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waxdoctor
3
Sep 4, 2016
I have a watch with 19mm - what would be the better option - 20 or 18mm?
payodpanda
958
Sep 5, 2016
waxdoctorFrom personal experience, 20mm. 18mm will leave a gap that might be visible. I use a 20mm strap on my 21mm Orient Bambino, and one can see the gap if they looked. At a glance people wouldn't notice it though.
I've even tried putting on my 22mm Hirsch Liberty strap on the Bambino, and I could get it on with no problem (no, I don't pair them together, just wanted to see if it goes on :) ). The Hirsch Liberty is a THICK piece of leather, so I can't imagine straps of thinner leather having trouble getting on a lug width 1mm shorter than they're rated for.
I would also base my decision on: 1. How many other watches do you own, that are 18mm or 20mm lug widths? 2. How often do you change straps on watches, and would you use this strap with any other watch?
I bought that 20mm strap for the 21mm lug width Bambino cause all my other watches were 20mm and I change straps a lot. I don't really regret it even though, as I said, I can see a gap when I look closely. But if you need to get a strap that's either 18mm or 20mm, and you won't really be changing straps a lot, then I'd recommend getting the 20mm.
waxdoctor
3
Sep 5, 2016
payodpandathank you so much! I thought also going with the 20mm because of the gap :)
ChurchillW
423
Sep 6, 2016
waxdoctorI wear 20mm straps with my 19mm lug width watches when 19mm is not available. Would rather cram the strap in there then have the extra room with the 18mm strap.
SkipPe
189
Sep 7, 2016
ChurchillWThis looks okay, the crammed over-sized strap? I can see getting away with it using black straps, but is it visible with lighter straps as well?
ChurchillW
423
Sep 8, 2016
SkipPeI don't think you or anyone else will notice.
payodpanda
958
Sep 8, 2016
SkipPeThe thing is, when you take into consideration that it is 1mm wider at the *rated* width, it's still only 0.5mm extra on each end. This, coupled with not 100% accurate sizes, means that usually it won't be a problem, especially with non-stiff straps (like I assume this one is). By "stiff" I mean the stiffness you see in some dress straps that have some padding material near the base, which this one doesn't.