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Basic Bands Watch Strap Fashion

SMALL BRAND SPOTLIGHT – RAFAL KARCZMARCZYK

July 24, 2017 by Basic Bands

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 Rafal Karczmarczyk from Maverick Custom Handmade Straps in Poland. You can find all his straps on his website here:  https://web.facebook.com/rafalMaverick

Here is our interview:

Various colours calf leather classic straps for vintage watches by Maverick Custom Handmade

How did you get into watch strap making?

I come from a watchmakers family. My father, grandfather and his father-in-law were watchmakers. I collect watches, just like my father and brother at present. Like all watch collectors I love wearing them.

Sometimes it was quite hard to find the right strap. Those from shops were often of poor quality, if you wanted to order a decent custom, bespoke watch strap you had to wait in a long queue (well, now I understand why…).

So I decided to make some straps on my own. It was about three years ago when I first bought tools, dyes and adhesives. My first straps were classic, simple black and brown, made from calf leather. I still have my first straps as a kind of souvenir.

Brown suede rally tropic watch strap by Maverick Custom Handmade

What materials do you use in your bands?

I always use natural leather. The top layer is usually something exotic, which is joined with a calf leather core. There is also a thin leather lining in the back of the strap. I always seal the edges with a proper edge paint (handpainted), polish them, heat treat, paint again etc. I once came across a saying: ‘Your straps are as good as their edges are,’ and I kept it in mind.

Recently I started working with baseball gloves and balls, NFL balls and canvas. Some other materials like waxed threads are also important, since they increase durability and make the straps look as my customers want it.

Baseball glove and ball NFL ball sports straps by Maverick Custom Handmade
Baseball glove sports strap by Maverick Custom Handmade

What is your favorite material to work with?

I am always happy to work with shark and crocodile leather. I also love ostrich leg in various colors and kudu antelope. Easiness of working with shark leather, various patterns of crocodile scales, an impressive look of ostrich leg, beautiful natural scars on kudu – this is what makes my work pleasant. And a bit of good music in the background!

Ostrich leather classical watch strap for a vintage gold chrono by Maverick Custom Handmade

What style band is your favorite to make or wear?

I like classic two piece straps, whether it’s rally, filled, tropic or simple classic. To make and wear. I don’t really like making NATO or pocket watch straps. There is one exception, Bulova Moonwatch on its black velcro. It’s a very nice strap and I love wearing the watch on it.

Perforated calf leather sports watch strap by Maverick Custom Handmade

Do you have a favorite watch?

Yes, I’m Seiko crazy! I have about ten Seikos in my collection. Two of my other favorites are a Bulova Moonwatch, which I wear every day, and a Breitling Navitimer 0816, a beautiful vintage chrono, which I wear on some occasions.

Yellow stingray straps and official Maserati red colour calf strap for Apple iWatch and Panerai by Maverick Custom Handmade

What do you like to do outside of watch strap making?

I try watchmaking in my free time. I’ve got tools and some machines. I do simple repairs, adjusting, cleaning, polishing, but it’s rather a hobby, I’m not making any money on it. I have a great respect to professional watchmakers, I know how difficult their job is and really admire them. Besides that, I try to improve my photography skills.

Name: Rafal Karczmarczyk from Maverick Custom Handmade
Website: https://web.facebook.com/rafalMaverick
Location: Poland

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Filed Under: Spotlights Tagged With: baseball, bespoke, custom watch strap companies, exotic, leather, rally strap, Seiko diver, texture, vintage

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  • Tools for changing a strap | Fixing a broken strap loop
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  • Watch Guides: Orient Bambino | Seiko SNK | Seiko Presage.
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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

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