Well, I took the strap to a guy I know who sells custom leather goods and he made a good strap even better by installing a snap, and removing the cumbersome buckle. Now I have a watch strap that fits perfectly, and no fiddling with threating a thick strap through a massive buckle and a tiny keeper.
First the good. It is a well made strap. Leather seems to be good quality, and thick. Yet it is comfortable and not at all stiff as you sometimes see with cheaper brands. The tab system works very well and gives me a feeling of security that my watch isn't going anywhere. My new Junkers chronograph looks great on the wrist with the Fluco Bund style strap. It could be a bit longer but so long as I can get it on my wrist, I am not complaining.
So why only 4 stars instead of 5? Well, the giant buckle is a little flimsy, and it is a bit unwieldy getting that huge, thick strap through the buckle, and the keepers are small and flimsy for such a thick, wide strap. What would I suggest? Well, if you tapered the strap down a little and put a 24 or even a 26mm buckle on, it would be better.
Even better would be to come up with something even more elegant, like a snap type closure, maybe with several holes to adjust the fit.
I needed a band for my Pobeda Red 12, a small watch (32mm). It was on a one piece leather strap which was just OK. The watch has fixed bars, which really narrows down the possibilities. Came across Bund straps and decided to take a chance on the Fluco Vigo Brown. Am I glad I did! It is one of, if not the, nicest and most comfortable straps I've ever owned. Soft and flexible immediately, no breaking in period. Really well made. Looks retro cool. As a bonus still has that leather smell (if you put it up to your nose). I am definitely a fan and will be getting another one - probably in tan - for my green dial vintage Vostok.
I wasn't happy with regular straps for my Strela Cosmos Chronograph. I'd gotten used to wearing my Seiko Turtle, which is 44mm, but felt like a change. My Strela is only 40mm, and looked puny and wimpy on my wrist after the Seiko. And it has long lugs, which doesn't help. Anyway, I went on the hunt for a bund strap, which led me to the Fluco cuff strap. I like the idea of the bund, but it seems kind of clumsy, in a way. So I looked at as many shots of the Fluco cuff that I could, and decided to take a risk. I wasn't disappointed. It really looks cool, and is so comfortable. No breaking in, either. The calf leather is super soft and supple right out of the pouch. I did have to use the last holes on the cuff for my Strela since the lugs are so long (right at the max of 48mm in the description), but the watch fits perfectly and is stable on the cuff. I highly recommend it!
The leather is thick and sturdy yet supple. It has various holes to accomodate a number of watch lengths. It works well with both large diameter as well as small diameter watches. I'm using it on a 30mm Bulova A-11. The strap holds the watch safely while also carrying an aesthetic. I also like that the leather protects the back of the watch and the engravings from perspiration,etc. It's perfect for this 75 year old watch. I'm thinking about getting the same band for my modern Damasko DS30 (39mm diameter).
