Well, if it is discounted accordingly I don't see a problem. There are actually very few watches I buy that I like the strap, most get replaced right out of the box with the strap it came with never being worn. Most of the exceptions are bracelets, but even those I have changed out on a few.

edited to add that I also change a lot of straps because they don't fit me in the sizes offered with the watch, I have a larger 8.75-9" wrist, most straps will not fit, or if they do they are on the last hole or are to tight, feels uncomfortable and does not look right with the watch.

 

I buy the watch, not the strap. If I like the strap/band fine, it is the watch that counts for me!

 

Thank you both very much. Might I ask where you buy your straps from, price range, type, etc?

 

Most sellers have the worst taste in straps. It is usually the first thing I do when I get a vintage watch in the mail...remove whatever cheap and aesthetically inappropriate strap they slapped on just to make the sale on eBay. Metal bands are even worse. I never wear metal, so they all get pitched. I actually appreciate when they arrive strapless/bandless...saves me the effort of removing it, tossing it, and then having that brief pang of guilt for having wasted something usable.

As far as where to buy goes, for NATO straps, I usually buy from watchbandgirl on eBay. Holbensfinewatchbands is also a good seller, and I've gotten quite a few from rustwatches (the problem with his store is the photos are only in the body of the ads--no thumbnails--so browsing his inventory is a bit tedious).

 

Most older Russian watches tend to be sold without a strap, as I believe was the custom. So if you want to buy an older Russian watch with a strap, the pickin's are slimmer. Even the watches that are sold with straps tend to have really crappy straps. Look at the new Komandirskie watches, the straps are made from crappy plastic. I got myself a so-called Gagarin style one piece leather bund strap to replace and it looks way better and more comfortable. Will post pic soon.

As for metal bands I totally agree, I ended spending 2 hours tearing a really bad metal band off a Luch Perpetual Calendar watch. The worse part about them is they are sometime difficult to remove. Recently I purchased an Old Timex online that came with a metal strap. I asked the seller if he would consider sending it to me with a leather band of the same size and he agreed. Can't wait to see what the band is going to look like.

 

I guess it's whether you like to buy a desktop computer, or home theater bundle, or buy the components individually. With the bundle, you often get "value" and the ability to "plug it in and go." With the components, you can usually get better quality and certainly get a customized system.

I admit, when I get a watch and there's no band, I'm sad--I want to put it on and try it out right away. But I agree that most of the bands sold with Russian watches are quite bad. You can get better replacements for very cheap (and then the quality is spotty), or medium cheap (and still feel like you've gotten what you deserved), or spend the money to get quality and comfort.

Add to it what TimeWanderer noted--that truly vintage Russian watches were originally sold without straps--and that adds another check mark in the "component" column.

I also order NATOs from Watchbandgirl. I like goodcheapman's mesh 18mm bracelet (looks great on my octagonal case amphibia), and the lizard bands from milanowatchbands. I've ordered from Crown & Buckle (got a great deal on a calfskin NATO) and others as well. It's good to customize, and to have the flexibility that multiple watchbands can have for your watches.

Of course, since I tend to go for <$15 bands, there have been some busts too (I don't know WHY I thought I'd like this electric blue leather band on my Scuba Dude), but that's part of the process!

 

I actually would rathre get my USSR watches without a strap. i am quite convinced that when I buy a $20k JLC the seller will put a nice strap on it, but most russian watches, old and new, come with poor straps. As others have mentioned, in the old USSR peeps would buy a watch without a strap and get one themselves. To me not getting a strap adds to the authenticity. And I hav to say getting a nice-ish strap does miracles for the russian watches. Some of them look quite posh with a nice strap on them.

 

And let us not forget that quite often (at least in my experience) some of the straps that come with our desired vintage soviets look like they need to be removed by a hazmat team.

 

I actually tell the sellers of the vintage watches not to bother sending a strap tbh as they are normally those £1 XXL black croco efforts and go straight in the bin. The only OE straps I possess are the one that came with my Denissov Aeronaut, VE Gaz Dualtime, and Boctok Kremlevskie which is a bracelet anyway.

You are better off choosing as strap to your liking Bundtrock therefore making the watch yours.

 

I think you are right WelshWatchNut, I am going to order a strap for the watch that I like.

 

I bought a NOS Paratrooper from Ebay which came in a small plastic box with no strap, so i just put on a cheap mesh look strap on it.

 

In Soviet times most watches were sold without straps. They were sold in small plastic boxes with folded instruction and small pillow thing. The box wasn't even designed to accommodate the strap. Straps were sold in the same stores, but separately.

Nowadays it's normal to see/sell the watch with a strap. So, most sellers include straps. I personally always include strap when I sell, simply because it looks better in pictures. Everyone is so use to see pictures of the watches with straps, that without one the watch looks less attractive. But when I need to sell a $50 - $100 watch, how much do you think I invest into a strap? Exactly! I have a few $3.00 Chinese straps laying around for these purposes. So, as most people already stated I don't care for sellers straps when I buy, nor do I expect anything good, unless I buy something very expensive...

I think you should not be disturbed over seller not including strap. If price is right, watch is good and seller puts in writing that strap is not included, it's fair enough IMO.