Introducing: Unpolished Goods

100% canvas straps, and a new option for servicing your watches.

Happy Saturday. I’ve got two exciting announcements that will make Unpolished even better for subscribers:

1. Opening the Unpolished Store with our first goods: 100% cotton canvas straps

2. A new option for servicing watches for annual subscribers

(1) Unpolished Goods

First, this is the best fabric strap I’ve worn.

What makes it different: It’s entirely canvas and 100% cotton. It’s only 2mm thick. It’ll be soft and flexible when you wear it for the first time, but it gets even better over time. I’ve been wearing samples since July, and they’ve broken in like a nice pair of jeans.

Most canvas straps are also lined with something like leather, making them thick, stiff, and often unwearable. Not these. The cotton has a slight texture but is soft to the touch.

These 100% canvas straps are launching in three colors: Charcoal, green, and khaki, available with 18, 19, or 20mm lug width. All taper to a 16mm buckle. Made in the United States. Shop here:

All paid subscribers get a 10% discount on straps in the Unpolished Store. If you’re a paid subscriber, the code will be in the footer of this email.

Canvas Straps in Green and Khaki ($75—subscribers receive a 10% discount).

As you might know, I’m not a huge fan of NATO-style straps. But I still love fabric straps and have tried a ton. These are the best I’ve found. Unlike the nylon used in most NATOs or similar styles, they’re 100% cotton and all-natural.

These canvas straps are the latest from strapmaker Nick Gabarro. If you’ve bought a vintage watch with a cool strap over the past decade or two, there’s a decent chance that strap came from him. He makes excellent leather—and now canvas—straps. He’s really excited about them, and I am too.

Available in 3 colors: Khaki, Green, and Charcoal (18, 19, & 20mm lug width).

The canvas straps are just 2mm thick, which means they're flexible and comfortable. Made in the United States.

These straps only get better with wear. They break in, they become more comfortable and flexible, but the fabric doesn’t fray or fall apart. Here’s a strap I’ve been wearing since July, compared to a brand new one:

Gets better with time: A canvas strap I’ve been wearing on a Gallet chronograph since July next to a brand-new one.

All colors and sizes are in stock and ready to ship. One more time, shop the Canvas Strap here (and don’t forget to use the code below if you’re a paid subscriber!):

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(2) Watchcheck: A new way to service your watch

From a recent visit to Stoll & Co. in Dayton, Ohio.

Second, I’m excited to announce that all annual subscribers will receive a discount code for $50 off a service from Watchcheck. If you’re an annual subscriber, look out for a separate email with your code.

Easily the most common question I get asked is: Where should I service my watch? This is an attempt to help answer that question.

Watchcheck has partnered with Stoll & Co. in Dayton, Ohio, to provide service. I actually visited Stoll & Co. last week—it’s an impressive operation with 40+ watchmakers. A couple of months ago, I tested out Watchcheck, sending in a vintage Movado M95 chronograph. I’ve also posted a Reel about my experience.

It’s a seamless process: Watchcheck sends you a shipping kit that arrives at your door, which is then shipped (next-day UPS) to the service center. You upload photos for insurance purposes before shipping it off. The entire process took about six weeks, and I got email updates at every step: When the watch arrived, when service began, when timekeeping checks were performed, when it was shipped back to me.

Watchcheck updates during the service process—you’re also updated by email.

While visiting Dayton, I happened to meet the watchmaker who serviced my M95. His name’s Seth, and he’s been a watchmaker for 20+ years. He had four Omega caliber 321s on his workbench the day I visited (his favorite movement, he said), so an M95 is light work.

You’re also able to add notes to your order. I wanted a new crystal, and added a note not to polish or refinish. I left feeling assured that that last note was particularly hard to miss:

Don’t do it.

The service for my Movado M95 was $960. It’s on the higher end, but reflective of more complex vintage chronograph work—it also needed some parts replaced in the crown and winding mechanism. I know the M95 can be a tricky movement, so sending it to a large service center that knows what they’re doing was worth the peace of mind. That’s especially valuable for collectible or more expensive watches. Of course, three-hand watches will be cheaper. It’s hard to find a watchmaker you can trust with vintage, complicated, or expensive watches, so I hope this helps some of you.

You’re also paying for the convenience: The shipping kit shows up at your door, and Watchcheck updates you at every step.

Thank you for supporting Unpolished so far. It’s been about a year since this newsletter became a regular thing again, and any success it’s had is only because of you. We’ll have more improvements in the coming months that I hope will continue to make it even better. Back to regular programming next week.

If you’re not an annual subscriber, upgrade now:

Comments are open to everyone on this post, so let me know if you have any questions about the Canvas Straps or Watchcheck, including my service experience. Also feel free to email me: tony@unpolishedwatches.com.

Here’s the discount code for paid subscribers: