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My ISOFRANE STRAPS ARRIVED  Rate Topic 
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 Posted: Sun Dec 12th, 2010 10:19 am
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bigrustypig
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I've been wanting to get high quality rubber straps that don't suck too much dust and should be able to take sharp differences in temps where I travel and able to further withstand the nature of my job in restaurants, freezers, kitchens etc. I finally found Isofrane and went for the brand because of its great reputation, heritage with vintage divers and known top quality. They are priced up there but what the heck, they're supposed to be good. So last week, I took delivery of 3. The first black one is 22mm with a retro sicurro PVD buckle. This is for my first Seiko Marine Master. The next 22mm one is in very eye-catching orange and also with retro sicurro PVD buckle intended for my 2nd Marine Master. The 3rd and last one is 24mm and is intended for my Pams as back up for the OEM rubber straps. This one comes in polished steel and also in retro sicurro fashion. They each came well-packed in boxes like toothbrush boxes and each have diver extensions. Every Isofrane is hypo-allergenic. They also smell so good, like vanilla. As I type this post, I can just smell the vanilla. Here they are:

This is the diver's extension:  

 Right here is the underside of the strap as it is attached to the spring bar:

I don't know how to use an extension but I think this is how it's done (you'll love this Johnny P). Note how one of the keepers is slanted. I think this is to make very fast attachment to the wrist. All keepers I've seen are symetrical. With this slant, I see a ver good design detail.

And finally, this shot:

Here are my observations on the strap: Very soft, supple and light. Very comfortable on the wrist and don't move around a lot like the cheaper types. The Isofrane brand is nowehere to be seen on the buckle and that's a small detail I value. Their brand/marking is on the underside of the buckle away from view. This is just me but using a watch with Brand A and a strap with a buckle with Brand X is a no-no. Putting in the "fattie" spring bar of the Marine Master was an effort because the hole tunnels are small and probably not conceived for the "fattie" MM spring bars. This was easily fixed when I used a small precision screw driver with a larger diameter than the "fattie". By working the tool through the hole a few times, I made it easier for the next spring bar to slide in without any effort at all. Overall, I'm exteremely pleased with these ones and even though these cost quite a bit, I'm sure I'm getting my money's worth. After I recover from all the expenses over the holidays, I see myself putting in some more orders for the blue variant...aside from another order for a black and another orange. If you're on the fence on this and are sensitive to the price, get off the fence. You'll just love them for sure. They are really worth the difference. Thanks for lookingthumbsup.gif

Last edited on Sun Dec 12th, 2010 10:23 am by bigrustypig

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 Posted: Sun Dec 12th, 2010 10:33 am
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Skipdawg
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Well done looks great. Enjoy.

ThumbsUp02.gif

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 Posted: Sun Dec 12th, 2010 11:57 am
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mcwright
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Very well done. Cool straps! bamby.gif

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 Posted: Sun Dec 12th, 2010 04:00 pm
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stew77
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Very nice Jeff!!!thumbsup.gif

Thanks for the detailed pics and writeup...these really do look great, and no doubt are at the top for quality.

Love the look on your Marine Master...awesome combo for sure!!!Thumbsup3.gif  Enjoy these!!!

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 Posted: Sun Dec 12th, 2010 08:46 pm
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IanM
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party.gif

Brilliant, Jeff! Great photos and review.

The combo with your darth MM is outstanding. The retrosicuro buckles are certainly the pick, aren't they! I have never seen the kind of detail you have showed with the diver's extension - not even on their website! In all - a strap and buckle design that is over 35 years old, that IMHO has never been bettered.

I hope that you post up some more combos on your killer collection of watches - with a wrist shot or two.

Jeff = the Isofrane strapmaster!

Sincere congratulations Jeff - your straps are magnificent ~ enjoy!

Ian

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 Posted: Sun Dec 12th, 2010 10:25 pm
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watchdaddy1
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Jeff, very coolThumbsUp02.gif..I just got 1 for my Doxa 5000T but I can't get the friggin' bracelet off for the life of me....Congrats & I agree they r worth the extra price.............thumbsup.gif

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 Posted: Mon Dec 13th, 2010 01:52 am
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Graham
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Jeff, thanks for nothing......................crap.gif
I will now have to look into getting one of these.  A 24mm would look killer on my vintage Ploprof 600!
Congrats and thanks for the writeup.

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 Posted: Mon Dec 13th, 2010 08:49 am
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bigrustypig
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Thanks, Gentlemen.ThumbsUp02.gif

These Italian-made straps are really so cool. Today, almost all day, I could smell whiffs of the vanilla from my wrist.

IanM....I posted today and after the holidays, will shoot down 2 blue ones in 22mm and 24mm. It's a very good deal as you end up with 2 buckles!!! You'll love them. Thanks for the history on it....35 years...wow!

Graham...your Ploprof will really love these straps. I think in blue Isofrane, your Ploprof would be a killer.

Chris....will post one in mesh tomorrow.... a little different on the MM.

Thanks again all.

 

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 Posted: Mon Dec 13th, 2010 05:21 pm
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Devin
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Yep just Killer Jeff! They look great! wowzer.gif

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 Posted: Mon Dec 13th, 2010 08:02 pm
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Paxman
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That's the shiznit, Jeff. Thanks for the detailed pix and write up.

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 Posted: Tue Dec 14th, 2010 09:23 am
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bigrustypig
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Many thanks, Trent and Markthankyou.gif

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 Posted: Sat Feb 19th, 2011 03:15 am
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mgpdragon64
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I am speechless and my saliva just drip...Drool_27.gif

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