Strapcode Super Oyster Type II Bracelet Review

I’ll start off this review with this: Rubber straps are great for diving, but if you wear your diver all over the place like I do, well, they just don’t really look that great. Downright bad possibly.

I’ve been wearing my Seiko SKX007 for a while now and have finally had enough of the rubber strap. If the SKX007 was exclusively used when I dove I’d leave it with the rubber, but it’s currently my go-to wear-everywhere watch. So, time for an upgrade.

I’ve seen a number of recommendations online (especially in Reddits /r/watches/) for the Super Oyster Type II Bracelet, available from Amazon for less than $60. Designed specifically for Seiko’s SKX007/009/011 watches, rumor had it that it was quite the deal and much better quality than Seiko’s stock bracelet.

So of course I had to give it a try.

The Packaging

Inside the standard, always too big for what’s getting shipped, Amazon Prime cardboard box, I found the bracelet, completely encased in bubble wrap. The manufacturers definitely not wasting any money on fancy packaging for this bracelet. Fine with me, just going to throw it away anyways.

I was surprised to see the camouflage pattern and Miltat branding, since the Amazon product page doesn’t really mention any manufacturer or brand, except ‘sold by Strapcode’.  Heading to www.miltat.com, it brings up a page with StrapCode.com in the top banner. Going to www.strapcode.com brings up a slightly different site.

The whole bracelet comes with a thin protective shrink wrap covering it. Over the clasp itself is a couple pieces of translucent blue plastic, interleaved to protect the clasp. The plastic did a good job protecting the bracelet, there weren’t any marks on the stainless steel until I started getting my grubby hands all over it.

The Super Oyster Type II Close Up

The only branding on the bracelet itself is this very small engraving of ‘MILTAT’, on the inside near the spring bar holes. The brushed steel links all look to be very high quality, and the whole bracelet feels nice when holding it in the hand.

The only other marking on the bracelet is this ‘STAINLESS STEEL’ engraving, on the clasp. 

Side shot of the links, showing the micro-adjustments on the clasp, and the screws for taking out the links. Pardon the oily finger marks.

Another shot of the side of the double locking diver’s clasp. The clasp seems to be easy to use, with a smooth operation and very secure.

One side of the open clasp.

Other side of the open clasp.

The clasp closed and secured. Releasing the bracelet requires two steps: flipping back the outer most lock that sits on top, and then squeezing in on the sides of the clasp to fully release.

The bracelet came with two heavy duty spring bars in case you don’t have any sitting around, which is quite nice of them. They seem to be strong and of reasonably high quality.

Installing the Super Oyster onto the SKX007

Out with the old, in with the new! Tools needed: Spring bar tool, and a small screwdriver.

If you don’t mess with spring bars very often (I sure don’t) they can be a huge pain. The best method I’ve found is to insert the spring bar tool’s notched side in beside the strap, then pushing in and down at the same time. If you successfully hooked onto the spring bar, it should pop down. Be careful though! A slip of the tool and you just may scratch the watch pretty badly. 

First side off, without toooo much fuss.

And both parts of the rubber strap off. Managed not to break anything, this time at least.

Getting the new bracelet on was quite the pain. One of those operations where you wished you had 3 hands. Getting one side of the spring bar into the proper hole was relatively easy, but the other side took took quite a bit of fussing with before it would seat properly. Double check both sides are fully seated before you start wearing the watch! They can definitely trick you, and it would be no good to have it pop out while walking around town.

Looking pretty damn sweet. It really does give a completely different look to the SKX than the rubber strap.

The Super Oyster II matches up perfectly with the lugs of the SKX007. There’s a review on Amazon mentioning that they had tried a more expensive, supposedly higher quality bracelet from eBay first, but it ended up having some serious gaps here.

Think it’s too big? Luckily, the links don’t require any special tools to adjust, just a small (jeweler’s / glasses size) screwdriver.

Removing the links went way faster than getting the bracelet installed in the first place. The locking screws make it very easy. I’m sure some people will not like the appearance of the screw heads along the side of the links, but I don’t think they’re very noticeable. 

Had to remove three links to fit my ~6.75 inch wrist. 

Perfect fit. Didn’t need to use the micro-adjustments at all.

Not bad eh?

Conclusion

Overall, I’m very impressed with the Super Oyster bracelet. The fit, polish, and comfort are much higher than it’s $55 price tag would leave you to believe. Highly recommended upgrade for anyone purchasing or owning one of the Seiko SKX diver’s.

My only complaint?

I wish these spring bar straps and bracelets were easier to switch out, but that’s not really the fault of this specific bracelet, more how the majority of watches are designed. I’d love it so much if it was possible to switch between rubber, bracelet, or NATO with the same ease as just switching between various NATO straps.

Buy it from Amazon.com