• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Guides
  • Inspiration
  • Spotlights
  • Fitness
  • Shop
  • About

Basic Bands Watch Strap Fashion

SMALL BRAND SPOTLIGHT – CHOICE CUTS INDUSTRIES

September 4, 2018 by Basic Bands

Choice Cuts Industries valet tray and single slot watch roll with a Timex Expedition Scout and custom strap, all in English Tan leather

Watch strap making isn’t just limited to major brands and big shops; across the world there are small strapmakers making a living designing unique and custom straps. Our small brand spotlight series interviews these strapmakers to see what makes them tick.

Today the spotlight is on Joel and Kerri Mills and their small strap making shop: Choice Cuts Industries

Name: Joel and Kerri Mills
Website: https://www.choicecutsind.com or Amazon.
Location: Charlotte, NC
What: Horween leather straps and leather watch accessories

How did you get into watch strap making?
We met at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC as graphic design majors. We recognized each other as creative equals and our romance and partnership grew from that.
We got married in 2010. We tried our hands at lots of different hobbies as a way to spend time together, and sometimes make money. We originally set up an Etsy shop for items we screen printed in our garage and, through that, learned a lot about handmade items and selling online.

The idea for selling watch straps came when Joel wanted a new strap for a watch he had gotten for Christmas. He couldn’t find exactly what he was looking for and decided to try to make one himself. It seemed to us that leather items were either really expensive and over manufactured (sanded, painted, smoothed, and sewn) or really cheap junk. We wondered why a leather band couldn’t be simply made using high-quality leather and simple, quality construction. Why did all those other watch band manufacturers make such complicated bands that were still poorly constructed? Why can’t leather look like leather, and show its age and rustic natural beauty?

Slowly, one step at a time, we learned about leather and shady manufacturing practices and all the pitfalls of mass production. We also discovered how many talented, small strap makers there are. But at first, we simply wanted to make great watch bands.

Watch straps by Choice cuts Industries
Watch straps by Choice cuts Industries

What materials do you use in your bands?
We use American tanned leather, primarily from the famous Horween Leather Company. We are kind of obsessed with their leathers so we use lots of different tannages, including Shell Cordovan, Chromexcel and Cavalier, Dublin and Essex. We use thick 5.5-6oz cuts of leather, which makes them really durable but really flexible. We also use solid brass and stainless steel hardware and waxed linen thread which is always hand stitched.

Omega speedmaster on an English Tan strap and our 3 slot watch roll - Choice cuts Industries
Omega Speedmaster on an English Tan strap and our 3 slot watch roll – Choice cuts Industries

What is your favorite material to work with?
Any leather that has great pull up and character, particularly the Horween Dublin leathers.

What style of bands is your favorite to make or wear?
We consider ourselves designers first before being “leather workers” or “strap makers” and good design philosophy is to simplify. The truth is, the more you cut or punch leather, the more vulnerable it is to breaking. It’s critical to think through the shape, the cut of leather, the way it’s punched and stitched. We try to create styles that will last, use materials that have inherent beauty and make the aging process a part of the aesthetic. As a result, our bands are really minimalist.

Choice cuts watch straps in production for a wholesale order
Choice cuts watch straps in production for a wholesale order

Do you have a favorite watch?
Like all watch collectors, we are always buying and selling watches. Right now, Joel’s favorite is his Farer Lander GMT and Kerri’s is her Sinn 656.

Sinn 656 with a Horween strap in Butterscotch Cavalier by Choice cuts Industries
Sinn 656 with a Horween strap in Butterscotch Cavalier by Choice cuts Industries
Farer on a Brown Nut Dublin strap by Choice cuts Industries
Farer on a Brown Nut Dublin strap by Choice cuts Industries

What do you like to do outside of strap making?
We do a lot of home DIY and woodworking projects, Joel loves to fish, Kerri loves to cook and we both enjoy exploring whenever we can. But, most of our free time is taken up by our daughter (who is almost 4), our schoodle Oliver and our extended family. But we are lucky to have a family beach house on Seabrook Island, SC and we escape there to fish, bike, swim and relax as much as possible.

Choice Cuts Industries - handstitching watch straps
Choice Cuts Industries – hand stitching watch straps
Choice cuts English Tan strap on vintage Seiko
Choice cuts English Tan strap on vintage Seiko

Looking for a new watch to go with your custom made strap? Support our blog by shopping through our affiliate partner, Jomashop.

