Every so often I get an email from a reader who wants to know where to buy a replacement watch strap for their Victorinox Swiss Army Hunter Mach 1, Mach 2 or Mach 3 watch. Usually, I only have bad news for these owners because replacing broken watchbands for these models is not easy. This is because Victorinox quit making Hunters over a decade ago. Watchbands for Swiss Army Hunter watches simply had dried up. I probably bought the last known 3 Hunter straps a few years ago. However, that seems like it might have just recently changed. Drum roll, please… The previously discontinued Hunter rubber straps are now back in stock! This is great news for anyone who needs a replacement watchband for their Swiss Army Hunter Watch, Mach 1, 2 or 3.
The rubber strap seen above is once again available
Hunter watches by Victorinox Swiss Army are not your typical timepieces that can have a normal strap attached. I assume that if you are reading this article, then you already know this. But for anyone else who stumbled across this post, suffice it to say that the watchbands are bespoke to the barrel shape of the tonneau watches. From the unique pin connectors to the thick to thin taper, the Swiss Army Hunter watches look quite different. You can forget about adding a regular two-piece strap to these unless you get radical. I wrote about a thought experiment of alternative ways to replace the straps at STRAP SWAP: Replacing the Proprietary Watch Bands on Victorinox Swiss Army’s Hunter Watches and also STRAP SWAP: Real World Experiments to Replace Hunter Watch Bands by Victorinox Swiss Army.
Luckily, you won’t have to jury-rig a custom watch band now that the rubber straps for the Victorinox Swiss Army Hunter watches are back in production. My favorite supplier of replacement Victorinox Swiss Army watch straps confirmed that these rare watch straps are available once again. Reflections of Infinity is my go-to store for Swiss Army replacement watch straps. This UK-based store has helped many people find replacement watch bands for Victorinox Swiss Army watches, from common models to rarities. I have bought several watch bands from R.O.I. myself and have only goods things to say. Colin, who runs the shop, will bend over backward to find straps for your watch if he can. He is a godsend to the Victorinox Swiss Army watch collecting community.
As of March od 2019, you should be able to order the rubber watch strap for the Hunter Mach 1, Hunter Mach 2 and Hunter Mach 3. The rubber strap is probably the most comfortable way to wear your Swiss Army Hunter watch, especially if your wrists are not large like mine. You can pull the rubber strap tighter than the hybrid plastic and metal or the all-metal bracelets can go. I want to be cautious about saying that these watch straps are permanently back in stock. Nobody has really said how many are being made, or how long they will be available. All I know is that what was once impossible to find, can now be found. This is fantastic news to anyone with a Hunter watch with a broken watch strap. A simple order from Reflections of Infinity will get your watch back in commission. The rubber strap 03290 will fit every Hunter model. I have listed the numbers below for each model.
Hunter Mach 1
- 24586 / v.25586
- 24587 / v.25587
Hunter Mach 2
- 24584/v.25584
- 24585/v.25585
Hunter Mach 3
- 24469 / v.25469
- 24470 / v.25470
- 24479 / v.25479
In case you are wondering if the hybrid plastic/steel bracelet or the all-steel bracelet is also available, the answer is no. These bracelets will likely never be manufactured again, so these rubber straps are your best bet. Prices are reasonable as is the shipping from the United Kingdom. I’ve never had a problem with their shipping to the United States, and all of my orders have arrived safely. Reflections of Infinity ships worldwide. Just follow the link to Reflections of Infinity to order your rubber watch band for your Hunter Mach 1, 2 or 3. The straps should come with two rubber straps and the hardware needed to attach them to the watch including a long pin and sleeve for each side. Get them while they are hot!
Colin informed me that Reflections of Infinity will offer readers of the Watch Hunter blog a 15% OFF discount at the cart when they use the code 3290 on checkout. This discount applied to the watchbands only and NOT SHIPPING. This is for a limited time. Thanks, Colin!
