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mrklaw

macrumors 68030
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Jan 29, 2008
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just bought a refurb stainless steel 42mm AW with red sport band. Will probably get a black sport band too, but I also want a metal bracelet. I quite like the three segment style where each segment is in three pieces, rather than the single segments that the apple link bracelet uses. I'll see if I can dig out an example pic.

Can someone recommend me a third party band that is like that? Is there a special name for the style that would help me search?


Edit: example pics
 

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BarracksSi

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Jul 14, 2015
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If the manufacturer or seller knows about the term "Speedmaster" or "Omega" (for the pic on the left), or "Oyster" (for the one on the right), they'll get you in the right direction.

Also look for "Jubilee", "President", etc., for another couple commonly-used styles.

The style on the left will work as-is if you use an adapter, like the design Apple uses in their classic leather straps or the springbar-type some other bands use with theirs. The one on the right, however, won't, because the end links—the pieces that attach to the watch—are shaped specifically for a round traditional watch.
 
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mrklaw

macrumors 68030
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Jan 29, 2008
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Thanks. Would welcome any specific recommendations - moko and hoco seem fairly well regarded?

I'd want a band that goes smoothly into the watch face. Not a fan of the bands that have a little loop attached to the face and then the band attaching to that
 

BarracksSi

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Juuk is only one I know by name who's making their own endlinks as a unit with their bracelets so they blend smoothly into the watch body.
http://www.juukdesign.com

Moko/Hoco/etc all seem to be coming from the same factory. I haven't handled any of them in person, except for maybe a Hoco bracelet owned by an Apple Store employee, which was mounted on the wire-style Apple lugs. It's more normal to ask an employee for a look at their aftermarket bracelet than asking a stranger on the street.

Hadley-Roma is a common brand found in shopping malls here in the US. They have straight-end models for a variety of styles and sizes. If you look at their listings, you'll see something like, "SQ 18-22", which would mean the bracelet end fits watches with lug spacings between 18 and 22 mm.
http://hadleyroma.com

Strapcode has some springbar-style adapters, which also have "drilled lugs" -- you don't need a special springbar removal tool, just a paperclip or pin to push into the hole on the side. A few other places, mostly eBay sellers, sell similar adapters, but at least Strapcode is a known retailer among wristwatch forums. The adapters they sell are spec'd for 22mm bands, and they also have good-quality bracelets which would fit.
http://www.strapcode.com/store/apple-watch-c-310.html?infoBox=5
http://www.strapcode.com/store/23mm-mesh-band-c-128.html?infoBox=2
http://www.strapcode.com/store/22mm-strap-c-121.html?infoBox=7
http://www.strapcode.com/store/23mm-metal-band-c-164.html?infoBox=3

I would like to try this jubilee-style bracelet on my AW. My Seiko has a similar style, and I really dig it:
http://www.strapcode.com/store/23mm-metal-band-c-164.html?infoBox=3
 
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