Review: AnOrdain’s Bespoke Strap Service

For watch enthusiasts of, shall we say, “ordinary” means, the notion of ordering a truly bespoke watch is a far-fetched pipe dream, the province of high rollers named Mayer, Jay-Z, or Clymer. But there is a bespoke experience that is more accessible to mere mortals, one that can affect a watch’s appearance, appeal, and, in some cases, wearability: a new strap. Bespoke straps are nothing new. I remember in my early days of watch collecting seeing the options available in leather and canvas, many of them for the Paneristi community. Over the years, I’ve ordered my share of straps in various sizes and materials from GasGasBones, the Strap Tailor, Roverhaven, and others. I even had one made from the canvas roof of a decommissioned military Land Rover. This was a way to replace an OEM (“original equipment manufacturer”) strap to refresh its look or make it more personal, differentiating it from everyone else who owned the same watch.