Crafter Blue CB03: the only case-fitted rubber strap for your Marinemaster, and it smells of vanilla
There's only really one of them
Do you like Seiko Marinemasters? Have you got one? Did you not like the factory rubber? Were you looking for a case-fitted strap? Well, Gethin Christian's here once again to guide you through your options, and there's only really one of them, and this is it. The Crafter Blue curved-end rubber strap for the Seiko Marinemaster 300, reference CB03. It takes the OEM Seiko clasp, it comes in black, brown, blue and orange, and unfortunately there's no green. It's designed to fit all the MM300 models: the SBDX001, the 017, the SLAs, all the other twerps in the world of twerpery. Just look at that, bros.
Hatchets out
It's a cut-to-size vulcanised rubber strap, so be careful, be very careful, bros. Multiple chunklets to be severed by your sharpest hatchets. It tapers from 20 mm down to 18 at the clasp, and it's quite thick, about 4.5 mm down to about 3.7. You don't get a clasp, so you'll pay a lot of money for Seiko's. Nothing we can do about that. We're all obsessed with these things. Crafter Blue has it on offer for about £48.99, normally around 60 quid, plus postage and maybe customs. Mr Jun got one for about £47 with a coupon.
The comfortability argument
To me, case-fitted straps look amazing. There's no gaps. It just looks so good. But there's an argument that they're less comfortable than straps that hang free, like the OEM, which drops straight down. This one never will. I had the CB05 on my SKX in green and it pinched the wrist. This rubber is a lot softer, and it doesn't do it in the same way. It's comfortable, I've been extremely pleased, and it has a lovely vanilla scent to it.
The wrist thing
They say 5 to 8 inches. Debatable. My wrist is 19 cm, 7.5 inches, and with the watch head in the centre the buckle sits slightly off centre. I cut two segments. A lot of people won't mind, but people like me do. With an 8 inch wrist the clasp would be almost round the front of your wrist, and that's just not acceptable to me. Not for the beach. This strap is really for a 7 inch wrist or slightly less.
Verdict
It's the only thing of its kind I'm aware of: pretty much your only option for a fitted strap on the Marinemaster 300. You could hit up Alibaba, and good luck to you, but I recommend you swerve those and opt for a legit aftermarket like this. It really isn't bad. Negatives? There's only one: I don't like the way the short end connects to the clasp. Other than that it is freaky. Ten minutes for a strap. Happy Christmas, bros.
