Interview with Erika from Erika's Originals
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Interview with Erika from Erika's Originals
This might be of interest to the fans of her straps here...
https://monochrome-watches.com/erika-fr ... interview/
https://monochrome-watches.com/erika-fr ... interview/
- JDC222
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Re: Interview with Erika from Erika's Originals
Whisky has killed more men than bullets, but most men would rather be full of whisky than bullets.
Winston Churchill.
Winston Churchill.
Re: Interview with Erika from Erika's Originals
I ordered the knock off version on Amazon. Material and color are nice but clasp finishing is shite. The clasp pieces look used, however the fabric looks brand new so pretty sure its just shoddy finishing. Good enough for twenty bucks considering it will look like that in a week anyway, but Erika's clasps are definitely nicer.
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The Hapa
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Re: Interview with Erika from Erika's Originals
I got to speak with her at the Windup Show; nice to meet her in person.
Re: Interview with Erika from Erika's Originals
I have 2 of the older versions and I'll definitely buy the new version. The knockoffs will never be custom sized and will never be as nice.
Re: Interview with Erika from Erika's Originals
I love the look of these, but I could never get it to fit right.
"It's such a fine line between stupid, and clever."
David St. Hubbins
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Re: Interview with Erika from Erika's Originals
me either. looks likes she is doing some good stuff though.
Website: http://smallwhitestubbies.com/
- JDC222
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Re: Interview with Erika from Erika's Originals
I have one coming, Erika pulled out some old stock of the Swick MN thread for me...sweet!!
Whisky has killed more men than bullets, but most men would rather be full of whisky than bullets.
Winston Churchill.
Winston Churchill.
Re: Interview with Erika from Erika's Originals
I hope you have better luck than I did.JDC222 wrote:I have one coming, Erika pulled out some old stock of the Swick MN thread for me...sweet!!
"It's such a fine line between stupid, and clever."
David St. Hubbins
David St. Hubbins
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Re: Interview with Erika from Erika's Originals
Did you not get the length right, Chris?
They adjust as needed as long as not too short/long.
They adjust as needed as long as not too short/long.
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Re: Interview with Erika from Erika's Originals
My hand is relatively large compared to my wrist. I could never find the sweet spot where I could slide it over my hand without it being too loose on the wrist. I may be a spaz, but I was never able to connect the clasp while it was on the wrist already.demer03 wrote:Did you not get the length right, Chris?
They adjust as needed as long as not too short/long.
"It's such a fine line between stupid, and clever."
David St. Hubbins
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Re: Interview with Erika from Erika's Originals
same, it felt like to much effort imo
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Re: Interview with Erika from Erika's Originals
I just don’t get those. They are a pain.
I like the looks when people post them but don’t like the setup, the giant cumbersome clasp and feels like wearing suspenders. They do look good but I prefer a traditional strap personally.
I like the looks when people post them but don’t like the setup, the giant cumbersome clasp and feels like wearing suspenders. They do look good but I prefer a traditional strap personally.
Merde Alors! Et Vive Les Francais!
- JDC222
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Re: Interview with Erika from Erika's Originals
I like them and find them quite comfortable. I typically don’t unhook the clasp, I slip it over my hand and adjust it on my wrist.
I have this one already...
I have this one already...
Whisky has killed more men than bullets, but most men would rather be full of whisky than bullets.
Winston Churchill.
Winston Churchill.
Re: Interview with Erika from Erika's Originals
That’s what I tried. I literally couldn’t get my hand through the strap.JDC222 wrote:I like them and find them quite comfortable. I typically don’t unhook the clasp, I slip it over my hand and adjust it on my wrist.
"It's such a fine line between stupid, and clever."
David St. Hubbins
David St. Hubbins
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Re: Interview with Erika from Erika's Originals
Whisky has killed more men than bullets, but most men would rather be full of whisky than bullets.
Winston Churchill.
Winston Churchill.
Re: Interview with Erika from Erika's Originals
LOL pretty much.
"It's such a fine line between stupid, and clever."
David St. Hubbins
David St. Hubbins
Re: Interview with Erika from Erika's Originals
I grabbed one of those Amazon knock-offs to try out.
Mine did not have any obvious scuffs or scratches on the clasp or hardware. It actually came in a nice little box with a (cheap) springbar tool and a baggie of extra 22mm springbars. For $20, I'm happy with it.
I put my Certina on it and it wears fine.
I do have an Erika's as well. I haven't done a side by side comparison, but would be happy to if anyone would like to find differences.
Mine did not have any obvious scuffs or scratches on the clasp or hardware. It actually came in a nice little box with a (cheap) springbar tool and a baggie of extra 22mm springbars. For $20, I'm happy with it.
I put my Certina on it and it wears fine.
I do have an Erika's as well. I haven't done a side by side comparison, but would be happy to if anyone would like to find differences.
