About the service
I make leather watch straps by hand, for a specific watch model and wrist, not following an averaged template. The work uses solid vegetable-tanned or full-grain leather, with thickness and stiffness specifically chosen for a small watch strap — this is fundamentally different from a camera strap or guitar strap: watch lugs are typically 18-24 mm wide, the strap must remain thin, soft, and comfortable on the skin for years to come, and this changes literally everything — from leather density to edge finishing and loop shape.
You send me the lug width, wrist circumference, and desired style, and the strap is cut to these measurements, not to a pre-made blank. Stitching is done by hand with waxed linen or polyester thread using the saddle stitch method; the construction is flat or with quilting on lining; the edges are straight or tapered toward the buckle; the loop is selected to match the shape. I bevel the edges, sand them with several abrasives, and polish with gum arabic or wax until smooth and rounded — no raw edge left. Color ranges from natural vegetable tanning, which develops patina over time, to dyed shades: cognac, chestnut, black, dark blue, olive; finish ranges from matte to hand-polished.
I select hardware to match the specific watch case, not arbitrary pieces from a set: 316L steel buckles (matte or polished) or brass, pins precisely fitted to leather thickness so the strap doesn't slip or twist at the buckle. On request, I install quick-release spring bars — the strap can be changed without tools. I can make the loop matching the leather or contrasting, a keeper for a deployant clasp, or a curved cutout for angled lugs.
Personalization is included in the service, not charged as an extra for basic items: hand stamping or embossing of initials, a short date or small symbol on the inside or keeper, maker's mark if desired. Before shipping, I photograph the finished strap on a watch case with similar proportions so you see the final proportions, and I confirm lug width and wrist circumference with you before cutting — no guesswork in fitting.
We discuss timeline, materials, and hardware in advance so you know exactly what you'll receive before I touch the leather.
You send me the lug width, wrist circumference, and desired style, and the strap is cut to these measurements, not to a pre-made blank. Stitching is done by hand with waxed linen or polyester thread using the saddle stitch method; the construction is flat or with quilting on lining; the edges are straight or tapered toward the buckle; the loop is selected to match the shape. I bevel the edges, sand them with several abrasives, and polish with gum arabic or wax until smooth and rounded — no raw edge left. Color ranges from natural vegetable tanning, which develops patina over time, to dyed shades: cognac, chestnut, black, dark blue, olive; finish ranges from matte to hand-polished.
I select hardware to match the specific watch case, not arbitrary pieces from a set: 316L steel buckles (matte or polished) or brass, pins precisely fitted to leather thickness so the strap doesn't slip or twist at the buckle. On request, I install quick-release spring bars — the strap can be changed without tools. I can make the loop matching the leather or contrasting, a keeper for a deployant clasp, or a curved cutout for angled lugs.
Personalization is included in the service, not charged as an extra for basic items: hand stamping or embossing of initials, a short date or small symbol on the inside or keeper, maker's mark if desired. Before shipping, I photograph the finished strap on a watch case with similar proportions so you see the final proportions, and I confirm lug width and wrist circumference with you before cutting — no guesswork in fitting.
We discuss timeline, materials, and hardware in advance so you know exactly what you'll receive before I touch the leather.
