Review on Endmill Bracelet SBDC001 SBDC003 SBDC005 by Bob Candfield

I've seen many different discussions about the aftermarket Seiko diver's straps and decided to share my experience in the ring. I've had my new Sumo model (SBDC031) for about a month now. At first I was sure I would need a new strap for it, but when it arrived I was so glad I didn't order it right away. However, after about a month of wearing, the standard bracelet started to get a bit tired. In fact, this is probably the best way to describe a standard bracelet. It's a bit flat (thin) and uninteresting. The stamped closure design also felt a bit cheap, and the whole thing was a bit ratty. So I decided to go ahead and order a new bracelet. I preferred the Endmill style to the Super Oyster style bracelet. The design of the Endmill is very similar to the standard Citizen Nighthawk bracelet and I know I love the 3D nature of the bracelet links. I think the design looks very "instrumental" and functional. The length of the strap is 20mm at the ends and 18mm at the clasp. I also went with the base model clasp after extensively comparing options on the Strapcode website. The clasp on the base model is much smaller than the others and also has polished sides to match the design of the standard bracelet as well as the Endmill links and Sumo case. The rest looks completely matte, which seemed inappropriate to me. I also appreciate the small, flat closure. While it has fewer micro-adjustment holes (3), the end mill links are also much smaller, allowing for finer adjustment than larger link designs such as the standard bracelet and Super Oyster styles. After reading various reviews I was a bit concerned that the end links might not fit my new Sumo model. Many have reported having to file the end links a bit to make them fit. I am happy to report that this was not the case for me. The end links fit perfectly and precisely between the bases of the body. It is also a newer style of end link than the old strapcode end links as they have an "extension" that slides down to fit on the first link as opposed to a gap where the first link fits into the end link . The style may not be to everyone's taste, but it reminds me of the end links on my Omega Speedmaster, which have a similar design. I feel this gives the strap a smooth transition from the end links to the strap, with no gaps or the possibility of a "stepped" appearance that some have complained about with the old strapcode designs. What I like are the screw connections on the strapcode as opposed to the frustrating pin and collar system on Seiko. A note on bolted connections. As you can see, there are only screw links on one side of the bracelet. This bothered me at first but I found that each side of the bracelet has 4 screw links but the side of the link where the screw is on the same side of the link so the opposite side of the bracelet because the other side are links Clearly oriented backwards to the near side Conclusion .is worth the money. At $79.99 + shipping tax, this seems terribly complex. I really like the look of the bracelet and I think it suits sumo perfectly. I also think the finish goes well with the watch. The brushing looks high-quality and fits the case quite well. Some complain that the finish doesn't perfectly match the case, and it's true. But the same goes for the standard Seiko strap as well. I think strapcode might be even closer IMHO. I also like the screw connections, which are easy to remove. Finally the clasp. It's the cheapest on the market but so far I really like the build, finish and size. I have absolutely no complaints. Time will tell if the safety clasp loosens over time, but they can be adjusted with a little tension, as I've had to do with other watches in the past.