Geniuses are often misunderstood. Vincent van Gogh is a good example. During his lifetime, the now-much-revered painter sold, most likely, just one painting. Will designer Magnus Swann follow in Van Gogh’s footsteps? He’s the guy responsible for creating Studio Underd0g’s unique strap solutions. After a lengthy period of conceptualizing, he came up with The Triple Wrister, The Bicep Strap, and The Cap Strap. No longer satisfied with the way watches are worn, he thought so far out of the box that he found himself in uncharted territories, only to come back with revolutionary new ways to wear your watch. The following questions arise: Will Studio Underd0g ever sell one of those new strap concepts? Are they too revolutionary for a notoriously conservative watch audience? And will Magnus Swann still have his two ears by the end of 2026?
Just so you know, Vincent van Gogh sold at least one painting during his lifetime. The Red Vineyard was bought for 400 French francs (around US$1,500 in today’s money) by Anna Boch in early 1890, months before Van Gogh’s death. He painted it in 1888 in Arles, and today, the painting on display at Moscow’s Pushkin Museum has an estimated value of roughly US$100 million. Van Gogh was way ahead of his time; that much is certain.
What to think about Studio Underd0g’s revolutionary strap solutions?
Is Magnus Swann the Van Gogh of watch strap design? One look at The Triple Wrister, The Bicep Strap, and The Cap Strap he designed for Studio Underd0g might make you believe he is. Swann wanted to break free from the restraints of the watch straps we all know, and he succeeded. But will his vision, which resulted in three strap concepts, catch on?
The Triple Wrister
Why wear just one watch on a strap? Why not three? Because it was impossible until today. The Triple Wrister is created for the hardcore watch enthusiast who wants to wear three watches at once. That makes sense, since the power of three is evident in art, writing, speeches, ads, mantras, psychology, nature, and the entire universe, including the world of watches. The groundbreaking concept is surprisingly simple. Remove your current quick-release strap, attach Studio Underd0g’s precision mini connectors to your chosen watches, and secure the double-ended connector to create a seamless loop linking the timepieces. The effect is as visually striking as it is functionally useful. After all, three time zones at one glance is highly practical.
The Cap Strap
The Cap Strap needs a bit of brain gymnastics to fully understand. Yet, the concept harks back to ancient etiquette in which checking the time can come across as impolite. The Cap Strap allows discreet time-checking, although the cross-eyed look might give away that you’re bored and want to leave the party. It might take some time to read the time on the watch swinging in front of your face unnoticed. We will request a test strap and see if we can manage with a bit of practice.
The Bicep Strap
When the days get shorter, so do your sleeves, and you need a matching watch strap. You need something that celebrates summer and also slips discreetly under the sleeve. Allegedly, Magnus Swann felt inspired after a lengthy conversation with a high-profile and highly fit Australian watch journalist. Apart from freeing the wrist and avoiding unwanted tan lines, wearing the watch on your bicep instead of your wrist might give you a sense of security in crowded cities.
The Triple Wrister, The Bicep Strap, and The Cap Strap were designed to fundamentally change the relationship between wearer and watch. Unfortunately, we have no word on prices yet or other colors than purple, but still, what do you think? Are we looking at three game-changing straps that will cause hype only comparable to the recent MoonSwatch craze, or will these revolutionary strap solutions from Magnus Swann and Studio Underd0g soon be forgotten? We’re skeptical, but only after a thorough hands-on will we pass judgment. Stay tuned, and in the meantime, please let us know what you think.
Lex Stolk
2026-04-01 05:00:00