TLDR: WatchGecko is very good for the money but not quite as good as Artem. Artem is fantastic value for money, WatchGecko is as well at a lower price point.
Long version:
I am a huge fan of Artem. They are easily the best aftermarket sailcloths I’ve come across, but at $100 for the original (with quick release), they are a little too expensive for me to equip on all my sports watches. Well I recently came across this Zuludiver (WatchGecko?) sailcloth, and I’m very impressed with the quality.
www.watchgecko.com
I went with the black/grey to match my SPB143. I think it looks very good.
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One of my favorite parts of the Artem strap is that it seemed to conform to my wrist after very little wear. I found the ZuluDiver pretty much did the same. On the other hand, I also picked up a $10 strap off AliX (on the right), and while it is very good for the money, it was a lot thinner and didn’t retain its shape nearly as well. The thinness did help with comfort, but it also felt flimsy and started fraying quickly around the buckle.
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The Artem strap really shines in the macro shots. The ZuluDiver is actually stamped rubber, and while it is a very realistic pattern to the naked eye, the Artem is actually some sort of tightly woven fiber. Stamped rubber tends to lose its pattern after use, so the Artem strap definitely wins here. That being said, the pattern is very deep on the ZuluDiver so I expect it will hold up well enough. It also looks considerably better than the AliX strap, where you can tell it’s rubber without any magnification.
The holes on the Artem are also much, much cleaner, and have barely even warped after several months of (somewhat) regular use. The hole furthest on the right is the one I was using.
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In addition to the holes, the edges around the spring bars and buckle on the Artem are better sealed and better finished, and I expect will last longer than the WatchGecko.
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The bottom lining of the WatchGecko is one of the standout features for me. Most sailcloth’s are leather lined, which sort of defeats the entire purpose of a waterproof strap, but the watchgecko actually uses the same sailcloth textured rubber as the top. The Artem is leather lined and coated in caoutchouc rubber (waterproof) which is perhaps nicer on the skin, but I rather like what ZuluDiver did here. It’s different.
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I actually prefer how the watchgecko’s stitch is closer to the edge. I know the new loopless Artem’s straps also have stitching closer to the perimeter, but those are $200 with the deployant. I also prefer the 20/16 taper of the watchgecko, vs 22/20 or 20/18 from Artem. I’ll probably still end up buying a loopless, but for now I am perfectly content with this watchgecko.
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All in all, the watchgecko is certainly not the same quality as Artem, but it still holds its own and feels very much like a premium product, especially compared to other cheaper sailcloth’s I’ve owned. I wouldn’t hesitate to put it on a Speedmaster or other luxury watches, and I think it perfectly fills in the gap between low and high end sailcloth straps. Artem set the standard very high, but watchgecko has managed to match the value for money in this space, albeit at a lower price point.
Highly recommend!
Long version:
I am a huge fan of Artem. They are easily the best aftermarket sailcloths I’ve come across, but at $100 for the original (with quick release), they are a little too expensive for me to equip on all my sports watches. Well I recently came across this Zuludiver (WatchGecko?) sailcloth, and I’m very impressed with the quality.
WatchGecko Atlas Sailcloth Watch Strap - Black
Introducing the WatchGecko Atlas Sailcloth Watch Strap – a classic watch strap that uses timelessness. Made from premium synthetic waterproof leather, this strap is crafted to endure and impress. Designed with the discerning watch enthusiast in mind, this strap features precision stitching that...
www.watchgecko.com
I went with the black/grey to match my SPB143. I think it looks very good.
One of my favorite parts of the Artem strap is that it seemed to conform to my wrist after very little wear. I found the ZuluDiver pretty much did the same. On the other hand, I also picked up a $10 strap off AliX (on the right), and while it is very good for the money, it was a lot thinner and didn’t retain its shape nearly as well. The thinness did help with comfort, but it also felt flimsy and started fraying quickly around the buckle.
The Artem strap really shines in the macro shots. The ZuluDiver is actually stamped rubber, and while it is a very realistic pattern to the naked eye, the Artem is actually some sort of tightly woven fiber. Stamped rubber tends to lose its pattern after use, so the Artem strap definitely wins here. That being said, the pattern is very deep on the ZuluDiver so I expect it will hold up well enough. It also looks considerably better than the AliX strap, where you can tell it’s rubber without any magnification.
The holes on the Artem are also much, much cleaner, and have barely even warped after several months of (somewhat) regular use. The hole furthest on the right is the one I was using.
In addition to the holes, the edges around the spring bars and buckle on the Artem are better sealed and better finished, and I expect will last longer than the WatchGecko.
The bottom lining of the WatchGecko is one of the standout features for me. Most sailcloth’s are leather lined, which sort of defeats the entire purpose of a waterproof strap, but the watchgecko actually uses the same sailcloth textured rubber as the top. The Artem is leather lined and coated in caoutchouc rubber (waterproof) which is perhaps nicer on the skin, but I rather like what ZuluDiver did here. It’s different.
I actually prefer how the watchgecko’s stitch is closer to the edge. I know the new loopless Artem’s straps also have stitching closer to the perimeter, but those are $200 with the deployant. I also prefer the 20/16 taper of the watchgecko, vs 22/20 or 20/18 from Artem. I’ll probably still end up buying a loopless, but for now I am perfectly content with this watchgecko.
All in all, the watchgecko is certainly not the same quality as Artem, but it still holds its own and feels very much like a premium product, especially compared to other cheaper sailcloth’s I’ve owned. I wouldn’t hesitate to put it on a Speedmaster or other luxury watches, and I think it perfectly fills in the gap between low and high end sailcloth straps. Artem set the standard very high, but watchgecko has managed to match the value for money in this space, albeit at a lower price point.
Highly recommend!
