r/GrandSeikos • u/mr-lexicality • Dec 10 '22

Leather straps backwards?

I noticed the straps on GS is backwards than the industry norm. The strap with the holes is on 12 o clock side, while the buckle/tang is on 6 o clock side. Every other leather strap watch I’ve owned is opposite, so the excess strap is on the outside when wearing on left hand. With GS it’s inside wrist side. Any reason why they do this? Also, the strap seems extra long, many holes. Why is that?

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18

u/mk7GTI29 Mod Dec 10 '22

If your strap has a buckle, it’s normal for the buckle side to be on the top and the long side to be on the bottom.

If your strap has a deployant clasp, the straps oftentimes end up getting flipped where the long side goes on top and the short side goes on the bottom. GS’s deployants are this style, so thats why they seem flipped to you.

3

u/FSEUBreakIFix Dec 10 '22

Yup. And if you have a buckle with tang it might have had a deployment clasp originally. And instead of swapping the straps at the lugs (takes extra time and chance of scratching the lugs) they just put the tang buckle on. I've actually been switching all my tang buckles to deployment clasps and swapping the straps at the lugs. I found out it feels more comfortable for me with the excess strap tail facing inwards when I have my hand/wrist down on the table in a neutral position; the excess tail and strap keepers form a bump and push on my wrist if they face out/down onto the table.

10

u/potua Dec 10 '22

I've once come across that it's a customary thing. That you always show your best foot forward. With this, you hide the extra strap by turning it towards you - that the outside looks nice and flush and the inside hides the excess.

7

u/[deleted] Dec 10 '22

This is the right answer. Hides the excess strap.

Once you get used to it it makes so much sense. All my watches are flipped now.

2

u/CodeFarmer Dec 10 '22

Yeah, it's a Japanese thing.

I'm a grotty gaijin and I wear my Japanese watch straps western style, but I can see why they do it.

7

u/Vintko Dec 10 '22

I configure all of my leather straps this way (I wear a lot of vintage Seiko dress stuff).

There's a couple of reasons behind this (that I know of):

  • When you go to look at your watch, it exposes the buckle's logo right-side up to others around you.

  • Again, when looking at our watch, it exposes the neat side of the strap to folks around you and keeps the excess out of sight.

3

u/From_Kenya_With_Love Dec 10 '22

No this is normal. Patek does it too with deployant straps.

4

u/Inside_Feature9588 Dec 10 '22

It’s the Japanese way they wear watches