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
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
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
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
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 – hand stitching watch straps
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.
Clover Straps Denim Watch Strap on Seiko Orange Monster
Today’s strap is from one of our favorite custom watch strap makers, Patrik from Clover Straps. You can find more pics and a link to his website and our interview with Patrik on our Custom Watch Strap Maker Page. The strap is a custom denim strap with orange highlights custom made for a Seiko Orange Monster Watch.
Choice Cuts Industries Brown Horween Leather Watch Band
We’re featuring a new company today, Choice Cuts Industries, a family owner leather goods company from Charlotte, NC. The strap pictured is the Horween Natural Chromexcel Watch strap. If you have time, check out the rest of their excellent leather watch straps and Apple Watch bands. Fans of thick leather with a rough edge will find a lot to love.
If you’re looking to replace your Apple Watch band but don’t like the looks of those prices in the Apple store, check out Etsy. Its a great place to source some fantastic styles that aren’t going to necessarily break the bank. We’ve found five fun bands for you to check out, links are in the captions of each picture.
We are an Etsy affiliate. Support our blog by purchasing your next watch strap through our Etsy link. You can also check out our list of custom watch strap makers for more custom straps, or our Amazon shop for a selection of inexpensive watch straps. Or check out our online guides:
Two Stitch Straps Coffee Racing Strap
Today’s strap is a sneak peek of an upcoming brand showcase from Two Stitch Straps, a regular and custom watch strap retailer. You can find more straps at https://www.twostitchstraps.com.
List of Custom Watch Strap Makers (alphabetical)
Most custom watch strap makers ship worldwide. If you’re looking for a local supplier, strap makers outside the U.S. have their location noted in parenthesis. If we’ve done an interview with the strapmaker, that is noted too. You can read all the interviews in one place here.
Pro-tip: Buy these quick release spring bars off Amazon and make your new custom watch strap quick release!
Aaron Bespoke a.k.a Combat Straps (Canada) (website)
Choice Cuts Industries (U.S.) (Website, Amazon Handmade Section)
Clover Straps (Croatia) (website) (Basic Bands interview)
Dangerous9 Straps ((Germany, E.U.) (Website)
Gunny Straps (Indonesia) (website, Amazon Handmade Section)
Jones in Tokyo (Japan) (website)
Maddog Straps (Germany, E.U.) (website)
Martu Leather (Chile) (website) (Etsy Shop) (Basic Bands interview)
Neptune Straps (U.K.) (Etsy Shop) (Basic Bands Interview)
Maverick Custom Handmade Straps (Poland, E.U.)(website) (Basic Bands interview)
Oak and Honey (Toronto, Canada) (website) (Etsy Shop) (Basic Bands interview)
Red Rock Straps (U.S.) (Etsy Shop)
The StrapSmith (website) (Basic Bands interview)
Toshi Straps (U.K.) (website) (Basic Bands interview)
Two One Four Straps (Philippines) (Facebook; Instagram) (Basic Bands interview)
This is an updated list, so check back often as we’ll add in strapmakers we come across. These are not paid listings, but any Etsy & Amazon links will be affiliate links as we are an Etsy & Amazon affiliate.
If you’re interested in how to pick out a watch strap or need to buy tools, please check out our other guides:
