Unusual Watch Straps: Open-Ended, Notched & Curved-End

Most watches take a standard two-piece strap. Some don't — and if yours is one of them, you already know how hard these straps are to find. We make the three unusual watch strap types to measure, in any of our leathers from calf to crocodile and stingray: open-ended, notched and curved-end. Here's what each one is, when your watch needs it, and real customers who've used them.

Which one does your watch need?

The strap bars don't come off → open-ended.
The strap opening is narrower than the case, or the case cuts into the strap → notched.
The case curves over the strap and a straight end leaves a gap → curved-end.

Customer's Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M fitted with a VGreen orange alligator curved-end leather strap

Unusual straps, made to measure

Cut to your watch and wrist · Lug widths 8–32mm plus custom and odd sizes · Original buckle reuse available

Shown: a customer's Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M on a custom orange alligator curved-end strap.

1. Open-ended straps — for fixed bars

On some watches the strap bars don't come off: they're permanently fixed, machined or soldered to the case, so a normal strap can't thread through. An open-ended strap wraps each end around the fixed bar and locks with a small flat screw — no gluing, and you can still swap straps. Unlike a pass-through NATO, it wears like a regular two-piece and dresses the watch up.

Four customer review photos of a Tudor Pelagos FXD GMT fitted with a black open-ended leather strap, including the fixed-bar attachment
Customer review photos: Tudor Pelagos FXD GMT. The lower-right view shows the open end fastened around the watch's fixed bar.

"Vgreen makes my Pelagos FXD GMT into a watch I can wear a suit with." — verified buyer, Tudor Pelagos FXD GMT

"Fits my fixed lug CWC Diver, perfectly!" — verified buyer, CWC Diver

Typical watches: Tudor Pelagos FXD, CWC and other military issues, trench watches, pocket-watch conversions, and vintage pieces with wire lugs — odd widths welcome. Own an FXD? Read the FXD strap guide.

Order an open-ended strap

2. Notched straps — for openings narrower than the case

On these watches the case was designed around an integrated bracelet: the strap opening is narrower than the case, or the case drops blocks into the strap end. A plain strap won't seat or will float awkwardly under a wide case. We cut the strap to your case's full width and notch the end so it fills the opening the way the original did.

Four customer review photos of a green corner-notched leather strap fitted to a chronograph, showing the wide shoulders and narrow centre tongue
Customer review photos: one corner-notched example. The wide shoulders fill the case while the narrower centre tongue enters the lug opening.

"Could not find a notched band anywhere until I found Vgreen." — verified buyer

"…impossible to find an original strap for this watch. They did an excellent job!" — verified buyer

Typical watches from our order history: TAG Heuer Link and S/el, Movado, Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, Concord Saratoga, IWC Ingenieur, Oris TT3 — and a long tail of watches whose original strap is discontinued. No original strap left to count the tabs on? Send photos of the watch head and we'll identify the shape.

There are four notch shapes — count the tabs on your original strap's end:

Corner-notched strap end: both corners cut away, one tongue in the middle

1 tab in the middle

Corner-notched

Centre-notched strap end: one notch cut out of the middle, corners intact

2 tabs, full width

Centre-notched

Multi-notched Style A strap end: two notches cut into a full-width end, three tabs

3 tabs

Multi-notched Style A

Multi-notched Style B strap end: corners and centre cut away, two tabs set in from the edges

2 tabs, set in from the corners

Multi-notched Style B

3. Curved-end straps — for cases that curve over the strap

Some cases curve down over the strap, so a straight-cut end leaves a wedge of daylight at the lugs or rubs the case. A curved-end strap is cut on an arc, built around a curved bar, so the leather follows the case. One thing to know before ordering: some watches only need curved spring bars with a normal strap — that's a different, cheaper fix. Contact us first if you're not sure which yours needs.

Four customer review photos of watches fitted with custom curved-end leather straps, including a Raymond Weil Freelancer
Customer review photos: four curved-end projects. The Raymond Weil Freelancer cited here is shown at top left.

"…fits my Raymond Weil Freelancer like a glove… better than the OEM replacement RW tried to sell me." — verified buyer, Raymond Weil Freelancer

"It's a curved end band and it fits perfectly on my Rado watch." — verified buyer, Rado

Typical watches: Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M (the watch in the photo above), Raymond Weil Freelancer and Baume & Mercier Clifton. Some Rolex Explorer and MING references may only need curved spring bars rather than a curved end, so contact us before ordering.

Order a curved-end strap

How to order without guessing

  1. Send your exact model or caseback reference, plus clear top and side photos.
  2. We confirm which of the three strap types your watch needs.
  3. You confirm the measurements before we cut the leather.

Don't see your watch above? These are examples, not the limit of what we can make. Send us your watch and we'll recommend the right strap. Fit varies by reference and hardware — a documented example shows the strap type has worked on that watch, not a universal guarantee.

Order your unusual watch strap

All six options below are handmade to order. Typical turnaround: 2–3 weeks — you confirm every measurement before we cut.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my watch needs an open-ended strap?

If the strap bars are permanently fixed — machined into or soldered to the case, with no removable spring-bar tips — a standard two-piece strap can't thread through. An open-ended strap wraps around the fixed bar and locks with a small flat screw. Typical cases: Tudor Pelagos FXD, CWC and other military issues, trench watches, and pocket-watch conversions. Some watches use removable screw bars; if the bar can be taken out normally, you don't need an open-ended strap.

How do I know if my watch needs a notched strap — and which notch?

If the strap opening is narrower than the case, or the case drops blocks into the strap end, you need a notched strap. Count the tabs on your original strap's end: one tab in the middle is corner-notched; two tabs reaching the strap's full width is centre-notched; three tabs is multi-notched Style A; two tabs set in from the corners is multi-notched Style B. Not sure? Send us photos and we'll identify it.

What's the difference between a curved-end strap and curved spring bars?

A curved-end strap has leather built around a curved bar so the strap end follows the case. With a standard strap plus curved spring bars, the leather end stays straight and only the bars curve to create clearance. They are different orders, so contact us first if you only need curved bars.

Will a curved-end strap sit perfectly flush with my case?

Not necessarily. The final gap depends on the case shape, spring-bar position, leather thickness and construction. A built-up gap filler or model-specific insert is a different construction from our standard curved-end leather. A successful example proves the construction has worked on that watch; it is not a universal guarantee.

The original strap for my watch is discontinued or unusual. Can you copy it?

Usually, yes — that is most of what we do. Send clear top and side photos of the watch head and the original strap, plus your model or reference number, and we'll match the construction and profile. You confirm all measurements before we cut the leather.

What's the difference between open-ended, notched and curved-end straps?

Open-ended solves fixed bars: the strap wraps around the bar. Notched solves a narrow or blocked strap opening: the end is cut to your case. Curved-end solves a case that curves over the strap: the end follows the case. All three are covered in the guide above, with real customer examples for each.

What is the lead time, and do I need to confirm measurements?

Every strap is handmade to order with a typical 2–3 week turnaround. Delivery timing varies by destination and shipping method. The guide recommends a strap type; it does not guarantee dimensions, so you confirm the exact measurements before production. Custom-made straps are not returnable for change of mind, but manufacturing defects are fully covered.