SUUNTO D4I Diving Watch Novo Sun Strap Kit

Happy about this new band for my Suunto D6i novo.

Good

I'm so sad to leave this review. It's a beautiful strap, so much nicer looking than the original one, and it may be perfect for the new D6i Novo, but it doesn't fit the older D6i properly. My entire review is predicated on this strap's fitness for purpose on the old-style D6i only. I can not attest to how well it will work on the new D6i.My original strap lasted almost three years, but it gave up the ghost on the first day of a 23-day trip to Indonesia, making things very inconvenient (we MacGuyvered a split ring to the old strap anchor, which then got zip-tied to a caribiner, which got attached to a D-ring on my BCD...like I said, inconvenient). So I ordered this strap while I was still on the trip and it was waiting for me when I got home.Aesthetics:The webbing is beautiful. It looks strong and durable and comfortable. I liked that it was available in blue, as almost everyone I dive with has a D6i and it's easy to get them mixed up. This is the only reason I gave this two stars.Instructions:But...my D6i is an older one, not the new "Novo" version. So it has the weird tab insert-y things that attached the old strap to the watch (take yours apart, you'll understand). It would have been very nice, by the way, if it came with some sort of instructions as to how to install it on the different types of computers, but it didn't. Unfortunately (although for this purpose fortunately), I had become intimately knowledgeable about the anatomy of the strap assembly after the previous strap fell apart, so I figured it all out pretty quickly. No instructions=no stars.Important Installation Note:Before attempting to install the band, please remember one very important thing: the screws that hold your old strap on are the recessed ones on the FRONT of the computer, NOT the ones on the back! The ones on the back are the ones that take the back of the case off and expose the "guts" of the computer (including the battery). If your unit is still under warranty, you do not want to mess with those because breaking the seal might void your warranty.Installation:The two tee-tiny-eeny-weeny screws recessed into the front of your computer are the ones you're looking for. You will need a Torx #6 bit to remove the old screws on the old-style D6i. Inconveniently, you will need a Torx #5 bit to install the new ones that come with this band.Quality Issue #1:The curvature of the bezel doesn't exactly match the curvature of the computer. Thus, at one end or the other, there will be a gap. (See the photos I've posted with this review). Additionally, because this band attaches at one point in the middle, this gap causes the band to pivot at the connection point, which could potentially, over time, cause the connection screw to unscrew. You could lose your strap and your computer along with it. That would suck.Quality issue 2:The quality of the screws that came with this band are not acceptable. Like I said, a Torx #5 bit is required, but the new screw stripped almost completely almost immediately. This is a huge pet peeve of mine. For what you pay for this strap, it should come with titanium replacement screws.Quality issue 3:I'm not sure whether it's just because it stripped or just because this doesn't properly fit the older D6i, but either way, you're left with almost an eighth of an inch of the screw head sticking out the front of your computer because you can't drive it in all the way. This is a laceration waiting to happen.Please see the attached photos for close-up views illustrated all of the above problems.I'm waiting for the return authorization and I don't anticipate any issues with the seller on returning it. This review is in no way reflective on Amazon or the seller's services.Sadly, I guess I'm going to have to go back to the boring black strap.