Also check out our other guides:

We are an Amazon & Jomashop Affiliate.

  • How to Safely Purchase a Watch Online
  • List of reputable watch strap companies & brands
  • Tools for Replacing A Watch Strap Or Band
  • How to Pick Out The Right Watch Band For Your Watch
  • 5 Tips For Picking Out A New Watch Band Or Strap
  • The Complete Guide to the Orient Bambino Dress Watch
  • Seiko SNK Watch Guide
  • Seiko Presage Cocktail Time Guide
  • How to Fix A Broken Loop On Your Watch Strap
 

Filed Under: Inspiration, Spotlights Tagged With: bespoke, brown, custom watch strap companies, watch accessories

Support Our Store on Amazon Below:

Primary Sidebar

Welcome to Basic Bands!

  • We hope you enjoy our blog on watch strap fashion. Here are some places to start:
  • List of Watch Strap Companies
    List of Custom Watch Strap Makers
  • Interviews with Watch Strap Makers & Brands
  • Primer on Watch Strap Style | Style Inspiration | Watch strap examples by color & type
  • Tools for changing a strap | Fixing a broken strap loop
  • Guide to safely purchasing a watch online.
  • Watch Guides: Orient Bambino | Seiko SNK | Seiko Presage.
  • Shop our Amazon recommendations | Inexpensive NATO straps on Amazon

 

See our watch guides

Brown suede rally tropic watch strap by Maverick Custom Handmade

HOW TO FIX A BROKEN LOOP ON YOUR WATCH STRAP

Most watch bands have one or two loops on the strap to keep the bracelet or band from flopping around on your wrist. Known by different names like hoop, retainer, loop, these loops are officially called “keepers,” and they can sometimes fall off and break. Leather or cloth keepers will disintegrate through wear and tear from moisture or sweat, while rubber ones can become brittle and snap.
The good news is that you can fix a broken watch hoop in several ways. The easiest way is to buy a replacement loop on Amazon and put it on the strap. Rubber loops can sometimes be stretched over the buckle, but for most replacement loops you must disconnect the strap or buckle to get the new loop on. Important: make sure you buy the correct width loop, measured in millimeters.

crown-and-buckle-straps

HOW TO PICK OUT THE RIGHT BAND FOR YOUR WATCH – A PRIMER ON WATCH STRAP STYLE

If you’re new to watchbands or looking to buy a gift for that special someone, knowing how to pick out the right watch strap is difficult. We interviewed Thomas Lathrop, CEO of popular watchband company Crown & Buckle, for some tips on matching up the right band to your watch.

Orient Bambino Version 2

THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE ORIENT BAMBINO DRESS WATCH

Simply put, the Orient Bambino is probably the best affordable dress watch out there. A fantastic option for your first watch, it takes a movement from a reliable watch company and puts it in an incredible looking package. Earlier generations can be bought for just over $100, while the most popular style from the new generation will be closer to $300 (although it frequently goes on sale).

barton-bands-blue-canvas-quick-release

SAFE PLACES TO BUY WATCHES ONLINE – A GUIDE TO ONLINE WATCH PURCHASING

Watches make good gifts for birthdays, weddings and special occasions like graduations. But if you don’t purchase a watch often, it’s hard to know where to look first for the best deal, the best warranty & a guarantee of authenticity. Most people find that the online watch purchasing experience is fragmented and fraught with fakes and high prices. This article explains how to pick an online watch store.

Seiko Turtle Watch on Barton Bands Canvas Strap

BEST PLACES TO BUY WATCH STRAPS ONLINE

A common question we get is where to buy watch straps, who is reputable, and how to choose among the different options. On this page, we have listed the major strap companies and brands, divided by category. Most places ship internationally, but we have listed out companies that are outside the U.S. if you’re looking […]

Barton Bands Green Canvas Strap on a Seiko SNK 805

THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE SEIKO SNK WATCH LINE

The Seiko 5 line of SNK watches are highly recommended as an inexpensive way to get into automatics. The watches are great for kids as a first watch and an excellent casual watch for adults. It meets all the check boxes for a good looking watch from a great brand at a great price.

Kids (and parents) will love the sub-$100 price, the good design and the ability to mix and match watch straps. It can be a first watch for a kid or a nice watch for a teenager that can go with a lot of outfits.

