A unique GasGasBones strap

[Yarders]

I spend an inordinate amount of time looking at stuff on the Internet. Watch stuff. My wife despairs of me and can't see the attraction, some of you are nodding sagely in agreement as you read this.

I recently became a Bremont owner, a CH47 LE, and during the time I waited patiently for its arrival I was looking for a strap that would work with it. I stumbled on BJ Straps, in particular his straps fashioned from old baseball gloves. Now, baseball holds no real interest for me, but it got me thinking; what would I like a strap made from? I wanted something personal but also related to work. During WWII everything was secured with leather straps, easily converted into watch straps, unfortunately it's pretty much all nylon these days, usually made by the cheapest bidder. The only leather now is the flying gloves and the boots, the latter being thicker, and I had an old pair in my locker!

Finding someone that could turn an old boot into a strap was another search, and most strap makers seemed to be overseas. I'd heard about Carl, but he seemed to be a nylon specialist, but I emailed him anyway on the off chance. Turns out that he started out making leather straps and was more than happy to have a look, and he also recommended somebody else in case he couldn't help.

Well, on Friday, this arrived and I love it. Carl has more pics of the strap on his GasGasBones Facebook page (well worth a look) but here it is on the watch. It is fantastically supple and comfortable despite being quite thick near the lugs.












I asked Carl to incorporate some of the markings from inside the boot, which he has done really well. The brown floating keeper is removable and he supplied a black one too. The stitching is a light tan and it works well.

What can I say, I'm a very happy chap. I have been really impressed with Carl's work and can thoroughly recommend him.

[AIDM]

Looks brilliant on the LE Yarders...

A very well executed and personal thing, Carl really is the man - I've got a few of his great straps never fails to hit the mark. He has a day job that must be tremendously rewarding as well.

Top chap, great strap - some pics of it in the cockpit of the Chinook would be appreciated by many I'm sure!

Rob

**Edit: This thread is very worthy of Watch Talk where it would also get a wider audience - why not post one of the pics in a new thread there with a link to here?**

[Miltime]

I truly like the look, esp. on that watch.

[SeanST150]

Nice post, nice story and of course a nice strap.

The only thing I don't like is the brown floater.

[Yarders]

The only thing I don't like is the brown floater.

Carl told me before he sent it that he had made a brown keeper and I wasn't sure, but when it's on it's a really nice detail. He made a black one too, his wife told him to, just in case!

[Yarders]

Top chap, great strap - some pics of it in the cockpit of the Chinook would be appreciated by many I'm sure!

Rob

I've not got a pic of it in the cockpit on that strap, I generally work in the back. But I did take this shot to show where some of the inspiration for the design came from, namely the clock in the Mk 2 & 3, none of your digital, hi-tech shenanigans going on in here! It's on a leather nato which I also think suits the watch.

[AIDM]

Thanks Yarders - we had one of your mad machines into Bristol Airport where I work earlier this year with smoke in the cockpit - that shook the place up a bit! Attracted a bit of attention sat on the Western Apron tech for a while!

Great pic, I've copied into the WT thread!

Rob