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Best of Ali-Xpress STRAPS (bracelets)

371589 Views 1931 Replies 273 Participants Last post by  Brummie, 
john_marston
I've ordered many straps from Ali, but usually they were just OK. I'd love to hear about more straps/bracelets that people thought were fantastic for the price

Every now and then good straps are discussed in the AliX thread. But I thought it would be very useful to compile them in its own thread. I'll start off with some usual suspects, and can update along the way.

**LEATHER**
*Calf*
MAIKES:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32953242726.html?spm=a2g0s.8937460.0.0.55bf2e0epZpXw6

HENGRC:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/329...earchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_

Anbeer:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/400...06101951155561854681327398783545_1&fromDetail

*Croc/Alligator-grain (calf)*
??

*Exotics*
decent entry-level crocodile:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32858354741.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27424c4dVtjjuK

**METAL BRACELETS**
I've yet to hear someone rave about a bracelet they got off Ali.
HENGRC seems to have some decent ones for ~$13.

Was mainly curious about leather and bracelets, but if people have some particularly good NATOs, Rubber, Nylon, or even clasps etc, share em!

i.e. this seems to the default quality waffle rubber that I might buy:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/400...earchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_
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john_marston
I need to get a MAIKES. I wish they'd match the stitching colour with the strap though
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john_marston
nice one! Have you bought any actual bracelets?
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john_marston
Schaffelaer said:
Any experience on genuine croc straps on Ali? Looking for 19mm... A few are there, for example the Mailed, but I have no idea on the quality or if they are really real.

Verstuurd vanaf mijn moto g(7) plus met Tapatalk
Click to expand...
I bought the croc from the link in the OP. I am happy with it. You can get entry-level croc for about $15-20. I'm confident it's genuine croc. I've seen a bunch of sellers that sell similar ones, probably using the same supplier. All have the 'circular' croc pattern (cheaper than bamboo), and aren't particularly thick. Nothing outstanding about the strap quality, but it's well made and feels good.

There are sellers that sell faux croc. If it's 'genuine leather' in stead of genuine croc/alligator, I'd be suspicious. Also anything sub-$15 is prob faux. I've seen a couple real croc for £11 but anything below that is surely faux.

I've been interested in some 'bamboo' croc straps. But they tend to be $40+.
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john_marston
mougino said:
I've searched a BOR bracelet on AliExpress for years... to no avail
Click to expand...
That's a shame, I was just wondering if there would be a BOR bracelet on Ali. It's strange, Ali has so many straps, yet certain types they just don't have.

I found a tropical rubber strap, looks really good for ~$10.
nl.aliexpress.com

8.8US $ 25% OFF|Premium Grade Tropic Rubber Horloge Band 20Mm 22Mm Voor S Eiko SRP777J1 Nieuwe Horloge Band Duiken waterdichte Armband Zwarte Kleur|Horlogebanden| - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
nl.aliexpress.com nl.aliexpress.com
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john_marston
Uncle Seiko does overcharge by quite a bit. Their waffle and tropical straps are essentially exactly the same as the ones on Ali for $10, but they charge $40.
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john_marston
Bit of an interesting one today. I finally got this deployant clasp from Ali, after a WUS user recommended it:
www.aliexpress.com

US $5.24 23% OFF|Stainless Steel Deployant Watch Strap Folding Buckle Clasp For Omega|Bicycle Repair Tools| - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
www.aliexpress.com www.aliexpress.com

First of all, it arrived 95 days after the order, and the dispute resolved in a refund yesterday. So, feel a bit bad. But hey it said 20-40 days so I'll take it free I guess. I had even ordered a different one from another seller a few days ago expecting not to get this till 2021.

About the clasp:
  • I ordered 'frosted' because a WUS member said this was brushed and 'smooth' was sandblasted. Well idk about that because mine is high-polished (which doesn't really match my brushed watch). Not a dealbreaker though. And the other one I ordered is 'smooth' so might end up with brushed at the end of the day.
  • No Omega logos. Which is what I asked for. That's good.
  • It does feel a tad lightweight, with basic construction. Maybe I should've gotten one of the ~£10 ones. But I feel that's a bit much for a small Chinese clasp
  • Speaking of, it is a bit short. My actual strap isn't the longest either. Good thing I'm wearing it on a Steeldive with a Lug2Lug of 52mm, because it would not fit on a petite dress watch.

I ended up cutting the little leather retainer on my strap, because I didn't realise how much the retainers stick out wearing a clasp like this. This did reveal how thin the layer of croc is on my croc strap (from OP). But the final product feels great, protects the strap, looks more elegant, and gives it a more bracelet feel. So yes, a fan of Omega-style single deployant clasps. Might post pics later.
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john_marston
Nice. The Amazon one looks much better.

From my experience, anything with an integrated butterfly clasp on AliExpress is usually not that great quality. I have learnt to always look for a fold-over clasp (like the Amazon), milled or pressed. Or for leather, a single deployment style.

