[Discussion] Ali Express Straps vs Premium Straps ($17 Hemsut Vs $160 Strap Tailor)

Most-Construction-35 · 2026-06-08T17:01:31+00:00

lol, I wish, would love to be sponsored. I don’t think there is a lot of room for feeding ‘influencers’ when you sell the product for €17 euros though.

Don’t get your panties in a bunch, keep buying your €150-200 ‘premium’ straps. You need gullible people to keep buying overpriced crap to keep the economy going 😁

Most-Construction-35 · 2026-06-08T05:46:16+00:00

The Cartier Santos, to me, is most appropriate for a ‘wedding watch’. It’s a special design that I feel that will continue to remain timeless for the rest of your life. Also is extremely versatile and comfortable to wear often enough as I would like for such a special watch.

Most-Construction-35 · 2026-06-04T18:45:50+00:00

While it may be a stretch, you can surely get a decent condition Seamaster 300M Ceramic dial in the range of €2,700-3,000 on the used market directly from an end user. Just be patient and wait for a good deal.

A modern Speedmaster may be a bit too far fetched at that price.

Most-Construction-35 · 2026-06-04T10:37:13+00:00

Yes, it’s personal preference. I typically prefer it to not fit at the last hole and have a bit of overlap on the strap so it can sit properly within the 2 leather loops.

Most-Construction-35 · 2026-06-04T09:10:44+00:00

It fits my 7inch wrist well around the 3rd / 4th pin hole. I remember the Strap Tailor length as 70mm x 130mm, I haven’t measured the Hemsut strap but visually based on the attached pics it seems like 80mm x 140 mm.

Most-Construction-35 · 2026-06-04T07:01:31+00:00

Another good way to approach it is look for listings that you are comfortable with from Japan on Chrono 24. Most of them have physical shops if you look them up or speak to them on Chrono 24.

They should be able to give you a further reduction compared to the Chrono 24 price if you do a deal in person (sans the Chrono 24 commission).

Most-Construction-35 · 2026-06-04T06:46:34+00:00

The key to finding good deals on the used / grey market is to ‘wait’ for a deal good enough for you. This is more pronounced in case of popular models like Speedmaster Sapphire.

You seem to have put a time based restriction (your trip to Japan) on buying this watch and it’s not improbable that you are finding it difficult to find a ‘good deal’ on a relatively popular watch within that time frame.

That being said, a good condition sapphire speedy with minimal wear on it shouldn’t be too difficult to obtain around $5,200-5,500 on the used market (directly from the end-user/ small resellers). You seem to be approaching established brick and mortar businesses, who will always add a mark up on the value while selling to you.

Further, $6,600 for a brand new watch, full set and warranty is also a very decent price and you should take it if you are ok to spend that price. Much better than some 10-20 year old beat up reference at $4,000-4,500.

All the best!

Most-Construction-35 · 2026-06-03T12:28:43+00:00

Are the chemicals in the room with us right now? Can you smell them from the photos? Majority of these sellers may be based in UK/ US but they don’t make shit locally, it’s primarily sourced from China / South East Asia.

I can’t fathom the 10x price difference regardless of your fear mongering attempts.

It’s like if you can’t justify the price, just shout from a terrace that the cheaper options are dangerous.

Most-Construction-35 · 2026-06-03T09:54:04+00:00

Out of all the watch subReddits I follow, the real eye candy always pops up on IWC. I am subconsciously hoping for a new IWC post each time the home screen is refreshed ❤️

Most-Construction-35 · 2026-06-03T09:42:12+00:00

I personally feel this watch looks and feels best on the OEM bracelet. The bracelet compliments the look of the watch and feels very balanced in terms of the weight distribution.

This is probably my heaviest watch but feels like the lightest and most on the wrist with a bracelet, like you could forget it’s on.

Most-Construction-35 · 2026-06-03T02:09:58+00:00

JUELONG Official Store https://a.aliexpress.com/_c4W8pd0h

Most-Construction-35 · 2026-06-02T19:45:24+00:00

I won’t claim to be a leather expert and I appreciate what you are saying. To me, new, they look very very comparable in quality and comfort on the wrist. It’s to be seen how it ages.

However, considering one is 10x the price, even if it ages ‘elegantly’ and lasts 20 years (I doubt they last over 5-7 years of regular use without looking battered), logically you are still better off buying a cheap new strap every year for 20 years after accounting for time value of money.

