Changing the strap on your watch can make a huge difference – at times almost giving the feeling of wearing a different watch altogether – after all, much of the wearing experience is how it looks and feels on your wrist. With this in mind, and after having spent time with more straps than I care to mention from nearly as many suppliers – one thing holds true – invariably investing in a high quality watch strap for a premium watch is never a bad idea. In fact the opposite is nearly always true – a cheap and poorly made strap can ruin your whole experience of an expensive watch!
With this in mind, we’re big fans of more modern strap choices like sailcloth straps – where these offer a comfortable strap for your watch at the same time as being durable enough for not only day-to-day use, but also perfectly happy getting wet.
Since their journey began in November 2023, Northstar straps have been making a name for themselves in supplying premium sailcloth watchstraps as an alternative to manufacturers’ OEM straps with a comparable degree of quality. Available in a variety of colours including black, grey, beige, blue and green and a range of widths including 19mm, 20mm, 21mm, 22mm with either standard or Seiko 2.5mm ‘fat’ spring bars. All supplied on either their own high quality tang buckle or as an alternative a butterfly deployant clasp.
In September 2024 they launched their ‘Deploy’ range of Omega-style deployant straps – utilising the simpler single fold design synonymous with folding clasps on steel bracelets. These are supplied on quick release spring bars as standard – although also available with either regular or Seiko ‘fat’ 2.5mm spring bars if the customer prefers – and available in the same broad colourways.
We reached out to Northstar straps to spend some time with a few of their deploy range to see for ourselves just what the straps and clasps are really like and if they’re worth the price.
Northstar sailcloth straps are made from Oxford waterproof fabric which is an embossed synthetic sailcloth material, the reverse side is leather with a water resistant natural caoutchouc rubber coating. Due to their construction and materials they’re fully water resistant – able to stand up to both perspiration as well as full submersion and aquatic activities.
There are a number of significant benefits to a deployant strap. They are quick to put on, and take off without pulling the strap tighter to your wrist to engage or disengage the buckle. Once in place and connected, it minimises the wear to the strap itself preventing the strap from cracking and enhancing its lifespan. In addition as you undo the clasp, the strap still maintains a closed loop around your wrist preventing you from dropping the watch. All of these things enhance your overall experience of wearing a watch and the longevity and experience of the strap itself.
The clasps themselves are fully brushed, twin push-button release clasps that feel well-built. Northstar’s logo is etched on the underside of the clasp and is visible once opened. The strap holes are further reinforced with a rubber section that’s stitched to the strap ensuring both a good and consistent fit with minimal wear at the point the strap attaches to the buckle.
The most significant observation is that while these straps look and feel comparable – or better quality to other sailcloth straps on the market, Northstar have worked hard to deliver these at a much more accessible price-point – especially here in the UK where VAT and import charges get applied for all goods on their way into the country which can make a noticeable impact to pricing.
After having spent some months with the deploy straps from Northstar we certainly feel that they’re a great option – especially at the price point. We’ve been wearing these on a few watches – switching them up on an almost daily basis. The straps have been extremely comfortable and appear hard wearing with no discernible wear to the sailcloth or the buckle – and the presence of the quick release spring bars has made changing the straps a breeze.
Moving forward Northstar’s vision for the future will look to expand their colour ways and complementary stitching options as well as release additional complementary hardware – One such pertinent example is their new DLC coated folding deploy clasp which is now available in their shop to complement their black strap on DLC watches for that perfect stealth look (I can see a number of Breitling owners reaching for their wallets)
We’re really impressed at the quality of these straps and we think you’ll be hard pushed to find a better quality sailcloth strap more affordably than this.
Northstar straps are available directly form www.northstarstraps.com with prices starting from £48