Last edited by Ryeguy on Wed Dec 04, 2019 5:22 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Interview with Erika from Erika's Originals
I really like her straps and will stay clear of the knock offs as she is the "original" designer for this type of strap. Takes some getting used to on connecting the clasp, but pretty easy once you get the hang. Just super comfortable straps and I always like when you can communicate directly with the maker.
Re: Interview with Erika from Erika's Originals
I'm not certain she was the original designer (as I thought these were originally fashioned from cut up parachute bags by soldiers), but she was certainly the first person to popularize and broadly market this style of strap.
My judgement is still out on the quality of the $20 knock-off. If it begins to fray or the hardware rusts, then the $20 was wasted. Then again, paying $100 for what is essentially underwear banding and bra hardware is also a bit of a mental stretch.
Re: Interview with Erika from Erika's Originals
Good to know on the designer. FYI, I bought one a few months back and they were 50 Euro's or about $55 USD including shipping. Has the price gone up? I'm willing to pay that for a decent quality strap made in house.Ryeguy wrote: ↑Wed Dec 04, 2019 5:40 amI'm not certain she was the original designer (as I thought these were originally fashioned from cut up parachute bags by soldiers), but she was certainly the first person to popularize and broadly market this style of strap.
My judgement is still out on the quality of the $20 knock-off. If it begins to fray or the hardware rusts, then the $20 was wasted. Then again, paying $100 for what is essentially underwear banding and bra hardware is also a bit of a mental stretch.
This is DWC where people happily spend hundreds$$ for straps made out of Canvas, one of the cheapest fabrics available.
Re: Interview with Erika from Erika's Originals
Love the look but hard to pay $100 for a nylon with a nice buckle
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DEATH FROM ABOVE
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Re: Interview with Erika from Erika's Originals
I like that the strap length is specific to your wrist size. Mine was 59€ shipped. The thread pattern that I wanted was discontinued but Erika was nice enough to custom make it for me.dnslater wrote:Good to know on the designer. FYI, I bought one a few months back and they were 50 Euro's or about $55 USD including shipping. Has the price gone up? I'm willing to pay that for a decent quality strap made in house.Ryeguy wrote: ↑Wed Dec 04, 2019 5:40 amI'm not certain she was the original designer (as I thought these were originally fashioned from cut up parachute bags by soldiers), but she was certainly the first person to popularize and broadly market this style of strap.
My judgement is still out on the quality of the $20 knock-off. If it begins to fray or the hardware rusts, then the $20 was wasted. Then again, paying $100 for what is essentially underwear banding and bra hardware is also a bit of a mental stretch.
This is DWC where people happily spend hundreds$$ for straps made out of Canvas, one of the cheapest fabrics available.
Whisky has killed more men than bullets, but most men would rather be full of whisky than bullets.
Winston Churchill.
Winston Churchill.
Re: Interview with Erika from Erika's Originals
Yes, that is the reason they are called "Marine Nationale" (MN on Erika's clasps) straps.dnslater wrote: ↑Wed Dec 04, 2019 5:45 amGood to know on the designer. FYI, I bought one a few months back and they were 50 Euro's or about $55 USD including shipping. Has the price gone up? I'm willing to pay that for a decent quality strap made in house.Ryeguy wrote: ↑Wed Dec 04, 2019 5:40 amI'm not certain she was the original designer (as I thought these were originally fashioned from cut up parachute bags by soldiers), but she was certainly the first person to popularize and broadly market this style of strap.
My judgement is still out on the quality of the $20 knock-off. If it begins to fray or the hardware rusts, then the $20 was wasted. Then again, paying $100 for what is essentially underwear banding and bra hardware is also a bit of a mental stretch.
This is DWC where people happily spend hundreds$$ for straps made out of Canvas, one of the cheapest fabrics available.
The story is Tudor was supplying watches to the French Navy as "heads only" (no strap), so the soldiers who were issued the watches had to fashion their own straps.
I remember reading a post years ago by a French diver who said a French Navy diver would likely laugh at the idea of someone using these parachute bag straps for wearing the watch on their wrist. The Navy divers actually used the elastic banding so the watch would fit on their diving navigation boards.
This is a more modern version, but something like this:
The idea is a diver navigates by time and direction. You use the compass for direction and the rotating bezel for timing your swim lengths.
Erika's price is now 75 Euro for the basic strap. I paid (I think) about $50 for mine a few years ago.
At $50-ish I was a buyer without hesitation. Now, with Erika's at closer to $90, I was willing to take a risk. Plus, she didn't offer this color pattern any longer so it was either buy an knock off or go without.
I still think Erika's are likely the flat out best quality version of these types of straps available. "Buy once, cry once" is absolutely a fair statement and if I were going to leave the watch on this strap, I probably would've just bought one of Erika's. I just know I'm also about as ADD as they come, so good or bad, this strap will likely be swapped out for something else shortly and join the strap pile.
Re: Interview with Erika from Erika's Originals
You got a good price. Her website has everything at 75 Euro now (plus extra if you'd like some customization).
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