7 Best Straps for Orient Sun and Moon V3

At a Glance

# Category Strap Thickness Price 1 Best Overall Matte Dark Brown Alligator Signature 4.5mm → 2.2mm $205 2 Best Dress Glossy Taupe Brown Crocodile Signature 4.5mm → 2.2mm $205 3 Best Everyday Taupe Epsom Slim 2.2mm $110 4 Best Smart Casual Cognac Shell Cordovan Slim 2.2mm $165 5 Best Contemporary Navy Saffiano Stitchless 2.2mm $110 6 Best Casual Sand Nubuck Slim 2.2mm $110 7 The Wildcard Cream Baranil Signature 4.5mm → 2.2mm $110

The Orient Sun and Moon V3 is, without exaggeration, one of the best value propositions in watchmaking. For roughly the price of a nice dinner for two, you get a sun/moon complication, an open heart window, Roman numeral indices, a sapphire crystal, and a case that looks like it belongs on a watch costing four or five times as much. Orient has been making mechanical watches since 1950, and the Sun and Moon line represents decades of in-house movement expertise distilled into something genuinely accessible.

The RA-AK0003S variant — the white dial with silver-tone indices — is the most classically dressed version in the range. The white dial with guilloché patterning catches light beautifully, the sun/moon sub-dial at 6 o'clock adds visual interest without cluttering the face, and the open heart aperture at 12 o'clock lets you peek at the movement working away underneath. It is a lot of watch for the money.

Here is the thing, though: the stock strap that ships with the Sun and Moon V3 is functional but forgettable. It is a basic leather band with alligator-grain embossing that does not do justice to what is sitting above it. Swap it for something better, and the transformation is dramatic. A well-chosen strap can make this $300 watch look like it costs $1,500 — and that is not hyperbole. Below are seven straps that I think bring out the best in the Orient Sun and Moon V3, from formal exotics to relaxed everyday leathers.

Quick Specs — Orient Sun and Moon V3 (ref. RA-AK0003S) Case Diameter 42.5mm Lug Width 21mm Thickness 14mm Water Resistance 50m (5 bar) Movement Orient Cal. F6B24, automatic, ~40hr power reserve Crystal Domed sapphire Complications Sun/moon display, day/date, open heart Price (MSRP) ~$455

What to Look for in a Strap

A few things to keep in mind when choosing a strap for the Orient Sun and Moon V3:

This watch punches above its weight — your strap should too. The Sun and Moon V3 has complications and dial finishing that rival watches at three to five times its price point. Putting a quality strap on it is not overkill; it is completing the picture. A Delugs alligator or crocodile strap transforms this from a respectable affordable watch into something that genuinely turns heads. The white dial and Roman numerals already look expensive — a good strap seals the deal.

Lean formal, but you have range. The combination of Roman numeral indices, a guilloché dial, and a sun/moon complication gives this watch a distinctly dressy character. Straps that honour that — exotics, fine-grained leathers, clean profiles — will always look the most natural. That said, the 42.5mm case and 14mm thickness give it enough physical presence to carry more casual leathers without looking out of place. You are not locked into dress straps only.

21mm is an unusual lug width — and that is actually a good thing. Most watches use 20mm or 22mm, which means 21mm options are harder to find from generic strap makers. Every Delugs strap is available in 21mm, purpose-built and properly fitted. No gap between strap and lug, no awkward squeeze. The fit is precise.

Match your buckle to your case. The RA-AK0003S has a stainless steel case, so silver-tone hardware is the way to go. All Delugs straps ship with polished stainless steel buckles as standard. For an elevated look, the Delugs Spring Deployant Clasp ($95) adds a refined touch and makes one-handed operation a breeze.

Quick-release spring bars are included with every strap. All Delugs straps come with quick-release spring bars pre-installed, so you can swap straps in seconds without tools. If your Sun and Moon V3 came on a bracelet, grab the Delugs Bracelet Removal Tool ($195) to get it off cleanly before you start rotating straps.

1. Best Overall — Matte Dark Brown Alligator Signature

Dark brown alligator on a classical dress watch is one of those pairings that has worked for a century and shows no signs of slowing down. On the Orient Sun and Moon V3, it does something special: it makes the watch look like it costs five times its actual price. The matte finish is key here — it reads as understated luxury rather than flashy excess, which is exactly the tone this watch strikes.

The Signature profile is the right choice for the Sun and Moon. At 4.5mm tapering to 2.2mm, the padded dome fills the space between the lugs with a satisfying visual lift that gives the 42.5mm case real wrist presence. The taper narrows comfortably at the buckle, keeping the strap flush against your wrist. On a watch with this much dial complexity — open heart, sun/moon display, day/date — the strap needs to hold its own visually, and the Signature does exactly that.

Dark brown pairs beautifully with the white dial and silver indices. The warmth of the leather draws out the subtle cream tones in the guilloché patterning, creating a cohesive, refined look that works from the office to a dinner reservation.

