Laco 1940's style Strap, which color is best for the 42 Auto? Black or Brown?

[ajustin67]

Hi Everyone, I'm about to order a Laco 42mm Automatic watch on Friday when My Paycheck comes in! I hope I melt when I see it! My biggest question has to do with the strap. The Merchant I'm going thru said they would give me a free choice of either the Black or Brown 1940's style Strap. Which normally sells for about 70 to 90 dollars from Laco.. In Most of the forum photo's of guys watches, I see them wearing the brown one, which is almost like a Oxblood color. I'm wondering if I should get that one, or if I should get the black one.. I haven't even seen the Black one so it's hard to tell which one will fair out better. The guy on the phone told me he thinks I should go with the black, So all and all, they are giving me the 2 Straps that come with it, Plus a 1940's strap of my choice with the purchase.

BTW I'm getting the 2011 Model A dial . What do you guys think?
Thanks!

[Uwe W.]

Well, I've never seen one of the black ones in person, so for me it would be a more interesting selection. However, the brown is a more authentic colour and probably the one I would get if I'd never owned a closed-loop strap before. A word of caution: Make sure you get the sizing right as closed-loop straps can be a tricky fit, especially if you have hands that are disproportionally large to your wrists. Search this forum and you should find a couple of threads on closed-loop sizing.

Is the strap this vendor is offering actually a Laco strap? There are a couple of replica straps out there, like the Di-Modell Tornado, which I don't think is nearly as thick as the Laco strap.

[ajustin67]

Hey it's from time quest ! In Cali ! Tell me man. Black or brown??

[LH2]

You can't go wrong. Both colors look good. I switch my pilot watch straps between black and brown depending on my mood. In my opinion, start with brown.

[Janne]

Hey it's from time quest ! In Cali ! Tell me man. Black or brown??

Brown. And to make it look more interesting, age it!

[ajustin67]

How do you age a Watch Strap?

[controlarm]

. . . Most of the forum photo's of guys watches, I see them wearing the brown one, which is almost like a Oxblood color. I'm wondering if I should get that one, or if I should get the black one.. I haven't even seen the Black one so it's hard to tell which one will fair out better.!

You're right about the Laco brown straps looking reddish--oxblood, as you say--in photographs. But my own experience with them--a smallish sampling of three different straps, one new style and two old--has been that they've not got nearly as much red in them as photographs sometimes suggest and that they're actually much more like what we would normally call dark or chocolate brown. The color in this photograph is pretty close to the real color of a Laco brown strap, either old style or new. But I have other photographs of exactly the same watch and strap where the strap has the oxblood look you describe.

But either way, I think the brown old style strap would be the better choice (unless you want one of each color).

[Uwe W.]

You're right about the Laco brown straps looking reddish--oxblood, as you say--in photographs. But my own experience with them--a smallish sampling of three different straps, one new style and two old--has been that they've not got nearly as much red in them as photographs sometimes suggest and that they're actually much more like what we would normally call dark or chocolate brown. The color in this photograph is pretty close to the real color of a Laco brown strap, either old style or new. But I have other photographs of exactly the same watch and strap where the strap has the oxblood look you describe.

Although it isn't exactly clear, I believe the OP was referring to the selection of Laco closed-loop straps, which are very much burgundy/oxblood/reddish-brown in colour. The open straps, like the one in your photo, are actually brown. Either way, I believe he's already chosen to go with the black version.

[ajustin67]

yes. I decided to go with the black close loop.. For now. I know the Brown is more historical and pays tribute better to the original, I agree with that.
But for the time Being I had to go with my gut and take the black. How can a Black close loop Vintage on the 42 A Dial look bad??

[mocapitane]

Here's a photo just so you get an idea of what a black strap option may look like. It is an aftermarket strap, I wasn't too keen on the original brownish one it came with so replaced it with this.