My Vintage Collection Ingenieur Laureus on a New Strap

When I was visiting the Las Vegas Boutique last week, I bought a dark brown Santoni strap and deployment clasp to try on my Vintage Ingenieur Laureus. To my tastes, the experiment was a success.

A bit unconventional, perhaps; but I think the dark brown antiqued strap goes very well with the midnight blue dial. It makes the watch slightly less dressy -- which suits my current suburban, casual lifestyle in retirement. After all, it's been at least two years since I've worn a tie.

Some may see it as sacrilegious to tamper with the original configuration, but (1) it's still an IWC strap and clasp; (2) I've retained the original blue strap so the watch can be restored to original configuration; and (3) I'll keep the black IWC strap I first had put on the watch in case I decide I need something more formal.

I like it, Frank! I'm considering getting a black Santoni for my VC Ingenieur. I think the Santoni straps are a perfect enhancement!

Frank, love the watch, not sure about the combo. If you like it that's really what's its all about.

Kevin

Very nice! Nice Montegrappa and old style Omas Paragon, too. I still slightly prefer the blue strap for that watch but I love the dark brown strap with my black 5001. No bad choices here!

Kent

Somehow pens and watches seem to go together. And I'm now a believer in the proposition that the Santoni straps are an enhancement to any IWC one would fit.

Very nice! Santoni straps are so high quality !

Fantastic combination!!! I have the same strap on my white gold Portuguese but didn't expect it to look so great on blue!!!

Regards,

Bob

I think it looks great, giving life to the watch because of the contrast. I think this strap looks even better on a black dial watch. Being able to experiment and change is one of the possibilities of this hobby: although I don't do this because I don't trust my fingers to deliver a scratch-free watch, I think there are no conventions as long as you like the result. Enjoy your combination!

Kind regards,
Paul

Nice combination Frank, like it very much!!!!
Could you please tell me how much it costed you?
(use my private email)

Thanks in advance my friend

Interesting combination ! The longer you look at it, the more I like this option.
Kind regards, Daniel

Frank, looks great. No small wonder IWC market the Portofino Hand Wound Eight Days blackdial with the dark brown Santoni strap.

Simply...wow. That is a beautiful watch. It's striking colors and texture really grabs your attention.

Thank you all for the nice comments

I've been wearing this for the last several days and the combination is very well suited to my more casual manner of dress these days. If I were still working and wearing dark suits most of the time, I might feel differently. (But if IWC continues to produce new watches that tempt me, like the new Spitfire Chrono, I might be forced to go back to work -- heaven forfend.)

Just found this post in the archive since I was looking for combinations of blue dials with brown straps...
can others share their experience/photos with such combos??
thanks,
yitzhak

I think it works nicely.

It works for me!

You "dressed down" a watch that already looked good when worn either dress up or dress down casual. And in doing so, you added a healthy dash of class too.... I lke it.

Enjoy and wear in good health.

Frank,

I love blue dials, love classy brown straps, your combo is awesome!

Best
/Anders

Funny to see this older topic coming up! I recently got the Ingenieur Vintage Laureus. The other good thing is that I have a dark brown Santoni strap on my Portuguese Pure Classic. It will be easy to give it a try on the Ingenieur!

Thanks for the great idea!

Kind regards,

Clemens

And thank you all for the nice comments.