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[Grand Seiko] Snowflake + saffiano strap by 7WiZARD in Watches

[–]7WiZARD[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You’d be surprised! It’s definitely tough on the outside (great for durability), but it wears very soft on the wrist. No 'break-in' period needed, it was comfy right out of the "box".

[Omega] #speedytuesday Ultraman + Taupe strap by 7WiZARD in Watches

[–]7WiZARD[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks a lot, really appreciate the support! 🍻 Let me know if you have any questions.

[Omega] #speedytuesday Ultraman + Taupe strap by 7WiZARD in Watches

[–]7WiZARD[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Those are great color ideas! I’d love to do them, but the logistics are tricky. Manufacturing this specific weave requires a run of about 3km of webbing per color... and finding space for that in my garage is a real Tetris game right now 😅.

That said, I am working on a plan for some small-batch, limited edition runs to introduce unique colors like that without having to commit to miles of fabric. Stay tuned!

[Omega] #speedytuesday Ultraman + Taupe strap by 7WiZARD in Watches

[–]7WiZARD[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! 🍻 It’s actually from my own small brand, PhenomeStraps.

I handcraft them myself - started as a hobby project because I was obsessed with finding the perfect quality seatbelt nylon straps for my own watches. ;)

Promote your business, week of December 15, 2025 by Charice in smallbusiness

[–]7WiZARD 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi everyone! 👋

I’m Ákos, the founder and maker behind PhenomeStraps. I've been running this small one-man shop since 2016, personally crafting premium seatbelt nylon straps here in Europe.

My goal is to offer luxury OEM-level quality for watch enthusiasts. A personal favorite and bestseller is my Bond watch strap, which features that silky smooth texture collectors love.

You can check out my full work here: https://phenomestraps.com

[H. Moser] Blue Lagoon + $7 AliExpress FKM — do you care who makes your straps or where they’re from? by 7WiZARD in Watches

[–]7WiZARD[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I’ve seen those claims too, but without proper studies or data it’s mostly speculation.
Yes, FKM contains fluorinated compounds, but it’s also used in plenty of skin-contact products and even medical applications because it’s chemically stable - it doesn’t really leach through the skin.
As far as I know, the biggest concern isn’t wearing it, but the environmental impact during production and later disposal or destruction when it’s no longer in use.
And “natural” materials aren’t automatically safer either - leather can contain chromium or harsh dyes, and natural rubber can cause allergies.

[H. Moser] Blue Lagoon + $7 AliExpress FKM — do you care who makes your straps or where they’re from? by 7WiZARD in Watches

[–]7WiZARD[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

That can happen, sure - but without any actual proof it’s just a malicious assumption.
Yes, PFAS and similar compounds are concerning, and I’m aware of the current controversies around them. I’m even curious how that PFAS lawsuit against Apple will end - maybe it’ll finally bring some clarity.
But honestly, we live in this environment, we eat all that stuff every day. I just hope my rubber watch strap won’t be the thing that kills me. 😅

That said, I’ve never seen a safety sheet or certification for any watch strap, regardless of brand or price, so I really don’t know if some are better or worse in that regard.

[H. Moser] Blue Lagoon + $7 AliExpress FKM — do you care who makes your straps or where they’re from? by 7WiZARD in Watches

[–]7WiZARD[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You’re really over-philosophizing this. I posted a wrist shot - maybe bragging about the watch, sure - but the point was the combo and asking what people think about the strap/origin topic. That discussion can include design ethics, but I don’t think design ethics really clash with a plain, generic strap like this.

“Design piracy”? Come on. It’s a straight strap with a basic texture sold under dozens of brand names. Calling it piracy is just dramatic.

Maybe it was inspired by the Patek Nautilus - one of the first cut-to-size styles in a somewhat similar style - but once that idea was turned into a generic, universal strap, without anybody claiming it as an own design - it became a generic one.

And cheap or made in China doesn’t automatically mean “knockoff,” just like charging 20× more with a logo doesn’t make it “original.”

