Lime Leather with Olive Drab Stitching on Panerai watch by Toshi Straps
Today’s strap is from one of our favorite custom strapmakers, Toshi Straps in the U.K. If you’re in need of a custom strap, they are a great U.K/E.U. supplier and also ship worldwide. We interviewed Rich as part of our custom strapmaker spotlight series, so check out the interview for more pictures of his work. You can find more interviews with custom strap makers on our List of Custom Watch Strap Companies page.
Picture is courtesy of customer Jason Watson.
Clover Straps Custom Brown Leather Watch Strap on Damasko Watch
Today’s band is another custom leather watch strap by Patrik of Clover straps. Photograph courtesy of the awesome Watchuseek user Juha Tuomi.
If you want to learn more about Patrik and Clover straps, you can find our Basic Bands interview with him here, and the Clover Straps website here. He is also on our list of Custom Watch Strap Makers.
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 Pavel Slow and his shop, Neptune Straps.
Name: Neptune Straps/Pavel Slow
Website: www.etsy.com/uk/shop/NeptuneStraps
Location: UK
What: Mainly watch straps but also small leather goods (bifold wallets, cardholders, etc.)
Neptune Straps Brown Leather NATO Watch Strap
How did you get into watchstrap making?
I think it’s a similar story to many other strap makers. I’m a watch enthusiast and made my first straps for myself. I’m a member of several watch forums and saw many watches there with superb handmade straps. Unfortunately, those straps were expensive to buy.
So I decided to try one myself. Of course, my first attempt was terrible because I didn’t have any previous experience with leather craft. But I didn’t give up and tried again and again. Now it’s been over five years that I’ve been doing it and there are still plenty of things to improve.
I think it’s a great hobby. It helps me relax after work and helps me develop precision, patience and manual skills. It has also allowed me to meet many wonderful people in the watch enthusiast community.
Neptune Straps Strapmaking
What materials do you use in your bands?
Mainly calf/cow hide leather, sometimes exotic leather. I’m always trying to just pick the finest quality leather.
Neptune Straps Salmon Leather Watch Straps
What is your favorite material to work with?
My favorite material is Horween Dublin leather. I also like to work with old, vintage leather.
Neptune Strap Brown Leather Perforated Watch Strap
What style of bands is your favorite to make or wear?
I like to make Panerai style straps and ammo straps. I think they have a lot of character and they are quite unique.
Do you have a favorite watch?
It is a hard question to answer because it’s changing all the time. Watches that come to mind are the Cartier Santos or Rolex Oysterquarz.
What do you like to do outside of strap making?
I enjoy spending time with my family. Strap making is just my hobby and I do it in my spare time.
Neptune Straps Black Leather Rally Strap on an Omega Speedmaster
Neptune Straps Wallet
Neptune Straps Brown Leather Watch Strap on Seiko SKX 007 Diver
Neptune Straps Leather Watch Strap Rolls
Neptune Straps Brown Leather Watch Strap on an Omega Speedmaster
Also check out our other guides:
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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 Rob Montana and his company, the Strapsmith.
Name: Rob Montana
Website: www.thestrapsmith.com
Location: Whitefish Montana
How did you get into watch strap making?
Ten years ago I was invited to a Paneristi get-together in Seattle and discovered the, at the time, small world of after market hand made straps. My father was a 4-H leather instructor so I had previous experience in leather growing up as a kid. The day after the GTG I want to a leather store in Seattle and bought leather, some tools, and a couple of how-to books and went to work trying to create a great strap.
After obsessing and educating myself about leather again, buying the highest quality of tools I could find and fine tuning all the details, I started selling a few online. One thing led to another and before long I was building full time. At the time I started there were only about 5-6 people world wide that I could find that were doing custom handmade straps. While doing a trip to Europe I made a point of meeting up with these makers to say hello. I had already met the guys in the states at other GTGs who were making them.
What materials do you use in your bands?
I use the finest leathers from around the world along with vintage reclaimed leathers, new and reclaimed canvas, denim, exotics and material from items that customers send in to be repurposed into straps. These include designer bags, shoes, old baseball gloves, brief cases etc. We also do custom buckles, so I work on the designs of the buckles and send them to a laser cutter to cut and shape.
What is your favorite material to work with?
Vintage reclaimed leathers. They have a history behind them and it’s tough to match the great look of the natural patina.
What style band is your favorite to make or wear?
Vintage leathers. I like to wear vintage straps between 3.8 and 4 mm thick, especially on thicker watches, like Panerai, as they are more proportionate to the thickness of the case.
Do you have a favorite watch?
Though I appreciate many different brands and their unique design elements, Panerai is probably closest to my heart. It’s what started this path.
What do you like to do outside of watch strap making?
I like a variety of activities including flying paragliders, riding motorcycles, Brazilian Jiujitsu, sailing, skiing / snowboarding, almost any adventure I can get myself to.
Today’s bands of the day are a light grey suede from Holben’s Fine Watch Bands and an aged gray leather strap from Hodinkee, both photographed by Reddit user lil-rap. Both straps have been refitted to add RHD deployant clasps. The watches are a Glycine Airman & Tudor.
The Holben’s strap is available for around $30 on Amazon or their website.
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:
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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
Today’s band is the Desert Patrol Apple Watch band from WatchGecko. Check it out here.
