http://www.rltwatches.co.uk/acatalog/Military1.html#a41
Leave the stripes which are too flimsy in construction to the would be Preppy poseurs of the Trad forum and buy the block solid colours in heavy duty nylon. Real G10 construction without the silky, shiny "Smart Turnout" fashion touch. These are the real deal. UK Ministry Of Defence olive, black, grey, black/grey banded and Royal Airforce navy blue. These are real Trad, not Ask Andy Trad pastiche. Enjoy!
Last edited by jack_sparrow (2007-07-29 11:58:19)
This looks like a great source. I'll give them a try. Thanks.
Good military style field watches too.
Trad bandwidths:
Orvis: Mainly fit 20mm.
Smart Turnout: Fits 18mm.
LL Bean: Fits 18mm.
RTL: A choice! And therefore the most Trad.
Modern watches may have increasingly large dials, however there are no Trad rules on watch size. I have a photograph of John Cheever in my study wearing a rather large military field watch which busts the 32mm "Harris" rule wide open. Real WWII army issue watches often had very large dials for ease of reading when out on operations. Visit antique shops and learn. Stop reading the internet.
Bandstands:
Central Watch: Preppy stripes. Some solids, but lightweight stuff.
RTL: Trad solids. The real Mc Coy.
Smart Turnout: Too fancy, although Press stock them.
Brooks: Tatty these days (when they stock them). Vintage are excellent. I have one in a Guards stripe (18mm) with pigskin fittings from '89.
Hackett: They stocked a good 18mm once. '97? Never seen them since.
Crimson Shop: Best grosgrain I've ever seen. Lined too. 18mm
The rest: Femmy & Preppy on the whole. Pick and choose with caution. Griffin & Cooke are good.
http://www.griffinandcooke.com/mainpages/bands-mens%20stripes.htm
The striped watchband (Smart Turnout helpfully tell you to which regiment their's relate) is Preppy, not Trad, on the whole. Serious solids are Trader. Olive. Navy. Grey. Black. Bottle Green. Burgundy. Old brown leather is Tradder still. The fetish for the striped band elsewhere on the net is just yet more Preppy Handbook stuff.
Various good everyday Trad watches here. Just scroll down.
http://www.rltwatches.co.uk/acatalog/RLTwatches.html#a1526
I never knew that. When my Brooks Guard's stripe wears through I will report on its interior.
I am actually English by birth and in England we just had the nylon bands to my knowledge. The WWII & later military watch straps and belts I have seen have been webbing, both plain & striped. The belts are very wide. Obviously the surcingle and ribbon belts of today are the children of military items. Ditto the woven watchstraps. I believe surcingle as a fabric is equestrian in origin . I may be wrong.
A good stateside source for Zulu straps:
http://www.broadarrow.net/
I guess it's simply impossible to have a conversation here about clothes or clothes-related items without badmouthing Ask Andy. A great sourcing thread predicated on disparaging "Ask Andy Trad". Jack, a question: What is the difference between "The Real Trad" and "Ask Andy Trad"?
Eh, you're right, I don't care. I guess you're a member of the club here only if you talk about the silly ask andy trads.
TB