You may not know this, but the Netherlands celebrates Christmas on December 25th and 26th. This means many Dutch people still have one fancy dinner tonight before Christmas is officially over. What do you do on such a wonderful occasion? Indeed, you are beautifully dressed. That means you’ll be wearing your favorite dress watch with a slightly nicer strap than usual. Now, here comes a strap from a company called Boundary Layer Studio. Its signature line of straps features premium fabrics by the famous Italian company Loro Piana. This strap check article may be a little late for this year’s Christmas holidays, but let’s take a look and see if these straps are worth considering for next year’s Christmas celebrations.
These straps were kindly provided to us by Mattisson Crowe. He founded Boundary Layer Studio in an effort to “empower watch enthusiasts to express their style with straps featuring premium fabrics and Italian craftsmanship.” Mattison sent us all four straps that are part of his signature collection. Find out what Fairmont, Chamonix, Derby and Aberdeen are all about.
Premium strap made from Loro Piana fabric
For those of you who don’t know much about Loro Piana, let me help you out a little. Founded in 1925, the company specializes in textile manufacturing and ready-made clothing. The company is headquartered in Milan, Italy and is majority owned by LVMH. Wool fabrics are so soft, linen is so supple, and silk is otherworldly. However, so are the prices of these fabrics. For example, a ready-made beanie costs just over 520 euros, and if you want a full cashmere jumpsuit, you’ll have to pay around 5,000 euros. That’s considering Boundary Layer Studio’s Signature strap costs $249.
slate gray and purple fairmount
Let’s start with the Fairmount strap. This textile features a combination of 98% wool and 2% silk, both from Loro Piana. Of the four straps, it appears to be the closest to the typical fabrics used to make formal suits. It’s very smooth and soft, and the stripes are very delicate. Like the other four straps, it has a 20-16mm taper and comes with a fairly standard but sturdy stainless steel pin buckle. One of the keepers is fixed and made of the same material as the rest of the strap.
The dark Fairmount strap looks great with the Oris Art Blakey’s off-white dial. I love how the bright pattern on the strap matches the minimalist dial.
olive green derby
Next up is a slightly more informal derby. This looks like the kind of fabric you’ll wear on your next hunting trip. Made from 100% Loro Piana wool. The main color here is olive green, but there are some hints of brown and light blue in the subtle windowpane pattern. It doesn’t have silk in it, so it feels a little rough, but it’s still very soft.
The strap may be a little thin for an Omega Speedmaster Professional, but I think it matches the style. It looks a little more casual so you can also use it for Oris.
The Aberdeen in olive green and blue gray
Next, we introduce some more exciting straps from the collection. First up is Aberdeen. The texture is a lot rougher than the previous two straps, but it’s still pleasantly soft. Like the Fairmount, it’s made from 98% wool and 2% silk, but it looks completely different. The unobtrusive pattern on the window glass makes it look more casual, but the plush feel of the fabric emphasizes this. The front two straps make the watch look like you’re wearing it with a suit. In Aberdeen (and Chamonix below), the watch is like wearing a warm wool sweater.
The Aberdeen’s thick texture matches the larger Speedmaster. But I also love how it looks like a warm winter sweater from Oris Art Blakey.
light gray and off-white chamonix
Like Aberdeen, Chamonix has a more fuzzy texture than Fairmount or Derby. In fact, it’s the most obscure of all. This texture pairs very well with the light gray and off-white tones of the fabric, which is 88% linen and 12% polyamide. It is also the most casual looking model due to its more antique look and lack of window glass patterns.
Chamonix is ​​a perfect match for the Speedmaster. This is by far my favorite of the four Boundary Layer Studio Signature straps.
Strap structure
All four straps are lined with beige nubuck. This leather is soft and connected to the outer layer with both glue and stitching. Boundary Layer Studio makes these straps in Italy and I have to say the finish is great. There were no fringes to be seen anywhere and the stitching was done properly. Conveniently, these straps also have quick-release spring bars for quick and easy replacement. By the way, this strap is available in 18mm, 19mm, and 20mm widths.
Like many fabric straps, it’s very straight and very stiff right out of the box. Compare this to the textile and leather strap from Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Casa Fagliano collection that I purchased for my Reverso. I keep the watch (strap included) on a wrist-shaped cushion when I’m not wearing it, and it’s now one of the most comfortable combinations in my watch box. All I’m saying is that it takes time to get to this point. But I’m confident that this Boundary Layer Studio strap will be just as comfortable as that one.
not the only option
Yes, $249 is a lot of money for a strap. However, price is a very personal matter, so whether it’s too high or too low is completely up to you. I paid 300 euros for a Casa Fagliano strap at JLC. I think the watch suits me very well, so I keep wearing it. That’s why I think it was worth the investment. But again, this is very personal.
Joseph Bonney’s James Strap
Strapsuits Maroon and Navy Micro Block Check Strap
Luckily, Boundary Layer Studio isn’t your only option if you’re a fan of this style of strap. For example, you can find similar products in Joseph Bonnie’s James strap collection. However, these straps come with contrasting leather keepers, which you should choose according to your preference. A nice bonus is that the price is a little cheaper at 129 euros. Another company called Strapsuits also has a very large collection of suit style straps. Most of these cost $55, so they’re more affordable if you want to see if this style of strap is right for you.
Let us know what you think about suit-style straps in the comments section below. Which of the above options will you wear to your Christmas celebrations next year?
