Curved-End Strap for JLC Master Compressor, 23.5mm
Two things make this JLC hard to strap. The lug width is 23.5mm, which is not a size anyone stocks, and the lug holes sit very close to the case, so a straight-cut end fouls the case before the strap can sit down. The owner in England measured the lug himself and asked for curved ends, then asked whether a taper from 23.5mm down to a 20mm buckle would look wrong. It does not, and this is a curved-end strap for a JLC Master Compressor built to prove it.
Build sheet
| Watch | Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Compressor Q178T470 |
| Lug width | 23.5mm (customer-measured) |
| Leather | Epsom calfskin, black |
| End shape | Curved end |
| Strap length | 75/125mm (3.0 in / 4.9 in) |
| Spring bars | Regular |
| Style | Classic |
| Stitching | Side stitching, matching thread |
| Padding | With padding |
| Tip end | Tapered, to the owner's 20mm pin buckle |
Why these choices
A curved end is cut on an arc so it follows the curve of the lug instead of butting a flat edge against it. That is the whole fix here. With the lug holes set close to the case, a straight 23.5mm end has nowhere to go — it either lifts off the wrist or presses into the caseback edge. Cutting the arc lets the leather start where the case ends, which is also what makes the odd width look intentional rather than approximate.
The 23.5mm to 20mm taper was the owner's real question, and the answer is that a 3.5mm drop over 75mm of strap is gentle enough that the eye reads it as a normal taper. Straps that look wrong are the ones that drop 6mm or more, or drop it all in the first 20mm. Padding was specified, which helps here: it gives the wide end enough body to hold the arc rather than collapsing into it. Regular spring bars were fitted. VGreen supplies curved spring bars in the ordered size with curved-end straps, but on a watch where the owner already knows the fit, the original bars are the safer choice.
★★★★★
“Perfect fit & very nice quality!”
Mark B. · Verified purchase · Custom curved-end strap
Questions we get on this build
Do I need a curved-end strap for a JLC Master Compressor?
If the lugs curve down toward the wrist and the lug holes sit tight to the case, yes. Curved-end straps are for curved lugs. They are not integrated straps, which are shaped to one specific case and will not transfer between watches.
Can you cut a 23.5mm lug width?
Yes. The configurator covers 8mm to 30mm, and half-millimetre widths like this one are cut to the measurement you give us. Measure the gap between the lugs with calipers, or have a jeweller do it — a half-millimetre error is visible on a strap this wide.
Odd lug widths and curved lugs are the two problems this shop exists to solve. Start with custom curved-end straps or browse custom leather straps and give us your measurements. Made to order — allow 2–3 weeks to delivery.