There’s a Walrus in the Room

It may be no surprise to you by now as a self-declared watch stylist, that I’m a huge fan of a good strap change. Not only because they can compliment your look, but also change the whole appearance and feel of a watch rendering it brand spanking new with a flick of a spring bar. So when Vincent (@mainspring.watches) asked if I’d like to review a few straps from @RSMstraps I practically bit his metaphorical hand off at the chance. I have been admiring from afar the beautiful straps whilst doom-scrolling the depths of IG watch fam posts, so let’s call it destiny I should now be rewarded with such a task. 

But before I wax lyrical about what RSM has to offer I would like to bring your attention to the man behind the strap. 

A huge benefit of watch journalism is you get an opportunity to dig a little deeper and we get a glimpse beyond the curtain to reveal the humans behind the brand, which make it all happen. In this case Yiyan Lin. Yiyan is a proud Singaporean descending from Chinese great grandparents who migrated from China, escaping famine and revolution. An Architect by trade, which means he is incredibly adept at solving problems and having an eye for details. Yiyan began his straptastic (yes that’s a word now) career as a strap maker and designer because he was dissatisfied with the bog standard Nato style straps on the market and wondered if others shared his sentiments. So in 2019 he launched his first Herringbone Twill range inspired by the Military uniforms of WWII and the rest they say is history.

I Am the Walrus.

Out of all the animals on the planet Yiyan landed on the noble Walrus to be the face of his brand. But I had one question. Why? Yiyan’s answer to this question left me with a new found respect for the man. His response was so perfect, thoughtful and indicative of the decent chap he is and something clearly he too has thought a lot about. 

“If anything I am the opposite of the Walrus, I am a tropical creature. I have never seen one in my life, so no chance of meeting one in the wild yet. Don’t you find creatures with huge tusks to be unmistakably from the ancient past? Upon finding out about the blubber creature, it’s almost like they shouldn’t have made it so far but they have. Hopefully, they will continue to survive despite their challenges ahead. With such massive bodies and fats, it seems like they feed mainly on clams that lie just below the sea bed. I was trying to say, even though we are not immediate neighbors, that our actions and choices affect each other's environment. Without getting too complicated, diff species on earth form the entire system.”

This was such a delightful response to an earnest question. The walrus represents an unlikely hero, something that persevered despite the odds, an animal we should all try to protect at all costs and by using this fantastic and ancient creature as their figure head they wanted to gently remind the wearer to be conscious in the way we live because all our actions have consequences. Which leads me to my next point. RSM don’t use recycled plastics for their straps. For one they think they are of poor quality, so will inevitably be thrown away and two they would rather focus on longevity, robustness and quality, which is why you will only find top quality fabrics and leathers used.

Nothing like a good strap change

So let’s fast forward to 2025 when, like a kid in a virtual candy store, I perused the RSM website trying to remember my ever growing watch collection, lug widths and outfit combos to ensure I made the absolute best and considered choices to best illustrate the range they have. Since 2019 they have branched out to include traditional leather two-piece straps, fine canvas and even silk NATO-style ones which I will be showcasing for you here.

Quality and Value- My First impressions

After opening the door to my judgmental post lady (she keeps asking who’s birthday it is because of all the packages being delivered) I rapidly opened my parcel and got straight to work inspecting the chosen straps. Firstly I want to highlight that this is the first time ever I’ve ordered straps where I haven’t had to add my own holes to. In that one moment I felt understood and joyful in the knowledge that the straps are perfectly sized to my wrist. I went straight to Yiyan to tell him the news. He wisely responded:

“Because we make them in different lengths to fit different wrist sizes. You’d be shocked at how different we all are. But generally 3 sizes would cover 90% of us”

It seems so obvious, yet so many watch strap companies don’t cater to smaller wrists.

The first strap I pulled out of the carefully packed parcel was a classic grey Alligator strap, which is definitely a colour that goes with anything and am so happy to have around. It’s supple and has hand-finished details, which are such a lovely touch and are worth every penny of the 155 CHF. There is absolutely no ‘break in’ time and it looks and feels like a luxury strap. I’ve paired it here with my bold Studio Underd0g Watermel0n, because the grey really softens the watch and is not as stark as the black OEM.

Next up we have my first foray into Spanish Lizard leather. This deep mahogany colour with red stitching was crying out for my Baltic MR Roulette. I’ve discovered I adore the intricate patterns found on Spanish lizards. Styled in a twist to the tuxedo style as the strap completely transforms the Baltic and firmly places it as a dress watch. So chic and again the epitome of luxury in feel and finish and priced at 107 CHF.

A match to die for comes in the Sky Blue fine canvas leather strap paired with my Chez Maman Apollo in faded denim. Made from a canvas manufactured in Japan especially for this collection. Fine is a major understatement. It is outstanding and by far the best canvas strap that’s graced my wrist and the whimsical blue colour feels like a beautiful pair of light blue jeans. In fact I would love to see the fine Canvas made into a denim collection. Because who wouldn’t love to match their jeans to their watch strap?! Styled here in a triple denim look with a pink Gingham dress for a cute, cheerful yet casual vibe and the strap is priced at 73 CHF.

What these three straps have in common is the thoughtfully designed curved and rounded buckle with a built-in keeper finished with an adorable Walrus, which absolutely made me smile. This is where Yiyan shines again. He shared a story of when his son was little and Yiyan scratched him with his belt buckle when picking him up. The buckle had sharp edges and it led him to create this ergonomic design, which won’t catch on your skin and curve onto your wrist. It really is beautifully executed and adds to the comfort and wearing experience.

Last but by no means least. The most innovative (in my opinion) strap in the RSM current line up. The double-sided 100 % silk single pass NATO-style strap in burgundy and black (yes two straps in one). After my first inspection I was a little perplexed as the buckle is different from a standard NATO one. But luckily it comes with detailed visual instructions on how to put it on your watch and subsequently change the side and therefore the colour. Whatever you do definitely do not throw these helpful instructions away, as they will be needed. But once on the watch and on the wrist my goodness what a feeling. As smooth as silk quite literally. But don’t be put off by the idea of shiny silk. This is woven in a way that is completely matte in texture and is beautifully hand finished. I thought my Pluto Moonswatch deserved a new lease of life and even I'm impressed with the colour matching here. 

If you’re looking to up your Nato style strap game then this is 100% something you have to try and costs 165 CHF but remember you get two colours for this price. Styled with a matching silk dress and a beautiful earthy blue jacket to lift the look.

Final Thoughts

It's been a real pleasure to get to know more about the story behind RSM and their commitment to making beautiful and innovative straps that are built to last. It’s absolutely clear Yiyan is so passionate about what he does and I am excited to see what’s next for the brand. Every strap elevated the look and wearing experience of my watches. These are a luxury offering at a fair price for something that is hand-finished and which comes with such high quality materials. If you’re looking to treat yourself or breathe new life into an old watch, I highly recommend you take a look at RSM.