Dubious strap origins...

Does the world of online leather strap retailers ever feel sort of arcane to you? Leather terms like "full grain" or "shell cordovan" are nice, but seem just as likely to mislead and confuse as describe the product. Often little to no information can be found on the actual construction and end user experience unless you go to reviews.

Recently I had an even stranger revelation. How do I know who even MADE the strap that I'm buying? I got this strap to dress up my vintage dress watch, and after wearing it on said strap for a month I noticed something odd.

The Nomos logo is stamped to the underside of the strap. Also, the strap is clearly cut for quick release spring bars but regular spring bars are installed. It has a simple unsigned gold tone buckle, not a nomos one. And this strap was not advertised as a nomos strap.

So what happened here? Did the seller have surplus nomos straps that they refitted to sell? Did some "fall off a truck"? Or were they falsely stamped with the original intent to sell a fake Nomos strap?

I've redacted the seller info because I'm not here to throw accusations their way, I'm just asking questions. Overall it's a great quality strap and whether it's nomos or not I love it.

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There are guys on this site that make leather products who may be able to provide some insight, particularly what to look for in a leather band. Or maybe buy one of theirs, and really know what you're getting.

Before I joined here, I purchased a bespoke leather band from a guy in Indonesia who makes them by hand, asked me the dimensions, color preferences, length, keeper color, etc., and when it arrived there was no question about the quality.

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I got no clear answer but I rarely ever see strap maker who dont put a quick release springbar on a quick release strap or stamps brand name on their work, unless it's a used one or they're made in a large work factory (not an independent handmade small business). I think if you are willing to pay extra for a strap, bespoke is the way to go. Not to promote my biased opinion of my country, but we have a lot of bespoke watch strap maker here in Indonesia that offer excellent quality leather strap in the 20-50 USD range, they even made some ready to buy if you don't wanna go bespoke for cheaper. I always buy mine from them or made some myself, I rarely ever bought one that are factory made. So maybe reachout for your local watch strap maker.

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Nato and leather straps are consumable products and not meant to last long anyway. You can buy the soft ones that wear out faster or the hard ones that last a little longer. I buy the softer ones for comfort and wearability expecting to destroy them. Really cheap ones will age badly and crack or the glue holding the pin flap gives up.

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Pallet_Fork

There are guys on this site that make leather products who may be able to provide some insight, particularly what to look for in a leather band. Or maybe buy one of theirs, and really know what you're getting.

Before I joined here, I purchased a bespoke leather band from a guy in Indonesia who makes them by hand, asked me the dimensions, color preferences, length, keeper color, etc., and when it arrived there was no question about the quality.

This one is phenomenal on the wrist and feels soft and sturdy. I'm just still confused about the nomos logo and why it's there lol

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Pallet_Fork

There are guys on this site that make leather products who may be able to provide some insight, particularly what to look for in a leather band. Or maybe buy one of theirs, and really know what you're getting.

Before I joined here, I purchased a bespoke leather band from a guy in Indonesia who makes them by hand, asked me the dimensions, color preferences, length, keeper color, etc., and when it arrived there was no question about the quality.

I have the same experience and their straps are great in quality.. Mind if I know what the name of the store might be?

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cpg999444

I have the same experience and their straps are great in quality.. Mind if I know what the name of the store might be?

I didn't order from anyone here on the site, I found my guy on IG. The name of his company there is:

seventhcreation

And this is the (Italian leather) strap he made for my Bulova Precisionist:

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It was around $100. Solid leather all the way through.

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A note from a small time leatherworker - "Genuine leather" "Leather" and other similar titles mean NOTHING.

Leather can be glued together from scraps, much like wood, and then marketed as "100% leather", and "Genuine Leather" can be any quality, any piece, (therefore generally lowest quality + cheapest) and is generally used to pull the wool over consumers' eyes.

Full Grain usually means top quality, it means you're getting the best part* of the piece of leather - generally speaking. Full grain leather is ideal for a watch band. For a watch strap, you want a more breathable leather stiched to the inside of the band - most manufacturers use thin calf leather for its fine grain and it's thin profile.

(* this is true for a generic standard piece of leather - it means you're getting the top-natural-skin side piece, and is usually the most expensive part of a piece of leather - the flesh side can be sold cheaper. Suede etc is a different beast, and crocodile/ostrich/shell cordovan are more literally different beasts)

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So what happened here? Did the seller have surplus nomos straps that they refitted to sell? Did some "fall off a truck"? Or were they falsely stamped with the original intent to sell a fake Nomos strap?

Larger strap manufacturers will often make deals with many companies. It's entirely possible you've got a surplus Nomos strap that was rebuilt/sold as a general strap.

When it comes to shell cordovan or other premium leathers, any schmuck (like me) can buy it in to make+sell a strap online, and sell for a huge premium regardless of their skill. There are many Etsy sellers who sell trash quality basic straps at an overpriced point that does not reflect their skill level - but you wouldn't notice the details unless you're a leatherworker yourself.

The opposite is also true, you can get incredible handmade straps for a good price from more humble sellers - the best thing to look for I guess is reputable reviews and quantity sold, or at least traders that have sold the same stuff for a few years.

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Seems to be a strap from/for Nomos. I believe Nomos uses Shell Cordovan so that checks out. That said, Nomos almost certainly doesn't make their own straps. Maybe the supplier messed up a batch and stamped them twice and now they are being offloaded in an eBay "outlet". I guess stranger things have happened...

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Having attempted to make a strap for myself using some leftover leather, and my conclusion s that most of the cost of making watch straps go to labor cost. The amount of “full grain” leather I used probably costs one dollar tops, with less than 100$ you can buy an entire side of a cow, making 1000+ straps.

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Pallet_Fork

I didn't order from anyone here on the site, I found my guy on IG. The name of his company there is:

seventhcreation

And this is the (Italian leather) strap he made for my Bulova Precisionist:

Image
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It was around $100. Solid leather all the way through.

+1 recommendation for Seventh Creation (via Etsy). Shipping and import duty hurt but the product is good. They supply 20x18 whereas others sell 20x16 (which looks too thin on my wrist)