Watch Strap Review Part 36. – Delugs Straps From Singapore
Today we will take a closer look at some of the creations of a very sympathetic brand from Singapore: Delugs Straps.
When it comes to brands that we feature on Watch Strap Review, the process is simple. We get in touch with them and offer them the opportunity to have their straps featured on the site at no charge. We do not review straps for money. Sometimes, however, it’s the other way around. Brands get in touch with us to bring their products to our attention. The strap makers’ scene is getting bigger by the day. We cannot keep up with all of them. When we received an email from Ken, the name behind Delugs Strap, I admit I had no idea about the brand. However, it did not take me too long to persuade myself that Delugs is indeed a brand that we should take a closer look at.
Delugs Straps
Delugs Strap comes from Singapore, a country with a somewhat healthy watch scene. Some of the significant collectors reside in the south East Asian city-state. Furthermore, many of the watch publications that we love to read, like SJX or Revolution, also hails from there. Even we went there to do one of our Speedy Tuesday get-togethers earlier this year. The culture is there, and Delugs Straps fits into it perfectly. By this, I do not want to say that Delugs is a company that does business only locally.
On the contrary, they have a fantastic website, a pretty lovely and active social media presence (Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram), and lastly, beautiful, quality products. Ken comes from a leathercrafter background. His angle into the business was more lifestyle than watches. He saw a gap in the market and went for it. As you’d have it, along the way, he became a watch guy.
The two critical points with Delugs is that they use leather that usually high quality, bespoke ateliers work with. This should be a given, but trust me, it’s not as apparent as you’d think. Another – very cool – feature of Ken’s straps is that they have quick-release spring bars. Some of you might not be the biggest fans of quick-release spring bars; I have to say I was also on the fence earlier. But if the hardware material is there, and with Delugs, it certainly is, they come inconveniently. Especially if you only have a handful of watches, but you love swapping straps on them regularly. The high-quality leather and the smart spring bar system pair nicely with the traditional leathercrafting techniques Delugs is using. All of these attributes create the beautiful straps that you can read about below.
Signature
Delugs offer five range of straps; Signature, Slim, Rally, Side-Stitch, Custom. Furthermore, you can find accessories, and something called Bargain Bin, their designated sales. The first strap I’ll have a look at is from their Signature collection. You can find several different types of leather in Signature. Ken sent us some straps made of Shell Cordovan. Many strap makers use this type of leather due to its distinct look and durability. Delugs offers them in 5 colors (black, brown, Bordeaux, navy, natural, green). The stock sizes are 18-20-22, but custom sizes are also available. The same goes for its length and the color of its stitching. I received the natural (dark) brown and green version with 18mm lug width and size M length. This is 115cm and 70cm, perfect for my wrist, which is rather large. Still, even on a small watch, the strap works just fine.
The straps are beautiful with a shiny surface. Not too glossy, just enough to make them look classy, especially when you pair them up with a beautiful watch. The straps Ken sent me have matching stitching, the most elegant look, in my opinion. They are slightly padded, too, while the strap is 1,8mm towards the end; it’s 4mm at the padding. Other features include painted edges, two keepers (one fixed), and a stainless-steel buckle. The Signature line was Delugs’ first batch of products they released, and I have to say they are as lovely as it gets. The price is fair ($99), and due to the customization option, the results are endless. Delugs are using leather from Japan, while on the inside, the lining leather comes from France. If you visit their site, you can read about the construction process too.
Epsom
Probably the strap with the most distinct look out of all of Delugs’ products. The Epsom Slim comes in every size from 18 to 22, but again, you can ask for customization on both lug width and length. You see a color scale in the listing where you can pick the tone you like the best. As the thickness is only 2mm, the Delugs Epsom straps are perfect for thinner, possibly vintage, watches. Not only due to their thickness but also due to their looks. That does not mean you cannot throw it on a modern piece. Epsom Slim straps are a bit even cheaper than the Signature version. You have to pay $95 for a stock piece. Some of you might find them familiar, as many other strap makers offer products made of the same leather. Or so I thought. Beware, leather schooling below;
We often mix leathers with similar patterns, albeit they are very different in many ways. The products I was referring to above as Epsom lookalikes were the Saffiano straps. Both Epsom and Saffiano have a similar texture, although Saffiano’s pattern is perhaps more delicate than Epsom’s. Another distinction is where it’s coming from. Epsom hails from France. Delugs’ supplier is Tanneries Du Puy from Chadrac, France. French Luxury giant Hermés uses Epsom as one of their signature leathers for their bags. Saffiano, on the other hand, comes from Italian tanneries (mostly). Just like Epsom is connected to Hermés, Saffiano is the go-to leather fabric for Prada’s handbags. To sum it up, what is Saffiano for Prada, is Epsom for Hermés. A beautiful pattern leather from a French tannery used by the most exclusive French handbag atelier. It’s also Delugs’ – excellent – choice for their Slim straps.
Crocodile
Under the Custom tab, one can find three types of leather; alligator, stingray, and lizard. If you’d like to have a strap custom-made for your watch, Delugs offer you the option to pick your leather and create the desired strap. The process is simple; once you chose the leather, you have to define what style you want. This refers to the type of stitching or the thickness of the strap. You have to choose a leather color and finally the color of stitching. If you have any other requests, you should communicate them to Ken, and I’m sure he’ll sort them out for you. This option is a bit pricier than the straps mentioned above. You have to pay $155 for a custom Delugs strap, and still, for the amount of work that goes into this, and especially for what you are getting, it’s a fair price.
Final words
Delugs works with in-stock and made-to-order straps. Should you choose a popular model, shipping is relatively quick. Although if you signed up for a custom strap, it may take a while, as you’d have it at any other company. The plan for Delugs is to grow to a size where having a more extensive stock is feasible; hence, shipping can be faster for you as well. Not to mention that the company is a one-man-operation. Ken handles all aspects of the business. Since we are talking about a relatively new venture, there are always new styles, new leathers, and products, so keep your eyes open and make sure you follow Delugs. In my time with Watch Strap Review, I’ve had my fair share of straps, and I have to say, Delugs’ work is top-notch. The looks are there; the traditional techniques grant us quality, and the prices are reasonable.