Hybrid Sand Woven Fabric Tudor NATO strap on a Tudor Black Bay Dive Watch

Watch Strap Color Guide & Inspiration

We get a lot of questions here at the Basic Bands watch strap blog, and often that question is about which watch strap color goes with which color watch dial or type of watch. If you’re wondering about that too, we’re here to help.

It’s not possible to list every watch type and style and the colors and types of straps that go well with them, so we’ve started Pinterest boards to give you more inspiration. Other sources of watch strap ideas include Reddit’s r/Watchbands and Instagram.If you don’t use Pinterest, you can find images by clicking on tags in the sidebar or using the Inspiration category at the top of the page.

Seiko Cocktail Time Header

THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE SEIKO PRESAGE “COCKTAIL TIME” LINE OF WATCHES

Welcome to the Basic Bands guide to the Seiko Presage “Cocktail Time” line of watches. These watches, nicknamed after the elaborate cocktails fashioned by Shinobu Ishigaki, are an incredibly popular line of dress watches from Seiko. Combining the reliability and affordability of a Seiko with some amazingly gorgeous dials, these watches have become one of the most popular affordable dress watches in the market.

Tag Heuer Carrera Watch on Brown Hirsch Speed Alligator Strap

BASIC BANDS 2018 WATCH STRAP & ACCESSORIES GIFT GUIDE

Hello everyone, and welcome to the 2018 edition of the Basic Bands Watch Strap & Accessories Gift Guide! We’re here to help you find that perfect someone (or yourself) the perfect gift this holiday season. We’ve divided the guide up into sections, so skip ahead to the one that interests you most. First we have […]

Clockwork Synergy Two-Piece NATO Strap

BASIC BANDS 2017 WATCH STRAP AND BAND GIFT GUIDE

So you’re looking for a strap? Maybe the person you’re shopping for already has a nice watch and you’d love to match it with a nice strap. Or maybe you’re buying a watch and you’re looking for strap ideas to complement the stock band. Or maybe you just got a new watch and you’d like to spice it up with a new leather or NATO strap. Well, you’ve come to the right place. We’re Basic Bands, and we loooove watch straps.

Tags

alligator apple watch bauhaus bespoke black black dial blue blue dial breitling brown brown leather canvas chronograph custom watch strap companies diver dress watch exotic Geckota green green dial grey guides hamilton horween IWC leather leather band nato omega Omega Speedmaster Panerai perlon rally strap rolex rubber seiko Seiko diver Seiko SNK shop skx speedmaster thick timex tudor white dial
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

More to See

Watch of the Week – 6/24

June 24, 2022 By Basic Bands

Happy National Watch Day!

June 19, 2022 By Basic Bands

Watch of the Week – 6/17

June 17, 2022 By Basic Bands

Jomashop Father’s Day Deals – 50%+ OFF

June 15, 2022 By Basic Bands

Brown suede rally tropic watch strap by Maverick Custom Handmade

HOW TO FIX A BROKEN LOOP ON YOUR WATCH STRAP

June 8, 2022 By Basic Bands

Father’s Day 2022 Watch Buying Guide

June 2, 2022 By Basic Bands

Nomos Tangente Sport

Gallery of Popular Bauhaus/Minimalist Watches

March 12, 2020 By Basic Bands

BLACK FRIDAY, CYBER MONDAY AND HOLIDAY SALES 2019

November 29, 2019 By Basic Bands

Choice Cuts Industries Brown Horween Leather Watch Band

WATCH STRAP OF THE DAY – MAR 29 2018

March 29, 2018 By Basic Bands

SMALL BRAND SPOTLIGHT – THE STRAPSMITH

August 20, 2017 By Basic Bands

Footer

Recent

  • Watch of the week- 7/21
  • Watch of the Week 7/14
  • Watch of the Week – 7/7
  • Watch of the Week – 7/1
  • Watch of the Week – 6/24

Search

Tags

alligator apple watch bauhaus bespoke black black dial blue blue dial breitling brown brown leather canvas chronograph custom watch strap companies diver dress watch exotic Geckota green green dial grey guides hamilton horween IWC leather leather band nato omega Omega Speedmaster Panerai perlon rally strap rolex rubber seiko Seiko diver Seiko SNK shop skx speedmaster thick timex tudor white dial

Copyright Basic Bands 2022.