't do the side-buckle thing >>
>>and I will not abide a two-piece strap that is too short on the buckle side.

I have found that for me, the sweet spot in that regard is 80-85mm. Which disqualifies many 2 piece straps.

But as long as it is the same as any other Nato out there in that regard, it will work.

 Dave M 23 May 10, 2012 06:48AM

Re: ..I will not abide a two-piece strap that is too short on the buckle side. ..the sweet spot in that regard is 80-85mm.

Quote
Dave M
..Which disqualifies many 2 piece straps.

I'd have thought that would disqualify practically all "conventional" NATO straps.

You might be able to fudge these WatchBandGirl NATOs so that you've got 80mm extending on the buckle side. But if so, then the ring of the Position Keeper Strap would be pulled hard against the watch case Oops! on the opposite side.

But, again, for me that'd be the case with any NATO / ZULU if I tried to center the buckle on the bottom of me wrist. I am confused
 Ricky Lee 20 May 10, 2012 09:12AM

Not bad at all Ricky, but I prefer steel... Wink (n/t)

 James T. Kirk© 18 May 10, 2012 04:37AM

Looks great Thumbs Up (n/t)

 JP 18 May 09, 2012 11:38PM

Looks great, Ricky.Thumbs up! (n/t)

 Mark C. 17 May 09, 2012 10:29PM

Nice combo, definitely...
I prefer the black/gray/orange strap. And i have to say that I have bought 3-4 straps from Watchbandgirl and have been pretty happy with all of them. The shipping is fast and the quality just about the same as the best ones out there. That Retrochron is kind of cool looking actually, maybe you posted the data on it earlier and i missed it but what is the overall size of the watch?

 carlopmwf 22 May 09, 2012 09:50PM

Re: That Retrochron is kind of cool..what is the overall size of the watch? URL
'tis a big one.. 48mm X 48mm X 15mm thick, weighing in at 215 grams on the OEM bracelet.

My original review of the watch can be found HERE...

Quote
carlopmwf
..I have bought 3-4 straps from Watchbandgirl and have been pretty happy with all of them.
Cool! I couldn't recall that the seller had ever before been mentioned on The PMWF...
Quote
carlopmwf
..the quality just about the same as the best ones out there.
I am pleased to have the motion seconded! Smile
 Ricky Lee 21 May 10, 2012 06:01AM

Thank you very much. (n/t)

 carlopmwf 13 May 11, 2012 10:13AM

I think they are both great. In fact, I have an Incoming! that needs something. Hmmmm. (n/t)

 Dave M 18 May 09, 2012 09:22PM

I think the freebie is a GREAT match. That's what I'd keep it on. Thumbs Up (n/t)

 DJM 17 May 09, 2012 07:40PM

Freebie is good...but...I dunno...like the orange better......
You know what would be interesting though.....a orange....with a black stripe!!!!! Laughing

 dano0 23 May 09, 2012 07:22PM

Re: ..a orange....with a black stripe!!!!! Laughing
Pretty much the inverse of the one I requested? You know, I don't recall ever seeing such like. Certainly watchbandgirl doesn't carry one. Hmmmmmm...

Quote
dano0
..I dunno...like the orange better......
Oh, I dig the solid Safety Orange, too! I'll be rotating them on a regular basis, never fear. Laughing
 Ricky Lee 17 May 10, 2012 05:21AM

I kinda prefer the freebie myself. (n/t)

 greg honeycutt 16 May 09, 2012 06:55PM

Congrats! The "Freebie" compliments that watch nicely. Thumbs up! (n/t)

 Jimmy50 18 May 09, 2012 06:47PM

I think that strap fits the watch perfectly! I LIKE it! Thumbs Up Thumbs Up (n/t)

 StefG 16 May 09, 2012 06:46PM

A lot more subtle yet well coordinated- congrats!Cheers! (n/t)

 RR218 18 May 09, 2012 06:27PM

Good outcome and a 'Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr8' combo! Laughing (n/t)

 JY 21 May 09, 2012 06:25PM

By Popular Demand: Yet ANOTHER RetroChron Seaserpent Update

May 12, 2012 07:50PM

OK, OK! "By Popular Demand" might be pushin' it a wee bit. Smile

But I have gotten several suggestions for a mesh bracelet, and I was also curious about how mesh would work on the . My first inclination was to go with my heaviest mesh..

'net photo

..the Staib®. German bracelet, German watch. Seemed like fate! Never mind that this bracelet was more Very Rich Man's Watch! than the watch itself. Laughing

Alas, as I explained to Dr. Murphy the other day, there was A Problem.
Quote
Ricky Lee

The clearance issue only comes into play if you're trying to thread a strap under the springbars.

That being said, there is one problem with the Staib® on the RetroChron. It has no fine adjust, and I have no spare links. Because of the deeply-undercut hooded lugs, the Seaserpent measures a mere 39mm across the springbars, C/L to C/L. The Commander is a whopping 51mm.

So while the Staib will physically fit the watch, I doubt I'd even be able to close the clasp on me fat wrist. Frowning

Ah well. Time for Plan B! Smile
So, this was "Plan B":

Photo by Ricky Lee
Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

Some back-of-the-envelope calculations told me that the Tungchoy® mesh ought to have just enough range and - sure enough! Thumbs up! - I was able to achieve a spot-on perfect fit.

Photo by Ricky Lee
Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

Now the Tungchoy® is a medium weight (2.5mm thick vs. 3.2mm thick for the Staib®) medium-weave bracelet, and I was intially skeptical. I figured it might not be "hefty" enough for the RetroChron which is, after all, quite a Chunk.

Photo by Ricky Lee
Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

However, while a thick, heavy, loose-weave mesh might work even better..

Photo by Ricky Lee
Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

..this ain't half bad! In fact, I'm pretty darned pleased with it! Thumbs up!

One thing's for sure..

Photo by Ricky Lee
Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

..it wears Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr8! WIS Honeymoon

Laughing

Thanks for readin' me Brothers!

Sláinte! Cheers!

-Ricky

Messages In This Thread

By Popular Demand: Yet ANOTHER RetroChron Seaserpent Update Gif Attachments Jpeg Attachments URL

 Ricky Lee 115 May 12, 2012 07:50PM

Finally! Looks great Thumbs up!
By far the most fitting strap solution. Yes, a slightly larger weave might look heavier. make sure to keep us updated Thumbs up!

 Ethan_Mack 15 May 13, 2012 10:02PM

Looks great!Thumbs up!Smile (n/t)

 IF 16 May 13, 2012 04:15PM

That's a very clean look! My vote as favourite!Thumbs up! (n/t)

 RR218 17 May 13, 2012 01:11PM

Nice update on the Loch Ness Monster smile (n/t)

 wodo 16 May 13, 2012 12:12PM

Ricky, I must say: Another great match here!! Thumbs up!Clapping! (n/t)

 James T. Kirk© 18 May 13, 2012 08:10AM

Me thinks it needs a shark mesh too. LaughingThumbs up! >>>
Still, it looks awesome! Congrats Thumbs up!

 Need_Omega 17 May 12, 2012 08:54PM

While I agree a heavier mesh might look a bit better>>>
it's not as if that looks too dainty by any stretch. Thumbs Up Good pair up bro.

 DJM 24 May 12, 2012 08:29PM

Re: ..it's not as if that looks too dainty by any stretch. Thumbs Up Good pair up bro.
Thanks mate!

Cheers!

 Ricky Lee 18 May 12, 2012 08:54PM


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