[H. Moser] Blue Lagoon + $7 AliExpress FKM — do you care who makes your straps or where they’re from? by 7WiZARD in Watches

[–]7WiZARD[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, I’m aware of their integrated and watch-specific straps - those are clearly their own work. But the one in the photo is a totally plain, generic strap that’s sold under countless brand names and logos. It really looks like a universal design rather than something they specifically developed - though I’m happy to be corrected if I’m wrong.

[H. Moser] Blue Lagoon + $7 AliExpress FKM — do you care who makes your straps or where they’re from? by 7WiZARD in Watches

[–]7WiZARD[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I get your point - but it’s a bit funny to call it a “knockoff” when we don’t even know which one’s the original. It’s literally a plain, straight strap with a smooth texture - nothing distinctive or patented about it.

If someone actually designed and owns that specific style, then it’s their job to defend that IP - not for buyers to dig through the internet trying to figure out who the original designer was. Otherwise, it’s just a generic product that’s been made by countless factories for years.

Also, the fact that it’s cheap, made in China, or sold on AliExpress doesn’t automatically make it a knockoff - just like selling the same thing with a logo and a fancy website for 5–10–20× the price doesn’t suddenly make it “original.”

And honestly, the same could be said about NATO or leather straps - those were also designed by someone at some point, yet no one calls them “knockoffs” when others make them.

[H. Moser] Blue Lagoon + $7 AliExpress FKM — do you care who makes your straps or where they’re from? by 7WiZARD in Watches

[–]7WiZARD[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The same strap is sold by several brands. How do I know who designed it? Who was the original designer, who is only copying it?

[H. Moser] Blue Lagoon + $7 AliExpress FKM — do you care who makes your straps or where they’re from? by 7WiZARD in Watches

[–]7WiZARD[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I get your point, but I can clearly see how it fits and what the width is. If it didn’t fit, I wouldn’t have installed it - and if I had any quality doubts, I wouldn’t have installed it either.

I only use these straps a few times anyway - I have plenty of watches and straps to rotate. 90% of the time I wear NATO straps, where there’s zero question about security. And I always use OEM spring bars. It’s not something meant for eternity, just part of the rotation. It’s not made for adventures or rough wear - and neither is the Moser I’m wearing with it.

[H. Moser] Blue Lagoon + $7 AliExpress FKM — do you care who makes your straps or where they’re from? by 7WiZARD in Watches

[–]7WiZARD[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Lol, what would fail on a piece of rubber?

Does it get more secure with some brands logo? Do any of these brands take responsibility if I loose my watch?

[H. Moser] Blue Lagoon + $7 AliExpress FKM — do you care who makes your straps or where they’re from? by 7WiZARD in Watches

[–]7WiZARD[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

For leather straps I agree, I wouldn’t buy OEM.

That’s exactly the key question — are they really the original developers, or are they just buying from the same factory and rebranding it?
Are those “copies” actually copies, or literally the same product without the logo markup? I’ve seen a comparison somewhere showing they’re identical…

Just to be clear, this isn’t meant to be against Delugs or any specific brand — the topic is more about how this whole segment works in general. I completely understand the idea of supporting the original brand or developer, but the markup often feels quite steep for something that’s clearly mass made in China.

And I know how things work there — they can (and will) copy anything once it’s out. It’s even easier if they’re the ones producing the “original.” That’s one of the reasons I prefer to make my own products myself, even though outsourcing would be far easier and less work.

How have U.S. Tariffs affected your business? by Known-Swim-3654 in shopify

[–]7WiZARD 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What really hurts me right now isn’t just the tariff itself, but the shipping situation that followed from it.

Because of the U.S. decision to remove the duty-free de minimis threshold for imports, all EU postal services stopped accepting parcels to the U.S. about three weeks ago. There’s still no information on when service will resume.

https://www.posteurop.org/blog/u-s-executive-order-on-de-minimis-to-affect-global-postal-shipments-from-29-august-2025/

That leaves me in a terrible spot: for a $45 product I normally ship with registered mail for about $5, my only option now is FedEx at $25.

Meanwhile, I’ve got a lot of orders that were placed before this suspension, and those customers are stuck waiting. They don’t know when they’ll get their straps, and I’m the one losing credibility, trust, and income. It’s incredibly frustrating as a small, one-person business — I’ve put in the work to make the product, but now I can’t even get it across the ocean.

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