It does make me wonder why Ali doesn't have a great selection of metal bracelets. I bet almost all of the decent ones on western websites are made in China anyways.
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john_marston
When you think you find the perfect strap but it doesn't fit:(

anybody know some 18mm black leather straps (a bit glossy, black stitching)?

edit: nvm I found a whole bunch that look exactly like the black one I have, i.e.
www.aliexpress.com

9.93US $ 10% OFF|Maikes Quality Genuine Leather Watch Band 13mm 14mm 16mm 17mm 18mm 19mm 20mm Watchbands For Dw Daniel Wellington Watch Strap - Watchbands - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
www.aliexpress.com www.aliexpress.com

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john_marston
Anybody wanna recommend a leather strap for my Steeldive Max Bill? 20mm.

Was first thinking a croc or alligator and make it dressy, but now thinking a blue leather with white stitching, to give it some pop and actually make it more casual and colourful (I’m lacking some colour in my rotation). Can’t find any that look good on Ali, though.

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john_marston
Poerger said:
Any recommendation for a decent croc strap (should be calf not original croc I think to keep the cost down)?
Click to expand...
weirdly enough I haven't found many decent croc-grain straps. UThai has super cheap ones that look and feel fine, but expose that they're not proper leather after a bit of wear. But they are only like £2-3.
Thing is, from ~£12 you can get real croc, which is not a bad investment. But I haven't seen any good quality croc-grain calf for that ~£5-10 price range, where you have many other good calf straps.
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john_marston
2
Got the blue HENGRC strap today.
I'm impressed! It's the first Ali strap I got that actually feels and smells like true genuine leather. It's very soft (perhaps even too soft), and leaves little marks on it when it scuffs something, like you'd expect from leather.

EDIT: forgot to link:
www.aliexpress.com

6.75US $ 50% OFF|HENGRC 18mm 20mm 22mm Genuine Leather Watch Strap Belt Manual Men Thick Brown Black Watchbands Buckle Watches Accessories|Watchbands| - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
www.aliexpress.com www.aliexpress.com

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john_marston
I bought one of those cheaper ones (with straight end links) quite recently and thought it was rather poor. It’s in the drawer of shame.
I feel even on AliExpress, you wanna pay £10+ if you want a half-decent bracelet
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john_marston
Anybody know a good lizard strap?
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john_marston
Uthai made me question every 'genuine leather' strap, lol. I wonder what they're made of... I had one and the 'leather' chipped off the strap here and there very quickly.
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john_marston
Not a fan when they put logos on it, basically replica parts. A bit hypocritical to ask for one without a logo, as you're supporting the same source. But logos is where I at least draw the line in the sand. With parts at least, whole replica watches is a different story, avoid them like the plague.

I am looking at buying another single-fold deployant clasp tonight, like an Omega one. Likewise gotta specifically ask for no logos. But they are simply the best clasps for leather, so 'tis was it is.
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john_marston
A different question:

Does anybody know of any 18mm steel bracelets that 'flare'? Looking for something for a Casio, which are 18mm at the lug, then flare to ~21mm, and then taper back down to the clasp. I tried an 18mm bracelet without a 'flare', and it just looks weird. I am very eager for a bracelet upgrade for 2 of my Casio cheapies :(
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john_marston
2
15524095

15524097


picked up a dark blue cheapy £3.50 'genuine leather' strap to see if some colour would look good on my Sea-Gull, what u think? I quite like it.

Strap quality is good for the price. Definitely better than the Uthai toad 'leather', but not great either. It gets the job done
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john_marston
Joepineapples said:
Any recommendations for a steel bracelet to give my new Escapement Time Flieger some heft?

This one.

It's a great little quartz piece for the money, finished well, but I find it just a touch on the light side.

I was thinking something tool-like, a brushed engineer or 5-link I think would suit stylistically, straight ends of course, and as a good clasp as possible.
Click to expand...
I'm thinking the same! I should get my ET in the post in a few days, but am already looking at bracelets.

I'm thinking one of these 3
Mesh, with milled clasp. Really good value.
www.aliexpress.com

10.87US $ 13% OFF|18mm 20mm 22mm Silver Mesh Watchband For Men Watch Replacement Stainless Steel Web Strap Solid Link Wristwatch Bangle Bracelet - Watchbands - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
www.aliexpress.com www.aliexpress.com

Engineer with milled clasp
www.aliexpress.com

26.07US $ 36% OFF|Luxury 22/20mm Silver/black Solid Link Stainless Steel Watch Band 24mm Folding Clasp Safety Watches Strap Bracelet Replacement - Watchbands - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
www.aliexpress.com www.aliexpress.com

3-link style? It looks like it would work fairly well on the ET
www.aliexpress.com

9.28US $ 42% OFF|Stainless Steel Strap 18mm 20mm 22mm 24mm Metal Watch Band Link Bracelet Watchband Black Silver Rose Gold|Watchbands| - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
www.aliexpress.com www.aliexpress.com
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john_marston
mikewoods said:
Received the strap from Torbollo store today. I can say that I'm not impressed. It's stamped "genuine leather" but it's genuine calfskin and bonded.

Lesson learned, I'll buy full grain leather only from now on. I will say that the buckle is substantial and I'll probably save it for another strap.
Not a total loss for under $10.

View attachment 15532751

View attachment 15532752
Click to expand...
Also have a couple of Hemsut straps and can't say I'm impressed.

full grain straps on Ali tend to be ~$20 right? I haven't bought one, didn't think it would make a big difference
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