Thickness: 4.5mm → 2.2mm | Price: $205

SHOP DARK BROWN ALLIGATOR SIGNATURE

2. Best Dress — Glossy Taupe Brown Crocodile Signature

When the Sun and Moon V3 needs to dress up — really dress up — the Glossy Taupe Brown Crocodile takes over. The glossy finish catches light and immediately signals formality. This is the strap for weddings, milestone dinners, and any occasion where you want your wrist to command attention.

Taupe brown is a masterful neutral. It sits between grey and brown, which means it pairs effortlessly with both warm and cool tones in your wardrobe. On the white dial of the RA-AK0003S, it creates an elegant tonal harmony — neither matching too closely nor contrasting too sharply. The crocodile scales have a slightly rounder, more uniform pattern than alligator, giving the strap an almost jewellery-like quality that elevates the watch further.

Here is the real magic: a glossy crocodile strap on an Orient is genuinely indistinguishable from what you would find on watches from Longines or Frederique Constant at two to three times the price. The Sun and Moon's dial finishing is already punching up; the crocodile strap makes it a knockout.

Thickness: 4.5mm → 2.2mm | Price: $205

SHOP TAUPE BROWN CROCODILE SIGNATURE

3. Best Everyday — Taupe Epsom Slim

The Epsom Slim is your daily driver. Tanned by Haas — the same tannery that supplies leather to a certain French luxury house you have definitely heard of — Epsom has a lightly embossed cross-hatch grain that resists scratches and handles moisture without complaint. You can wash your hands without babying it, get caught in the rain, and generally treat it like a strap meant to be lived in.

Taupe is the perfect neutral for a complicated dress watch you want to wear every day. It is softer than black or dark brown, which dials back the formality just enough to make the Sun and Moon V3 appropriate for jeans and a henley or chinos and a blazer. The Slim profile at 2.2mm keeps the stack height low — important on a watch that already measures 14mm thick. You want the strap adding comfort, not bulk.

At $110, the Epsom Slim is the most accessible entry point into the Delugs range. If you are curious about what a proper strap does for the Sun and Moon V3, this is where I would start. The difference from the stock strap is immediately obvious.

Thickness: 2.2mm | Price: $110 | Tannery: Haas | Water Resistant: Yes

SHOP TAUPE EPSOM SLIM

4. Best Smart Casual — Cognac Shell Cordovan Slim

Shell cordovan is one of those materials that watch enthusiasts either already love or are about to love. Tanned by Horween in Chicago, it is made from the dense fibrous layer of a horsehide rather than the outer grain. The result is a leather with a distinctive, glass-like sheen that develops a deep rolling patina over months of wear. It does not crease like normal leather — it rolls, creating smooth undulations that are unmistakably shell.

The Cognac colourway is warm and rich, landing somewhere between a deep amber and a burnished honey. On the white dial of the Sun and Moon V3, it creates a striking contrast — the warmth of the cordovan playing off the cool clarity of the dial. The Roman numeral indices and guilloché detailing take on a different character entirely when framed by this kind of leather.

Shell cordovan also has a practical advantage: it is remarkably durable. The tight fibre structure means it resists water better than most vegetable-tanned leathers and holds up to years of daily wear. For a watch this good at its price point, a Horween shell cordovan strap is the equivalent of putting premium tyres on a well-sorted car — it is where the experience comes together.

Thickness: 2.2mm | Price: $165 | Tannery: Horween

SHOP COGNAC SHELL CORDOVAN SLIM

5. Best Contemporary — Navy Saffiano Stitchless

The Stitchless profile is Delugs at its most minimalist. No thread lines, no visible construction — just clean edges and the natural texture of the leather. On a saffiano-grain leather, this creates a strap that looks almost architectural: precise, modern, and deliberately restrained.

Navy is a smart choice for the Sun and Moon V3. The white dial provides a clean canvas, and the deep navy of the strap adds a shot of colour that is sophisticated rather than loud. It reads as a deliberate style choice without being overly trendy. Saffiano's distinctive diagonal cross-hatch texture adds visual interest at close range while looking uniform and refined from a normal viewing distance.

The practical benefits are real too. Saffiano leather is water-resistant, so the watch can handle daily wear without you worrying about every splash. At 2.2mm and without stitching, this strap sits extremely flat on the wrist — the Sun and Moon V3 already has 14mm of case thickness, so keeping the strap profile minimal is a smart move for overall comfort. This is the strap for the owner who wants their Sun and Moon to look contemporary and clean.

Thickness: 2.2mm | Price: $110 | Water Resistant: Yes

SHOP NAVY SAFFIANO STITCHLESS

6. Best Casual — Sand Nubuck Slim

Nubuck is the weekend leather. It has a soft, velvety nap that you can feel the moment you touch it — like suede but with a tighter, more refined grain underneath. The Sand colourway is warm and easygoing, the kind of strap that immediately takes the formality down a few notches.

