Hello everyone, and welcome to another of my reviews. In this article, I’m reviewing my custom strap order from the local strap label Nomad Watch Works.
Nomad Watch Works has recently shifted into a new showroom at The Flow, a shopping mall in East Coast. The showroom features a custom corner, where customers can bespoke watch straps. Intrigued, I decided to pay them a visit – let’s see how my experience went.
Nomad Watch Works – Custom Experience
Located opposite the famous 328 Katong Laksa, the Flow Mall is relatively quiet, mostly filled with enrichment centres and beauty providers.
Nomad Watch Works’ showroom is on the 5th floor – just look for the Nomad sign, you can’t miss it.
Having made a name for itself as a provider of affordable readymade straps, it’s no surprise that the walls of Nomad’s showroom are lined with straps. I’ve previously reviewed some of its off-the-shelf straps, and believe Nomad offers some of the most value-for-money leather straps in the local market today.
Aside from leather straps, Nomad also offers a variety of NATO straps…
…and recently introduced interesting bracelet options too, such as the above-pictured jubilee-styled ones.
However, the focus of today’s article is on Nomad Watch Works’ custom strap programme. I’ve previously reviewed its first foray into custom straps, back when it was online only. Since then, the custom strap business has picked up significantly, compelling Nomad to establish a dedicated booth in its showroom.
I have a longstanding relationship with Nomad Watch Works, having first covered them in 2018. As such, I’m quite familiar with the founder of Nomad, Bing, who also guided me through their revamped custom strap programme.
At Nomad’s custom strap program, the first order of business is to ascertain one’s wrist size, which in turn determines the strap length.
If you are unsure about your wrist size, fret not – the staff at Nomad will measure it for you.
After settling the strap length, clients get to choose the strap’s material. Nomad Watch Works currently offers a variety of options, such as crocodile (in a myriad of finishes), ostrich, lizard, and shell cordovan, as well as more affordable offerings such as epsom, suede, and even canvas.
I was pleasantly surprised by the plethora of colourways – even pastel colours are available. Bing also took great pains to explain the unique characteristics of each leather type, allowing me to make an informed choice.
I was particularly drawn to the pearl crocodile option, which has an iridescent sheen that is eminently eye-catching. Unfortunately, I was intending to custom a strap for my Bell & Ross BR03 Phantom, so I decided to stick to a safer matte black crocodile option. Still, that pearl strap is fascinating – I’m on the lookout for a nice Reverso, and if I do pull the trigger I’ll pair it with this pearl crocodile strap.
After informing Bing of my preference for the matte crocodile leather, he took out the entire crocodile hide for me to see. I love this – it reminds me of how tailors would bring out the full roll of your desired fabric, allowing customers to better envision the material on their body.
Bing directed me to choose my preferred section of the hide, which is an option that isn’t available online. In general, customers can choose between 3 options – the larger scales of the center, the smaller scales at the sides, or a mix of large and small scales. I decided to go with a mixture, which seemed like the best of both worlds.
The next step is to choose the stitching style and colour. For the stitching style, I opted for the conventional line stitch. However, I decided to mix things up by selecting a white/grey gradient thread colour, which I felt would provide an interesting juxtaposition to the matte black strap.
A key reason why I wanted to custom a strap for my Bell & Ross was that the BR03 (as with most of its iconic aviation series) has an atypical strap design, where the strap flares out to flush against the case. As such, Bing proceeded to expertly remove the factory rubber strap from my B&R, and meticulously measured its dimensions.
Thereafter, Bing drew and indicated the measured dimensions on the order form, conveying that the visual representation would aid the strapmaker in crafting the strap. Once again, this reminded me of tailoring, where a bespoke tailor will often sketch the commissioned outfit with the client’s measurements.
Nomad Watch Works – Custom Strap Review
After 6 weeks, I returned to Nomad Watch Works’ showroom to collect my custom strap.
I’ll admit, 6 weeks is a tad long for a custom strap – most local strapmakers take 3 to 4 weeks for a custom order. If you’re in a rush, Nomad Watch Works’ custom strap programme may not be for you.
However, I’m pleased to report that the custom crocodile strap turned out nicely, giving my Bell & Ross a subtle dressy upgrade.
In particular, I love how the larger scales are used for the top and middle segments of the strap, with smaller scales at the tapered end. It gives the strap a streamlined look that’s aesthetically pleasing.
I’m also a fan of the gradient stitching, which adds visual intrigue to the otherwise conservative matte black crocodile strap. It’s a unique offering that I’ve not seen at other local strapmakers, so kudos to Nomad for offering something different.
Nomad also made sure that the custom strap fits my original buckle – a nice touch.
Given the medium thickness of my Bell & Ross, I went with light padding for the custom strap, which gives it just enough firmness to not feel flimsy on the wrist.
Nomad also provides free text engraving, so I chose to have my name monogrammed. It’s a simple tone-on-tone finish, which complements the all-black look of the Bell & Ross BR03 Phantom.
Lastly, the sides of the strap are finished with grey edge paint that pairs well with the grey gradient stitching. It provides an additional pop of colour while retaining the strap’s monochrome aesthetic.
The Bell & Ross BR03 Phantom is billed as a military, masculine watch – this custom crocodile strap brings the watch out of its shell and elevates the timepiece. Previously, I’ve only worn the Bell & Ross in casual settings due to its default rubber strap. Now, the watch is stylistically versatile, with the formal crocodile strap rendering the Bell & Ross a viable option even when wearing a suit.
Conclusion – so Nomad Watch Works Custom Strap “shiok” or not?
Firstly, I’m glad that Nomad Watch Works finally has its own showroom. Previously, Nomad operated out of shopping mall kiosks, before moving to industrial estates. The new showroom is well-renovated, accessible (a stone’s throw away from Marine Parade MRT), and allows clients to consult a strap expert regarding their bespoke commission. I was impressed at the variety of materials and the customisation options (stitching, padding, engraving, etc) available. Prices are also fairly affordable, with my custom crocodile strap costing well under $200. The only drawback is the long lead time of 6-8 weeks due to overseas production. For those on tight timelines, Nomad tells me that clients can opt for expedited production of 2 weeks, though there will be a $60 premium.
Currently, custom watch straps from Nomad Watch Works start at $129, with exotic options priced from $169 and this particular crocodile strap costing $189. For those interested in commissioning a custom watch strap from Nomad, quoting the promo code ‘WAHSOSHIOK’ or presenting this post in-store will grant you a 10% discount on all purchases, including readymade straps. After the discount, a similar crocodile custom strap would cost just $170, making it one of the most affordable custom crocodile watch straps locally.
View Nomad Watch Works’ custom strap programme here.
View the rest of Nomad Watch Works’ offerings here.
Nomad Watch Works’ showroom location: 66 East Coast Rd, #05-14 The Flow Mall, Singapore 428778
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P.P.P.P.S Shiok is a common word Singaporeans use to express admiration or approval. As of 2016, you can find the definition of the word in the Oxford English Dictionary.
