Homage Forum

Just wondering if anyone has received a good quality (non silicone) isofrane style strap on ali? I’ve previously looked at maranez, isofrane and borealis, with borealis and isofrane similar quality (borealis must a bit thinner). Are there any natural rubber options given borealis is sneaking up there on price?

I bought a couple of isofrane style straps off AliX and IMO this seller has the best one in terms of design and function. The others do not have right shape and profiles are off and are too soft imo.
Seems to be a 1:1 copy and if I’m being over critical it may be a little harder in terms of shore hardness compared to a real one. Also no vanilla smell .
Only available in black, orange and dark blue.

Shop5364019 Store
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EGtwetl

I’ll try to get a photo up of this and the real isofrane on my synchron in the morning

Orange - AliX from Seller mentioned above £19
Light Grey Real Synchron Isofrane
Grey - AliX £9 isofrane copy
Emerald Green - AliX £2 isofrane style
Olive green - AliX £9 isofrane copy

Brilliant I’ll have a look. Have you done a side by side compsro with isofrane

The light grey is a true isofrane, the orange is the copy.
However the orange is a 22mm and the light grey is only 20mm so difficult to do a side x side compare.
But thickness tapers from 5.8mm to 3.6mm as per the isofrane.
Buckle isn’t quite as well finished as the isofrane but a lot closer than the cheaper ones.
If I lay one strap over the other all holes align and it has the new style keepers that most of the other copies omit. It even comes boxed in a branded ‘Largaz’ box which is a copy of the isofrane box!

Sounds perfect, a good alternative to the ISO at a fraction if the price..

Simpsan wrote: ↑April 27th, 2024, 1:13 pm The light grey is a true isofrane, the orange is the copy.
However the orange is a 22mm and the light grey is only 20mm so difficult to do a side x side compare.
But thickness tapers from 5.8mm to 3.6mm as per the isofrane.
Buckle isn’t quite as well finished as the isofrane but a lot closer than the cheaper ones.
If I lay one strap over the other all holes align and it has the new style keepers that most of the other copies omit. It even comes boxed in a branded ‘Largaz’ box which is a copy of the isofrane box!

Is the copy actual rubber like the Iso or is it silicone? Does it smell vanilla?

I believe they are rubber as opposed to silicone, hardness is similar to the isofrane.
No there is no vanilla smell

straps68 wrote: ↑April 28th, 2024, 2:34 pm

Simpsan wrote: ↑April 27th, 2024, 1:13 pm The light grey is a true isofrane, the orange is the copy.
However the orange is a 22mm and the light grey is only 20mm so difficult to do a side x side compare.
But thickness tapers from 5.8mm to 3.6mm as per the isofrane.
Buckle isn’t quite as well finished as the isofrane but a lot closer than the cheaper ones.
If I lay one strap over the other all holes align and it has the new style keepers that most of the other copies omit. It even comes boxed in a branded ‘Largaz’ box which is a copy of the isofrane box!

Is the copy actual rubber like the Iso or is it silicone? Does it smell vanilla?

I had already pulled the trigger on another rubber strap, just received today. Slightly cheaper than the one posted earlier in the thread

Link: €13.25 New FKM 20mm 22mm Watch Strap Waterproof Quick Release Fluororubber Watchbands
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EJkQwVZ

It’s a quick release rubber iso style, quick release pins came out easily enough, just unscrew release button from pin and pin comes out easily, without damaging strap. Here it is on the wrist, good quality stock steel buckle (pin not screw bar), last shot is with san martin bronze iso buckle.







.




Here are a few comparison shots with borealis strap (green on bottom), my current favourite. As you can see the ali strap is a little thicker, buckle side is about 10mm longer than the borealis, and the inside has a textured surface for full the full length. Very slightly stiffer on, otherwise v similar. The keepers are slightly different, second one is wider like an isofrane. Overall the ali strap is excellent value at 1/3 the price of a borealis, which was already very good value compared to isofrane.

Comparison photos of real Isofrane (white ) and AliX Largaz
Both are 20mm lug
Packaging

Front

Rear

Profile


No vanilla smell on Black
Slightly different surface feel
The buckle tongue holes in the largaz are a little more rounded in the corners compared to the Isofrane, (as if the tooling is a little worn )