Are Extra-Long Watchbands Readily Available?

[jakespoppy]

As I'm thinking about what my next watch(s) will be and where to buy, I realize the watches I now have came from jewelers who added links to the bands to make it fit my large (8 & 3/4 inch) wrist. I looked at a rubber band to put on my Black Monster, but it was standard size and the buckle didn't line up right.

So as I'm looking at watches online, and especially vintage watches, I'm wondering:

Is it easy to find extra-large bands for any watch, if it's a leather or rubber strap, or extra links for any metal band? Even if it's a vintage watch?

 

[Telecaster52]

Just about every band/strap on http://www.internationalwatchman.com/home.html is available in an extra long length

 

[Thebigspendur]

yep, go over to Timezone.com and their sales forum and you'll find strap sellers where you can get extra long or short and there are guys who make custom straps to your order.

 

[jakespoppy]

Thanks, guys. I've got both of those sites bookmarked now.

 

[Legion]

If you like the look of a cloth band the Maratec ones are super long and very comfortable to wear. Well made too. This is mine but they come in all sorts of colours.

 

[jakespoppy]

If you like the look of a cloth band the Maratec ones are super long and very comfortable to wear. Well made too. This is mine but they come in all sorts of colours.

I do like the looks of the Maratec!

 

[rajagra]

Not sure this is what you want looks-wise, but if you want practical then "The Band" is great. I've had mine more years than I can remember. It's about 17 inches long (and I may have cut some off!) I have had 2 watches on it at once (sports watch and HRM), it can probably take 3 if you were so inclined.

 

[Walker]

If you like the look of a cloth band the Maratec ones are super long and very comfortable to wear. Well made too. This is mine but they come in all sorts of colours.

+1 I was just turned on to this site this evening for some NATO bands

http://www.broadarrow.net/maratac.htm

 

[jakespoppy]

Not sure this is what you want looks-wise, but if you want practical then "The Band" is great. I've had mine more years than I can remember. It's about 17 inches long (and I may have cut some off!) I have had 2 watches on it at once (sports watch and HRM), it can probably take 3 if you were so inclined.

Thanks for the idea. I'm not sure what I might want, yet. I really just wanted to know if extra-long bands are generally available for whatever watches I might want as I start looking, and it looks like they are. I appreciate all the ideas on where to find them, too.

 

[binowatch]

Just about every band/strap on http://www.internationalwatchman.com/home.html is available in an extra long length

+1 he has a great selection, terrific prices and is a really great guy to talk with. Service was great and the items were a lot better than you would expect for the price. Check out his watches also-I have a Fifty fathoms homage from him with a sterile dial that keeps great time, looks greats and gets positive comments every time I wear it.

 

[MichaelG]

From my experience IWW sells extra long straps for vintage watches that are in the range of 210mm length (about 8.2 in total length w/o buckle). Those are fine for someone with a moderately large wrist size. I have a couple of his extra long straps that I use on vintage watches but I have a 7.5 in diameter wrist. The original poster states his wrist diameter is almost 9 inches. They may not fit well, depending on the size of the watch.

Check out http://www.thewatchprince.com/ They sell long straps as well as extra long straps - straps 9 inches long or even 9.6 in long.

Also check out http://www.watch-band-center.com It's a German site but they ship to the US for reasonable rates. I've ordered from them and have always received shipments very promptly. They have lots of straps in 18/19/20 mm widths suitable for vintage watches in a variety of lengths - from moderately long to very long straps for guys with large wrists.

Just about every band/strap on http://www.internationalwatchman.com/home.html is available in an extra long length

 

[jakespoppy]

Thanks again for the recommendations. Yes, according to the charts, with a wrist at 8 3/4 inches, I need an extra-long strap. This has been really helpful.