Alligator upgrade worth the price?

Straps, straps, straps, and bracelets!
lanari31
Senior Expert
Senior Expert
Posts: 278
Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2013 6:20 am

Alligator upgrade worth the price?

Post by lanari31 »

I am looking at getting the silver face c9 amd engraving it for my wedding in a few months. Thinking about the alligator upgrade. 175 dollars seems like a lot. Any opinions on if you think it's worth it?
User avatar
scooter
Trusted Seller
Trusted Seller
Posts: 15249
Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2010 7:14 pm
CW-watches: 1
LE-two: yes
LE-foura: yes
Location: UK

Re: Alligator upgrade worth the price?

Post by scooter »

Not for me it wouldn't be.

scooter
#1 scooter blue 2012 FLE (50 made)
CornishDave
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 2320
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2009 11:02 am
CW-watches: 8
Location: Northumberland

Re: Alligator upgrade worth the price?

Post by CornishDave »

Nor me, I would be more than happy with leather cannot really see any advantage to alligator for the premium in price!
User avatar
lisnalee
Guru
Guru
Posts: 328
Joined: Sat Nov 13, 2010 8:37 pm
CW-watches: 4
Location: Armagh Northern Ireland

Re: Alligator upgrade worth the price?

Post by lisnalee »

Alligator straps are lovely but dont last any longer than a £10 calf. So imo not worth spending that kind of money on one

Having said that I did buy one for my vintage omega from cousinsuk for about £60, which is a bit more reasonable

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2
C7 Rapide Day-Date COSC LE #10/100
C60 Trident Elite 1000 COSC LE #50/300
C1 Grand Malvern Small Second COSC
androo
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 2827
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2010 7:03 pm
CW-watches: 8
LE-one: yes
LE-two: yes
LE-three: yes
Location: very south Hampshire

Re: Alligator upgrade worth the price?

Post by androo »

Have had a couple of alligator straps and not been all that fussed. As said above a problem is all leather straps have a limited life if worn on a regular basis. It would be cheaper to replace with a standard CW strap (IMOA they are very good quality for the money) also when the whim takes you it can be changed for a different colour. To do that with alligator would be getting very expensive.
User avatar
akirk
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 3422
Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2012 9:59 pm
CW-watches: 0

Re: Alligator upgrade worth the price?

Post by akirk »

agree with the others
- I have alligator on the C13 and it is cumbersome / thick / difficult to close the clasp and then feed the strap through the loops...
- I have alligator on the JH2 and it is finer and easier to live with - however I notice very little difference between that and normal leather...

Alasdair
Tracking Christopher Ward watch prices on ebay globally at Watchroll
Tracking Bremont watch prices on ebay globally at Watchtrace
User avatar
ianblyth
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 10940
Joined: Mon Jan 18, 2010 10:17 pm
CW-watches: 19
LE-two: yes
LE-three: yes
LE-foura: yes
LE-five: Yes
LE-six: Yes
Location: Wokingham, UK

Re: Alligator upgrade worth the price?

Post by ianblyth »

I think there is a big difference in the look of the tan alligator compared to the normal tan strap. Less so with the black. But it is hard to justify the difference. I am lucky as the one I got was when they were doing a free alligator upgrade. I would not wear it as an everyday strap as leather wears out but it is nice on a dressier watch.
"We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are." Anais Nin
User avatar
Bahnstormer_vRS
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 35165
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2012 3:06 pm
CW-watches: 34
LE-three: 1
LE-foura: 1
LE-fourb: 1
LE-six: 1
Location: Hertfordshire, UK

Re: Alligator upgrade worth the price?

Post by Bahnstormer_vRS »

I bought my C9 Chrono with a tan alligator, it being my best / most expensive watch. Wearing it frequently, I soon realized the use was showing on the strap (I'd only worn bracelets for 30 years before) so bought a leather strap in lieu and have kept the alligator for proper best.

I have though just bought a tan alligator for my C40 Speedhawk which, at £50 in the summer sale, I can feel more comfortable with and less protective of.

Overall, there is IMHO a noticeable difference in the quality of feel and colouring to an alligator strap.

"You pays yer money, you takes yer choice."

