This is exactly what I’ve chosen to do today in pairing my AAA fake Omega Speedmaster Professional with a brilliant strap from Joseph Bonnie. I’m talking about the STAR 69 strap in pigskin. The strap was designed by Jérôme Burgert and is made by the brand for Serica. Though it’s available from Joseph Bonnie in calf leather, the pigskin option is sold exclusively through the Serica site. It’s no secret that we’re big fans of Serica. The brand charmed us with its debut 4512 series of field watches. The follow-up release took the form of a fantastic pair of dive replica watches online (the 5303 models). And as much as we are anxiously awaiting what will come next from the French brand, today I wanted to highlight the brilliance of this leather strap sold through its site. Undoubtedly a perfect pairing for all Serica models, the STAR 69 strap does a lot for the Speedy too.

A vintage makeover for my modern Speedmaster
We all know plenty about the perfect fake Omega Speedmaster’s history and origins as a racing chronograph. Ads from 1957 show it on the wrist of a racer’s co-driver along with the tag “for men who reckon time in seconds.” Though the Speedy’s history took a turn for the stratosphere, the racing DNA is there. After all, it is called the “Speedmaster”, not the “Starmaster” or the “Moonmaster”. All this to make the point that wearing this top quality copy Omega on a rally strap doesn’t just suit it like mud does a pig, but in fact, it makes complete sense.

It’s the same reason why putting your cheap replica Omega Speedmaster on a Velcro strap is not an atrocity to be judgingly glared at — it harkens back to its time on the wrists of astronauts. You may be wondering, what exactly is a “rally strap”? Though let’s face it, if you’re here reading this, you probably already know.

But just so that we’re all on the same page, let’s define our terms. A rally strap is a style of strap that features a number of perforations in different sizes and patterns. I suppose the association with racing might have to do with the fact that these perforations were likely welcomed by drivers looking for a comfortable way of fastening a super clone watch to their wrists. Or perhaps it’s due to the similarity to perforated leather/mesh gloves, often known as driving gloves. Either way, nothing goes better with a chronograph than a rally strap. And to me personally, the old-school aesthetic is best taken all the way with a dramatic taper from the lugs to the buckle. The Joseph Bonnie STAR 69 strap delivers this luxury replica Omega CA and then some, taking the Speedy from Moonwatch back to its badass racing-chronograph roots.

A last-minute note
Before we continue, I’m adding this short section to reveal a key piece of information about the strap that I wasn’t aware of when I started (or finished) writing this article. Speaking with the strap’s designer (Jérôme Burgert of Serica Watches) revealed that the strap was inspired by Tropic rubber straps of the ’60s more so than rally straps. Specifically, it takes inspiration from the Tropic Star Omega fake Paypal. Unlike the Tropic Sport (what you might normally think of when you hear the term “Tropic rubber strap”), the Star has a less textured appearance. This inspiration makes sense, as the strap was intended to be paired with a Serica dive Omega replica for sale CA. But as Burgert put it, “(The strap) certainly has a Corfam vibe too… very suitable for chronographs.”

Now, back to it!