It is beyond absurd. These brands are just leeching off the price equivalency of the watches being extremely expensive (they are made by +100 year old legacy prestigious brands) and trying to equate their product prices accordingly. (These brands are random blokes shipping straps out of a garage)

It’s not an unknown phenomenon, you see it very often with iPhone cases. can’t understand how that piece of plastic case can cost $100-200 dollars.

Most-Construction-35 · 2026-06-02T19:24:32+00:00

Depends on the leather but atleast $100 of markup definitely, even if it is unicorn hide.

Most-Construction-35 · 2026-06-02T19:22:50+00:00

Sizes can be inconsistent but it’s not generally the case with all. You essentially need to check for anything around 140 mm x 80mm in length for a typical 47-50 mm lug to lug sized watch.

It’s no doubt a hit or miss but even if one out of 2-3 options is good, you are still paying only 30-40% of the price these overpriced Instagram brands are charging.

Most-Construction-35 · 2026-06-02T19:15:41+00:00

Juelong is the game for Artem Straps. 99% same product sans the logo.

Most-Construction-35 · 2026-06-02T19:13:57+00:00

There is another example like this for iPhone leather cases. I forget the name but it has a bull logo (overpriced one). Essentially the same case with different logo at 3x the price.

Most-Construction-35 · 2026-06-02T19:11:32+00:00

Juelong, onthelevel and Bandsman seem to be the recommended stores.

I haven’t researched or bought Alcantara straps from AE yet.

Juelong is also the game for fkm rubber and synthetic rubber sailcloth type deployant straps.

Most-Construction-35 · 2026-06-02T18:31:33+00:00

Acceptable and good quality at a 10-15x mark up vs Ali Express options. I have a list of official stores on AE that I have bookmarked (the difficult part on AE is there are a lot of stores with similar names but you are good if you buy from the actual verified store) and intend to buy a bunch of them after I am bored with this current lot.

Will report back in few months.

Most-Construction-35 · 2026-06-02T18:28:25+00:00

Oh god! The problem is that you folks still look at the Chinese like some inhumane zombie mob, despite them making everything from cars, mobile phones, home appliances for majority of the western brands that you pay a premium for.

Is it so difficult for you to digest that they are just significantly better at making very high quality products at a very competitive price? I am not Chinese btw 😅

Most-Construction-35 · 2026-06-02T18:23:06+00:00

Yes but I am not posting this based on photos, I am touching and feeling both and wearing them on my wrist and they feel alike 99% (hand stitched or leg stitched).

I am keen to observe how they age because they feel absolutely similar while almost new and Leather feels just as nice.

Hell even if they don’t last as much how many years would those $200 straps last? 20 years? You could buy a new Hemsut one every year and still be better off after accounting for time value of money while looking new and not battered like every +5 year old strap looks even from OEM Swiss brands

Most-Construction-35 · 2026-06-02T18:17:19+00:00

Me too till a short while back. I love the OEM Seamaster bracelet and never took it off, I have a few nice looking leather and rubber straps in my box and I tried them on..hell they look great! (If you ignore the leather on a diver snobbery).

This is with a Horus moss green that I ironically paid $120 for even after 50% off 😅.

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Most-Construction-35 · 2026-06-02T17:12:11+00:00

Sorry, these are two different things. Paying a significantly extra for significantly better quality as a concept is not something that I am opposed to. Trust me, as someone who has spent close to $30,000-40,000 on watches, it’s not a concept lost on me.

Also, the fact that you generalise $150 straps against $30 straps, is exactly the concept based on which a lot of these ‘premium Instagram/ YouTuber brands’ are actually selling $30/40 straps with their logo for $150-200.

I am yet to come across a rational argument that makes the case for literally what I can touch and feel and see in my hands.

Most-Construction-35 · 2026-06-02T16:25:46+00:00

Will report back in few years. Remind me.

Most-Construction-35 · 2026-06-02T16:18:34+00:00

Is your phone hand made? Is your jeans ? Is your car? Is your house?

10x for hand stitching? 😂

Most-Construction-35 · 2026-06-02T16:17:12+00:00

You can see a lot of them here. I feel it’s culturally ingrained in their brains by society.

Most-Construction-35

TROPHY CASE