Guy

Sent from my Xperia S using TapaTalk 4 beta
In small proportions, we just beautie see:
And in short measures, life may perfect bee. - Ben Jonson (1572 – 1637)

Inscription on the Longitude Dial
Hatfield House, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 5NB, England
User avatar
village
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 5554
Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 9:10 pm
CW-watches: 4
Location: any further South and my feet would be wet...

Re: Alligator upgrade worth the price?

Post by village »

No.

If you want to change the strap then you can buy some really nice alternatives such as Hirsch,Di Model etc for a fraction of the cost.
If you can read this you are too close to your computer screen....
User avatar
Kip
The Administrator
The Administrator
Posts: 35173
Joined: Tue Mar 13, 2007 8:45 pm
CW-watches: 150
LE-one: yes
LE-two: yes
LE-three: yes
LE-foura: yes
LE-fourb: yes
LE-five: yes
LE-six: yes
LESeven: yes
Location: New Hampshire, USA

Re: Alligator upgrade worth the price?

Post by Kip »

I have often wrestled with this choice.

It is nice to think you have the finer and more exotic choice on your wrist, but as a daily wear it doesn't last any longer.

As Ian stated, there is a distinct difference in appearance if you have them side by side. I am willing to bet if you put an alligator grained strap next to an alligator strap that most could not tell unless they made a lucky guess.

I do not even notice a difference in feel between the two.

Having said that...on my more expensive watches I usually have the real alligator as I feel the better watches deserve it. :?
Kip

"Asylum Administrator"


Visit the CWArchives for everything CW. Historical, specs, manuals and resale. It is all there.
lawstudent
Junior
Junior
Posts: 55
Joined: Sun Jun 09, 2013 1:10 pm
CW-watches: 1
Location: ɐıןɐɹʇsnɐ 'ɐɹɹǝquɐɔ

Re: Alligator upgrade worth the price?

Post by lawstudent »

I have a C9 with the brown alligator grain, standard leather strap. It is great quality and looks great. Comparison to alligator straps I have seen I saw little to warrant the price difference aside from prestige.
New to all of this, but it beats studying.

C9 GMT

2013 FLE #92 reserved
User avatar
Bahnstormer_vRS
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 35165
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2012 3:06 pm
CW-watches: 34
LE-three: 1
LE-foura: 1
LE-fourb: 1
LE-six: 1
Location: Hertfordshire, UK

Re: Alligator upgrade worth the price?

Post by Bahnstormer_vRS »

I've just bought a C4/C40 Brown alligator strap and a C15 Brown leather croc grain strap in the CWL sale.

If I put them side by side you can clearly see the finer grain of the alligator compared to the distressing of the leather to get the croc grain.

They've both calf lined so will likely feel the same to wear but IMHO the alligator looks noticeably smarter.

Guy

Sent from my Xperia S using TapaTalk 4 beta
In small proportions, we just beautie see:
And in short measures, life may perfect bee. - Ben Jonson (1572 – 1637)

Inscription on the Longitude Dial
Hatfield House, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 5NB, England
stgermaine
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Jul 11, 2013 12:16 am

Re: Alligator upgrade worth the price?

Post by stgermaine »

The alligator/croc looks very sharp on a dress watch, but genuine ones are expensive. You can look on the web for replacement straps. I know that genuine ones often run higher than $100, but third-party straps give you more options
teestech
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 1525
Joined: Sat Apr 13, 2013 4:22 pm
CW-watches: 7
Location: UK

Re: Alligator upgrade worth the price?

Post by teestech »

I have a silver dialled C9 on the standard CW black leather strap, and feel it already looks top quality on that. Alligator is no doubt more exotic and higher quality, but think the watch looks really good as standard, so if it was my money I'd stick with that.
Chr Ward • Rolex • Oris • Magrette • Orient • Helgray • Citizen • CWC • Momentum • Suunto • Rotary • Majex • Yema
Handwound: 2 • Automatic: 15 • Quartz: 6
Pavelbr
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Jul 22, 2013 4:13 am

Re: Alligator upgrade worth the price?

Post by Pavelbr »

Can anyone post pictures of C9 with original strap vs alligator specially in brown.
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post