First off, lemme tell ya, tracking down the right strap for the BB Bronze can feel like hunting for a unicorn that’s also wearing a tiny bronze helmet. It’s that 23mm lug width, see? Drives ya bonkers. But don’t despair! There are options!
I’ve been digging around myself, and I’ve seen some stuff online. The rubberized/textured type that tries to ape the original fabric strap? Yeah, I’ve seen those. Some of ’em look alright, but honestly, they kinda feel like a slightly cheaper version, ya know? The weave is usually looser, and the “bronze” tone on the buckle might be a *little* off. Not a deal breaker necessarily, but something to keep in mind. It might be deeper, or more yellow, or something else that might not work for ya.
Then there’s the leather route. A nice vintage brown calf leather strap? Now *that* can look seriously good. I saw one shop selling them for around $50, though they’re sold out at the moment. Bummer. But it gives you an idea of the price point. Leather can really dress the Bronze up, adds a touch of class… if you’re into that kinda thing. I definitely am.
Now, eBay. Ah, eBay. It’s a bit of a gamble, right? But you can find some decent Tudor Black Bay Bronze strap options there. Just be careful and read the descriptions closely. You don’t wanna end up with some flimsy, poorly-made thing that falls apart in a week. I’ve seen some promising-looking deals, though. I mean, you gotta sift through a LOT of junk to find the gems, but they’re there. Maybe.
One thing I gotta mention – WatchGecko! I read about this guy who got two 24mm straps from them (yeah, I know, technically they’re a mm off, but he said they fit!), both with bronze hardware. He got a grey and black “Bond” striped NATO and a vintage Bond one too. Sounds pretty cool, right? I’m kinda tempted to check ’em out myself. I like the idea of a NATO on a Bronze watch. It’s a bit more casual, a bit more…me.
And finally, what was I thinking about before I got distracted? Ah yeah, someone suggested creating a single big thread where people could share their 23mm strap finds for the Black Bay Bronze. I think that’s actually a brilliant idea! It would save us all a bunch of time and effort, wouldn’t it? Because let’s be real, trawling through forums and websites looking for the perfect strap is a serious time suck.
