The ultimate calf-cow leather strap for Apple Watch thread

despite great "third party band/strap" thread, miss thread on luxury leather straps our apple watch. in particular interested in bands made of calf- or cow leather not alligator, salamander or other species.

collector of vintage iwc's , rolex’s enjoy of leather straps on watches. of course never compare these apple watch being totally different watch.

bought first apple watch steel 42 mm last september when became available in netherlands. got black sport band , additionally bought apple milanese band , product red one. stand got elevationlab nightstand. btw stand terrible design ordered spigen 350 stand, suits better.

being apple evangelist 30 years, apple watch must have ‘gadget’, wether or not. well, did’t. watchos 1 slow, without twisting wrist, screen hard read during running , no native apps available. waited watchos 2 gave sone improvements on options , speed, me wearing watch day, not optimal. important fact did not wear mechanical watches anymore. gave watch eldest son , wears pride , joy.

mechanical watches only, needed watch running. use ismoothrun on ios , know developer of ismoothrun quite time asked him advise. told me buy pebble time makes native app pebble os compare. pebble os blinding fast ismoothrun took plunge , bought pebble time. have 4 weeks , use great performer.

big surprise 2 weeks ago @ sudden parcel arrived germany. inside watch got present business associate. became more pleasant when found out hermès single tour version in fauve.

well, of course not refuse present must admit wear apple watch again and… love it.

1 of advantages of apple watch ease of switching straps. there 1 strap apple watch wanted buy others (again). hermès strap of course beautiful, not everyday use. keep in drawer special occasions only.

no doubt black sport band first purchase, because imho best apple watch strap available. material feels velvet , wears pleasant indeed. cheapest apple strap.

milanese again ? lovely build, relatively cheap compared other apple metal bands, imho not in par looks of smart watch. have vintage milanese straps iwc mk xii , xv high tech apple watch felt not right. said, might fit hermès watch faces, have further investigate that. if has picture ?

no other steel bracelet apple watch bands me. sure people love them pricey weight. don’t shoot, used heavy vintage watches.

leather ? topic of thread , material gives apple watch such different look.

apple has nice ones, although prefer classic buckle type. modern buckle band expensive adding ridiculous buckle, , loop doesn’t leather , has no adapter system. bit odd design.

so, if buy leather must feel , smell such , after use must , wear real (natural) leather can.

did initial research on classic buckle , came not further cheap knockoffs, looks same different on detail. superphen's tech blog great learning , discovering (http://superphen.co)

first ordered black buckle (rev 2) because has nicer texture (grain) saddle brown one. when arrived next day, pleasantly surprised because looks quite stainless steel apple watch.the buckle designed , fits watch. after did smell test, felt less happy. if should blind testing cheap china made plastic object if know mean. design of classic buckle true apple design , in mind big audience. @ end though, has nothing ‘real’ leather…

did wrong buying black classic buckle ? no, of course not gives apple watch distinct look. adapters play role in this. after few days in love black classic buckle ordered saddle brown one. of no surprise looks totally different black one. without grain , more hermès strap if not identical in color. feels smoother , in couple of months hope develop nice patina. let’s see "skin oil" can do… of course own skin

if apart smell , leather texture, classic buckle improve me overall of apple watch, other high quality straps ? here’s reason start thread.

during last days have been busy looking other leather straps came in mind purchase. till far have not found many though. perhaps should first more clear in definition of high quality strap.

- made of 100% calf- or cow leather
- made hand or @ least partly hand sewn
- stitching (please read excellent article mike rundle https://medium.com/@flyosity/inconvenient-truths-about-the-apple-watch-11bafa44551b#.oasdlmk5d
- wow effect
- quality looks on detail etc.

bearing in mind price pay iwc leather straps, not mind paying usd 100-150 above crafted bands.

particularly in usa in vietnam , italy, small ateliers make nice leather apple watch straps fulfill nichae.

let’s start first came in mind first leather straps read middle 2015 anyway.

nomad strap. http://www.hellonomad.com/products/strap nice natural leather ditto stitching, awesome wear after use, panerai buckle (which don’t huge size) made somewhere in china price tag of usd 150 overpriced. see knockoffs on amazon same friendlier pice. http://www.amazon.com/istrap-vintag...r_p_img_1?ie=utf8&refrid=1fessa1ycwn2t53rm8w9

hoco make identical classic buckle band can buy here http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2016...-excellent-top-layer-leather/32589809110.html , discussed here http://superphen.co/2016/01/30/revi...assic-buckle-15-us-itunes-gift-card-giveaway/

once have seen real thing there no way back.

etsy mentions:

black forrest ateliers (vietnam) strap comes in mind https://www.etsy.com/listing/236729589/sale-handmade-vintage-leather-strap

pionier1956 (vietnam) (identical strap above)
https://www.etsy.com/listing/235906930/custom-made-vintage-leather-strap-incl

attirailstraps (france)
https://www.etsy.com/listing/236729589/sale-handmade-vintage-leather-strap

mentions if love nato or zulu straps:

choice cuts (usa)
https://www.etsy.com/shop/choicecuts?ref=l2-shopheader-name

buongustoitaliano (italy)
https://www.etsy.com/shop/buongustoitaliano?ref=l2-shopheader-name

e3 supply co. (usa)
http://e3motorcycles.com/collections/watch-bands-for-apple-watch

realize lot of above straps bit same i.e. nato/zulu hardware. if looking nato/zulu strap ‘made apple’, might interesting wait march 15th apple event new straps announced. sources nato band among them, know apple, come in special material , not in leather.

other lovely products @ pad & quill http://www.padandquill.com/apple-watch-accessories.html taste says should use light color stitching.

last not least found small atelier makes beautiful bands: bexar goods texas usa. http://www.bexargoods.com/collections/watch-straps

there hardly info on bands (some on macrumors) , photos black hardware only. contacted them couple of day sago questions , hope hear them soon. these straps above on shortlist.

hope didn’t mind thoughts , looking forward comments , contributions

 

thanks write-up! i've got couple leather bands (mostly cheap leather, 1 nice leather band arrow & board) , give watch great look. i'm eying few bands black forest, pad & quill, lucrin, , combat straps.

, wow, if had hermes single tour i'm not sure limit myself wearing on special occasions! i'm sure it's on level.

 

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