Thoughts on Leather Straps
Okay, I typically only see 3 qualities of leather watch bands: genuine 😶, top grain 🙂, and full grain 🤩. Now, I cannot stand a genuine leather band. They are stiff and objectively lower quality and always make my wrist itch! So why do I buy a $600 watch and get a genuine leather band 🧐 I go to benchmark basics and get a full grain leather band for $38 and it is an amazing quality and feel. Bewilderment..
Apart from quality of leather, the style of the leather is the second topic of this post... Crocodile 🙃, alligator 😏, suede🤔, buffalo 😮, calfskin 😎, lizardskin 🦎, snakeskin🐍, etc... put your preferred in the comments! I'd love to explore other options.
Final question: should watchmakers just stop with genuine leather crocodile straps all together? 😭 I think so...
I love watches, comics, fantasy, sci-fi, science fantasy and am starting to bike/lift weights/get fit!
I am interested to hear what others say in the comments, because I've basically been unable to find anything sub 100 USD that I didn't hate, leather-wise. And it's hard to justify spending so much money when most of my watches were purchased for 2-300 USD
I can highly recommend Aaron bespoke, or any other fully custom leather strap maker
I've also struggled to find leather straps with quick release that also came on an (omega style) deployant. I find the deployant really makes the strap feel more premium and easier to take on and off. It's the little details that affect my enjoyment
It all depends on your taste of course, but since I purchased my Hamilton Khaki I discovered the amazing world of NATO straps as an alternative to leather bands. I know it’s not the same, but it is another viable option.
I am interested to hear what others say in the comments, because I've basically been unable to find anything sub 100 USD that I didn't hate, leather-wise. And it's hard to justify spending so much money when most of my watches were purchased for 2-300 USD
I can highly recommend Aaron bespoke, or any other fully custom leather strap maker
I've also struggled to find leather straps with quick release that also came on an (omega style) deployant. I find the deployant really makes the strap feel more premium and easier to take on and off. It's the little details that affect my enjoyment
Yes, on the deployment clasp. I struggled to find a deployment clasp that will meet the leather quality and feel. For a reasonable price that is
Never enough leather types for me I’m a #strapmonster Ostrich, python, hair on hide, salmon leather…..it never ends
It all depends on your taste of course, but since I purchased my Hamilton Khaki I discovered the amazing world of NATO straps as an alternative to leather bands. I know it’s not the same, but it is another viable option.
The surging popularity of NATO straps had me look into them. And some other canvas options, I wasn't impressed tbh, they still made me itch!
Never enough leather types for me I’m a #strapmonster Ostrich, python, hair on hide, salmon leather…..it never ends
Sa... Salmon leather? 😮
Vintage leather bands have an authentic look that is hard to replicate though they often require a little TLC to revive and preserve. Many of these styles aren't being produced anymore so when I find one that is salvageable I often grab it.
Once I started down the Horween leather world, I never went back…got it wet (likes a crazy person), stretched to fit and form, and I had perfection (for me).
Yeah, I haven’t bought really expensive leather watch straps, but these straps over time start to look old and worn, but I would like to find one that is good quality.
Full grain only for me. Goes for both watch straps and boots!
Yeah, I haven’t bought really expensive leather watch straps, but these straps over time start to look old and worn, but I would like to find one that is good quality.
A good full grain will patina nicely with time
Sa... Salmon leather? 😮
One of my microbrands came with a handmade salmon leather band. I quite like it
All of the above, including crocodile. My only exception is fake, man made, vegan, whatever-you-want-to-call-it fake “leather”.
Full grain only for me. Goes for both watch straps and boots!
Yessir!
One of my microbrands came with a handmade salmon leather band. I quite like it
My friend... I need to see
I wish we would stop the leather trade in general, in this day & age, with all the steel, rubber, NATO and vegan leather alternatives their is no need for animals to be killed for their skin. #crueltyfree
I wish we would stop the leather trade in general, in this day & age, with all the steel, rubber, NATO and vegan leather alternatives their is no need for animals to be killed for their skin. #crueltyfree
All opinions welcome 🤝
Wish type you would say it's the most smooth? not hard to bend ,if you know what I mean, I've been thinking about getting a ostrich or a pyton, or even shark, but haven't idea how they feel.
I like rubber personally but as far as animal hides depends on who the strap maker is. If he chooses the right hides to work with, cow and crocodile are most durable in my opinion.
I personally have a gripe with shark skin since sharks are more and more endangered :(
And u can’t really farm them either
I can only hope that sharks aren't being harvested primarily for watch straps. For whatever reason the skin is available, I'm trusting it is simply an available byproduct.
Jack Foster makes some nice semi custom straps. As for leather, good ols cowhide on all its forms, ostrich and suedes are all great.
I can only hope that sharks aren't being harvested primarily for watch straps. For whatever reason the skin is available, I'm trusting it is simply an available byproduct.
Correct. Sharks aren't normally caught for lunch if anything and are usually though of as bycatch.
I really like the texture on beaver tail and tilapia. There's this guy in Singapore that does it really well, they are on my to get list for this year.
https://atelierkai.co/products/beaver-tail-watch-straps
Sa... Salmon leather? 😮
Yeah marine leathers like salmon and shark are becoming more popular with today’s trend toward sustainability
Yeah marine leathers like salmon and shark are becoming more popular with today’s trend toward sustainability
And here I thought salmon skin was a type of sushi. Live & learn...
Funnily enough, my Fitbit’s Horween strap is better quality than any included leather strap from watches I’ve owned.
I love myself some nice lizard Straps, I have 2 of the CNS lizard Straps and they are great.
Here's the most exotic oke I own, a Kudu leather strap! Like me, you'll have to Google what a Kudu is, which is an African antelope of some sort. It's patina'ing nicely so far. Looks a bit distressed.
I'm only now getting into the strap game and it's FUN.
As long as they are long enough.... 😉
Bought leather straps from watch gecko (https://www.watchgecko.com/), the Strap Tailor (https://thestraptailor.com/) and OEM from IWC and Montblanc. Dealing with the most expensive first, IWC’s straps are beautifully designed and made, but the price is disproportionately high. My experience with Montblanc is from a few years ago, but the straps were pretty terrible (cardboard used for padding!). Which get me to StrapTailor and Watch gecko, both of which offer leather straps at a range of prices. I’ve got leather NATO straps from Watchgecko that cost less than £30 and do the job perfectly. The more expensive straps are excellent from both.
Nubuck is missing there