Hands-On With Artem Nylon Watch Straps
Due to my smaller wrists, I tend to wear custom-size straps and adjusted bracelets. However, there are other options. The Artem nylon watch straps are a cut above typical offerings. I’ve paired one with a vintage Tudor Submariner for today’s review, and I’ll answer why it’s worth selecting a premium nylon strap over a flimsy model.
I remember milling around in Paris back in 2013 with my then-future wife. Somehow, we bumped into a small watch accessories shop with a large bin of “NATO” style straps. They were €12 each and included leather and nylon options. These were hip and tough to find, so I bought a few. Over the next year, I wore these straps heavily and noticed they fell apart. Yes, a lighter melted the fibers on the end of the straps, but the pin holes ultimately tore. Plus, the straps often felt too flimsy for a heavier dive watch. Enter premium options like the Artem nylon watch straps.
Artem nylon watch straps
Artem offers 10 color options for nylon straps on its Adelaide, Australia-based website. Each is available in a 19–20mm and 21–22mm size with polished stainless steel hardware. Alternatively, you can find them here in the Fratello Shop, which may make shipping easier. There are some great watch-and-strap pairings on both sites. For this review, I chose the Commander model and have matched it with my vintage Tudor Submariner Snowflake.
Not your normal thin, flimsy nylon
My earliest nylon straps were with thin, ridged models. They were easy to thread through watch lugs, but they typically exhibited a level of give when I pulled the straps tight before buckling them. This was always disconcerting despite the security that passing the strap under the case was supposed to provide. The Artem nylon is thicker and made from a semi-shiny tightly woven seatbelt material.
A different level of finishing
The other difference from lesser nylon straps is the edge finishing. In fact, they’re not finished like normal nylon straps at all because the stitching is woven on the edges. Most nylon straps are heat-welded or melted on the edges. That’s fine, but as the edges wear or crack, the material usually frays and needs to be repaired by remelting. The Artem nylon looks cleaner and classier.
Similarly, the pin holes have crisp edges where they have been sealed. Due to the thickness of the nylon, they prove more resistant to stretching and wear. Artem adds subtle branding with its name on one of the keepers and logo on the buckle.
Comfortable on the wrist
The Artem nylon straps are supremely smooth and comfortable on the wrist. Since the material is stiffer than typical thin-grade nylon, I don’t need to fasten it as tightly. Also, these straps solve a pet peeve with this strap style. Namely, the keepers are large enough to allow for the folding and backward tucking of the tail — a necessity for someone with a small wrist. Another nice feature is the sliding keeper that’s closest to the buckle.
For a chunky watch like a Submariner, the Artem nylon strap works well. The watch head doesn’t “porpoise” on the wrist but, instead, feels balanced. Plus, folding the strap backward and tucking it into the keeper reduces the bulk on the 12 o’clock side.
Final thoughts on Artem nylon watch straps
Artem nylon watch straps are priced at €58.95 on the brand’s website. If you came of age during the rise in nylon straps’ popularity, this sounds expensive. However, this isn’t a run-of-the-mill strap and is of a similar quality to OEM nylon straps that cost three times as much. These are classy enough to wear to a decent dinner out, whereas less expensive straps are resolutely casual. If a nice nylon strap is of interest, give these a try. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
This is a preferred-position post. Learn more.
