When I buy a watch, I always consider the watch strap in my purchase. It’s not uncommon for me to replace the default watch strap with a watch strap I’ve purchased. However, these can get expensive. That’s why I’ve developed a love for Fluco watch straps.
For as little as $22, these watches have proved faithful to me in quality, craftsmanship, and durability. Today, we’ll be going over my take on Fluco watch straps and whether or not you should buy them.
I also have a table attached down below if you want to check out some of the watches Fluco has to offer. You can use our table of contents below to navigate this page with ease. Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
A Brief Overview of Fluco Watch Straps
Fluco watch straps is a German brand being made in the Bavarian Forrest since the 1950s. Compared to big name watch strap brands like Crown & Buckle, Hodinkee, and Worn & Wound, Fluco watch straps are relatively unknown.
Rather, they’re a community dark horse that you can find on popular forums like Watch USeek and Reddit’s r/Watches community. You can find them commonly paired with vintage timepieces or pilot/dress watches.
The watch strap itself was sturdy and thick. It felt smooth and flexible against the wrist; and judging by the quality of the leather strap, this would last for a very long time. What I was most impressed by was the finish of the watch strap itself.
The Fluco watch strap I ordered had an exceptional finish with double-stitched fine calf leather as the material. What I noticed when scrolling through their store was that they offered a wide range of neutral toned designs, ranging from shell cordovan to lizard-grain.
While some of their products did reach in the upper $60s in terms of price point, they also had affordable options. They offered watches for as low as $24, with the price deviation only measured by the materials used, not the quality of the design.
All in all, Fluco impressed me They made a great watch strap that held its own against other formidable watch strap manufacturers–and they did so for more than half the price.
(P.S.: If you’re interested in watches, check out our starter watch guide!)
What are Fluco Watch Straps Made of?
Fluco watch straps are made of many different kinds of world-class leather. The materials for the leather go through an extensive selection process as only the top tanneries in Europe are used for their strap-making process.
Their cheaper options use a high quality calfskin leather and as you move up the price ladder, you’ll notice that Fluco offers a variety of designs. For example, for a couple extra bucks, the quality calfskin leather they use is engrained with a Teju lizard-grain pattern.
At the mid-tier price points, suede leather is offered which is the leather used to finish jackets and shoes. The mid-price Fluco suede leather straps also tend to have a napped texture. These provide a softer and more supple feel.
At their most expensive price point, Fluco watch straps like to utilize Horween shell cordovan leather, an equine leather famous for durability, breathability, self-polishing, luster, and soft feel. You’ll find this leather typically on high-end shoes, bags, belts, and wallets.
Due to Horween shell cordovan leather being considered as the finest leather in the world, these Fluco watch straps tend to go for around $68. However, when you compare this to Hodinkee’s cordovan leather straps which go for $155, I’d say that this is a pretty good deal.
Not only are you getting a bespoke, 50-step curation process by Fluco, but you’re also getting the best materials at every price point. I say buy with confidence if the major concern for you is leather quality for Fluco.
If you like Seiko, check out our comparison of Seiko vs. Citizen!
Pricing
Fluco watch straps offer a price range from $22-$68. Their cheaper options are still made of calfskin leather, but they don’t have the different designs that Fluco provides as you move up the price ladder.
Their most affordable option, the Crocodile-Grain watch strap uses calfskin leather with a crocodile-grain design. These watch straps are $22. At around $33, you’ll start to see the suede leather watch straps we talked about.
At $68, the Horween shell cordovan leather straps we mentioned in the previous section of this article are available.
Fluco watch straps have some other neat options you can choose from at various price points. For example, for $28, Fluco has a Riveted Black Leather Cuff Bund Watch Strap. This type of watch strap attaches to the watch in an unconventional way in the sense that the watch attaches via adjustable stainless steel threaded rivet tabs.
Then, at $42, Fluco offers tobacco leather watch straps with a tonal gradation and contrasting beige stitching. And from standard strap colors such as black and tan to more interesting tones such as burgundy and royal blue, Fluco has a watch for just about any occasion at every price point possible.
Best Fluco Watch Straps You Can Buy Right Now
If you’re interested in buying a Fluco watch strap, you can pick your favorite from this table without any hassle. We’ve gone through the liberty of testing and ensuring that each leather strap on this table is worthy for whatever watch you want to pair it with.
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Fluco FAQ
We’ve also gone ahead and addressed some of your biggest concerns with Fluco watch straps. What should you pair with a Fluco watch strap? Why should you buy a Fluco watch strap? How long will Fluco watch straps last? We answer all your questions right here.
What Should You Pair With a Fluco Watch Strap?
Fluco watch straps are all made from leather, so ideally, pilot watches and dress watches are both candidates. Dress watches tend to have a leather band, making Fluco watch straps a popular choice for buyers with dress watches.
(Are you a fan of Swiss watches? Check out our list of our favorite Swiss watches on the market today!)
Pilot watches also go great with leather bands. The neutral tone of most pilot watches pairs well with the popular beige, black, and tan colors that leather watch straps go for.
Do not try to pair your dive watch with leather. After excessive use in water, the leather will either stain, discolor, or deteriorate altogether. The same goes for field watches. While field watches can match the neutral tone of leather watch straps, field watches withstand heavy usage at all times. Leather watch straps won’t fare well under the pressure.
Why Should You Buy a Fluco Watch Strap?
Fluco watch straps beat many of the watch strap companies in the sense that they’ve been doing this for a very long time and it seems like they’ve perfected the process. Since 1952, Fluco watch straps have been built with quality craftsmanship and sustainability.
Fluco uses a 50-step process and chooses their leathers from the finest tanneries in Europe. This means that you’re not getting a second-grade product, but rather a refined piece handcrafted by expert watch strap manufacturers.
On top of this, their watches are affordable. While some watch strap manufacturers might charge upwards of $100 for their best product, Fluco barely charges over $50 and you don’t lose any quality in the process which is the best part.
From most top watch manufacturing brands, the strap they’ll give you is just sufficient. Therefore, to get that maximum experience and that premium feel, buying a Fluco watch strap might be the best move.
How Long Will Fluco Watch Straps Last?
It depends on how well you treat your Fluco watch strap. If you constantly put your Fluco watch strap in strenuous environments and don’t provide adequate care, I wouldn’t give the watch strap more than a year.
However, if you put time into preserving the watch strap, Fluco can last you years. In the end, it all depends on how much time and effort you put towards maintaining the watch strap’s quality.
Final Thoughts
There are two components to a watch: the watch itself and the watch strap. While the watch is the most important component, never underestimate the power of a good watch strap. Watch straps determine the comfort, attitude, and fit of the watch.
That said, I do believe that if you take your time to look into buying a Fluco watch strap, you won’t regret it. They incorporate craftsmanship, quality leather, and an intricate strap-making process to ensure that you always get your money’s worth.