On the Sun and Moon V3, this works better than you might expect. The watch's classical elements — Roman numerals, guilloché dial, dressy complications — provide enough inherent formality that the casual nubuck softens the watch rather than undermining it. Think of it as wearing a sport coat with well-worn jeans: the contrast is intentional and charming. The sand colour picks up the warm tones in the white dial, creating a summery, approachable look.

The Slim profile at 2.2mm keeps things low and comfortable. Nubuck moulds to your wrist quickly and develops subtle character marks where the nap shifts from wear. Over time, it develops a personality that makes the strap uniquely yours.

Thickness: 2.2mm | Price: $110

SHOP SAND NUBUCK SLIM

7. The Wildcard — Cream Baranil Signature

A cream strap on a white dial sounds risky on paper, but hear me out. The Cream Baranil creates a tonal, monochromatic look that is quietly stunning. The cream of the leather is warmer and more saturated than the cool white of the dial, so there is enough contrast to keep things visually interesting without creating a jarring colour break. The effect is cohesive, modern, and unexpectedly elegant.

Baranil leather is tanned by Degermann, a French tannery with a long heritage in premium calf. It has a smooth, tight grain with a slight natural sheen that develops character with wear. The Signature profile adds the padded construction that fills the Sun and Moon's lugs properly — important for a strap in a lighter colour, where gaps or poor fitment become more visible.

This is the wildcard because it flips the conventional playbook. Instead of grounding the white dial with a dark strap, you lean into the lightness. The result looks fresh, modern, and different from what most Sun and Moon owners are wearing. For summer especially, a cream strap on a white-dial dress watch is hard to beat.

Thickness: 4.5mm → 2.2mm | Price: $110

SHOP CREAM BARANIL SIGNATURE

Building Your Rotation

If you are starting from scratch, here is how I would build a three-strap rotation for the Orient Sun and Moon V3:

Occasion Strap Why Formal & Office Matte Dark Brown Alligator Signature Makes the watch look five times its price, timeless pairing Daily Wear Taupe Epsom Slim Water-resistant, durable, low-profile comfort Weekends Sand Nubuck Slim Softens the dressy character, develops unique patina

This covers the full spectrum — from formal events where the alligator makes your Sun and Moon look like a serious timepiece, to daily wear where the Epsom handles whatever you throw at it, to relaxed weekends where the nubuck takes the edge off. The beauty of the Sun and Moon V3 is that it responds to all of these contexts because the dial is inherently versatile. The watch does not change; the strap shifts the conversation. With quick-release spring bars on every Delugs strap, you can swap between all three in under thirty seconds.

Find Your Strap

Looking for more options? Use our Orient Sun and Moon Strap Finder to browse every strap we make in 21mm — filtered and sorted for your watch. You can compare materials, profiles, and colours side by side.

Not sure which strap is right for you? Our team is available via 24/7 live chat on the Delugs website to help you narrow down your options. We have paired straps with hundreds of Orient watches and are happy to make personalised recommendations based on your dial colour and style preferences.

Watch Our Strap Pairing Videos

About Delugs

Delugs is a Singapore-based watch strap maker specialising in handcrafted leather, rubber, and sailcloth straps. Every strap is made to order, ships worldwide with free shipping on orders above $100, and comes with quick-release spring bars pre-installed for tool-free strap swaps. We source our leathers from the best tanneries in Europe — Haas, Horween, Walpier, Badalassi Carlo — and our CTS rubber is imported from Italy. If you are particular about what goes on your wrist, we are your kind of brand.

Written by Marcus Koh. Marcus spends too much time swapping straps and not enough time actually checking the time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the lug width of the Orient Sun and Moon V3?

The Orient Sun and Moon V3 has a 20mm lug width. Any strap in 20mm will fit this watch. Delugs offers straps in 20mm across leather, rubber, and sailcloth options.

What is the reference number for the Orient Sun and Moon V3?

The reference number is 2025. This is useful when searching for compatible straps and accessories.

What is the best strap material for the Orient Sun and Moon V3?

It depends on how you wear it. We recommend rubber or sailcloth for active use, or a waxy leather for a rugged everyday look. Each material brings a different character to the watch.

Can I put a leather strap on a sport watch like the Orient Sun and Moon V3?

Yes. A leather strap can dress up a sport watch significantly. Just be mindful of water exposure — for active use, consider a rubberised leather like our Togo range which offers water resistance.

Do Delugs straps come with spring bars?

Yes. Every Delugs strap ships with a pair of stainless steel spring bars included, along with a spring bar tool for easy installation.

Does the Orient Sun and Moon V3 use quick-release spring bars?

Most Orient watches do not come with quick-release spring bars from the factory. However, you can use any standard spring bar or upgrade to quick-release bars for easier strap changes.

Where can I find straps compatible with the Orient Sun and Moon V3?

You can browse all compatible straps on the Delugs Strap Finder, or contact our team via live chat for personalised recommendations.

You Might Also Like

• Best Straps for the Orient Bambino V2
• Best Straps for the Orient Kamasu
• The 7 Best Straps for the Orient Star Classic
• The 7 Best Straps for the Orient Mako II & Ray II

— Marcus