Article: The Falco Bund Strap - 1st Winner Strap Contest

The Falco Bund Strap - 1st Winner Strap Contest
This unique strap is the first creation from our 10 Year Strap Contest, co-designed and named after Falco Kober. Together, we brought history and passion to life. We’re proud to share this strap with you - the ultimate companion for your chronograph.

To celebrate our 10th anniversary, we invited our community - the people who inspire us every day - to help shape the future of Bulang and Sons straps. Many designs were submitted, and three winning concepts were chosen. Today, the first of these comes to life: the FALCO BUND Strap.
The Ultimate Chrono Strap - Born for Adventure
Named after its co-creator Falco Kober, this design pays homage to one of the most legendary military chronographs in history: the Heuer 1550 SG, issued to Luftwaffe pilots. These watches were originally paired with the functional and distinctive Bund straps - leather straps with an underlay patch that shielded pilots’ wrists from extreme cockpit conditions while keeping the watch secure during flight.
From idea to reality - Falco’s original concept, our design translation, and the craft of Jean Paul Menicucci.
"So much fun to join the process from sourcing the jackets, the first samples we created together with Jean Paul in his atelier in Tuscany up to the full production run - all handmade in Italy."
Created out of the softest Luftwaffe Goatskin Jackets
"It kind of hurts me to cut up these cool jackets to create the strap. But the result is such a blast. Super soft, comfortable and stylish."
With the FALCO BUND, we set out to create nothing less than the ultimate chronograph strap. At its core lies the same spirit of aviation heritage - crafted from authentic German Luftwaffe goatskin pilot jackets, chosen for their legendary softness and unmistakable grey tone. The details are deeply intentional: olive-grey keepers inspired by aircraft camouflage, a bold orange lining recalling both pilot jacket interiors and jet markings, and an underlay patch design that balances vintage function with modern refinement. The result is a strap that feels as good as it looks - military-tough yet luxuriously soft.
> You can shop this strap here <
Introducing Falco Kober

Falco Kober - a designer with long-standing expertise in the print-on-demand business and a lifelong passion for functional objects of beauty. Falco describes himself as a visual person, deeply inspired by design that grows out of purpose rather than decoration. His love for watches, vintage tools, and even the simplicity of comic books reflects his appreciation for both form and function. While a declared pacifist working closely with refugees, he also recognizes how military requirements have historically produced timeless classics—like the Heuer 1550 SG chronograph and the German pilot’s jacket—that inspired his winning strap concept. For Falco, watches are more than accessories: they are a way to express mood, adapt to life’s settings, and carry a piece of history forward.
The Falco Bund Strap - Pilot Boxed - Padded Grey Goat Skin
Crafted from the same authentic material mix, the padded version adds presence and depth to your chronograph. At 2.5 mm thick, the subtle front padding combined with light-grey double boxed stitching creates a bold, three-dimensional effect-screaming retro military style while adding tactile richness.
Available in 20/16, 19/16 and 18/16 lug/buckle width.
The underlayment is cut from olive-grey Italian leather, echoing the camouflage panels of vintage jets, and adding visual depth. On the reverse, both strap and patch are lined in vibrant orange leather, while the CHRONO-CUSTOM/25 FALCO/BND stamping pays tribute to the stock codes once found on original Bund straps.
> You can shop this strap here <
The Falco Bund Strap - Thin Grey Goat Skin
The thin version is a study in refinement - streamlined, subtle, and effortlessly comfortable. With no padding and just 2 mm thickness, it offers extreme softness on the wrist while keeping its tone-on-tone military character.
Available in 20/16, 19/16 and 18/16 lug/buckle width.
The underlayment is made from the same supple grey goatskin leather as the strap itself, giving a seamless look. Open, understated stitching enhances the minimalism, while the reverse features a distinctive twist: the patch back in olive-grey Italian leather, paired with a bright orange strap lining. Like its padded sibling, it carries the CHRONO-CUSTOM/25 FALCO/BND stamping - a faithful nod to the original Bund issue.
> You can shop this strap here <
Two Straps in One
Both versions invite personalization. The FALCO BUND can be worn as a classic two-piece strap, paired with the underlay patch for full military character, even flipped to reveal the vibrant orange for a bold modern statement or been worn without the patch for a sleek vintage style. In essence, it’s two straps in one, ready to adapt to your watch and your adventure. Whether paired with a vintage Heuer, a Rolex Daytona, or a modern chronograph, the FALCO BUND transforms your timepiece into a complete style expression.
Each strap comes with a custom “REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT” hangtag - a nod to fighter jets and a collectible detail you can use on your keys or bag.
Every FALCO BUND is more than a strap: it’s a story, a tool, and a tribute to history
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The FALCO BUND Strap - Born from history. Crafted with passion. Ready for adventure.
Available in 20/16, 19/16 and 18/16 lug/buckle width.
> You can shop the PADDED FALCO BUND here <
> You can shop the THIN FALCO BUND here <
Thanks Falco for your great passion and concept. We are proud on the result.
Stay tuned, for 2 more new straps co-created with our community.
And you are always welcome to share exciting ideas with us…