Something about custommade handmade straps

[tysoosn]

Hello guys. Im from Macedonia, Europe. Im not proffesional like some guys here Im just some beginner in reps but let me tell some words please . I saw you buy Pam watches. Some of them cost 200$. And you buy straps. Some of them cost 50-200$. I dont mind some guys bought gen PAM for 5k$, 10k$ or 50k$ and buy some 200$ strap. But hey! Do you know what do you pay for? I will tell you now. 90% of that money go for "handmade". You know why? Because its made in Italy, Germany, Swiss etc. Do you think you can find it the same quality made in Thailand for example? YES!!! Thailand have the biggest farms for crocos. You can find the best quality there. Some of the dealers here even have some small leather peaces from some old croco bag for example and sell 1 little strap for 200$. I know examples like that. Some of them have guys in China. They handmade it there and send to some sellers in Germany. And they sell it to you. Making watch strap is NOT an ART!!!!! Lets be clear. Its nothing more then 10min. work from experience leather tailor. I GUARANTEE YOU!!! Making bag is maybe an art.... You can create your own strap. Pliers, needle, glue, skin. If you invest 200$ im sure you will be practiced to start sell strap. You are not making a tower, you are making strap. Just go in China, Thailand, Phillipines, Vietnam... Or even Europe countries Greece or Turkey. They work with leather. You can find there excellent quality nappa leather jacket for 100$. Or even fur jackets with starting price 100$. And tell them look this strap is 200$, But this strap is handmade, custom, engraved... REALLY??? WOOOOW. Im sure you will be laughed. Its like paying for the replica not 200$ but 2000$. Dont let someone rob you! We are smart enough to dont give 10k for a logo!!! Im not dealer and I dont own any straps. Im just pissed off with prices of 10cm leather. You can buy 7 grams of gold for 200$ not a leather...

 

[pure b]

Strapmaking is an art but I think you are right about the $150+ straps.

Croc and cow leather straps are worlds apart though. Indeed nice croc craps can be bought from Vietnam etc but for a nice masculine leather strap to fit you PAM you need a artisan strapmaker

 

[edubbel]

Well, thats quite a rant.. Suppose, with you're knowledge, you can just contact these "suppliers" and get the cheapies instead. From my experience the ones I bought from the bay, is no match with the ones I got from legit strap makers. But hey, maybe that's just my luck. Either way, when I pay a premium price I expect premium goods and I also get premium service. Rather pay a bit more then have the chance of receiving garbage and also wasting my time.


// E

 

[tysoosn]

Seriously? Again with that stories? If strapmaking is an art then What is builiding an airplane? Seriously? Art? Mona Lisa is art. Making 20 MILLIONS$$$ Patek is an art maybe. Its 10cm. leather. Nothing more!!

 

[tysoosn]

You pay for "Made in Italy" or Germany or Swiss. Not for the quality or experience. You think there are not experienced tailors in China? Some tailors there work 20 hours per day...

 

[erekose]

I have to agree some what fro the very pricey straps. I get some nice handmade ones from Spain now and then and they are about 50USD - which to me is fair.
But hey, it is all about passion and yes, I think it is an art. As such prices will vary depending on the market.

 

[tysoosn]

Ok lets say making watch strap is an art. Then making airplane is what? Making a 3d printer? what is that? Its 2016. Watchstrap is not an art. Everyone can made it with little experience. Maybe we cant create leather jacket. But strap? You dont need to be 200+ iq for that or have some talent. You can find million tutorials for everything on internet. Making 10cm leather are basics in tailoring. Its the most easy job in leather industry. Everything else is more complicated. Even a keychain is more complicated then a watchstrap. Then everything is art. My life is art lol

 

[Debellum]

Orloff , Made in Italy and very best straps.......

Junio M.

 

[peteins]

I have yo say I totally agree with this, at the end of the day it is just a person making a strap, it doesn't matter where they made it or where the person was born. It just takes a little skill and some decent materials, time and patience. These straps that sell for $200+ of course are good quality, but can you get a strap at the same standard for $40 from Thailand. IMO. Yes

 

[Retina]

I have yo say I totally agree with this, at the end of the day it is just a person making a strap, it doesn't matter where they made it or where the person was born. It just takes a little skill and some decent materials, time and patience. These straps that sell for $200+ of course are good quality, but can you get a strap at the same standard for $40 from Thailand. IMO. Yes

do they do online transactions?

 

[lolo1972sg]

First, if the OP thinks that anyone can make a good quality straps in 10 min, then I think he really does not know what it takes to make a good quality straps.
Second, yes, you can buy cheap straps on aliexpress for usd20-40 dollars and they can still be considered good value by some.
Finally, this is a demand and supply world. If the usd200 straps are really not worth it, then no one will buy it. But if a flock of people buys these straps, then it must be these folks see value in those straps. But if you don't think it is worth it, then don't buy it.
Actually, I am not sure what the OP is trying to achieve with this thread.
What I want to say is : give some respect and credits to the strap makers, man.
And finally, I am curious, which guy in Germany buys those straps from China cheap and then try to sell us here at USD200+?

 

[zafod999]

StrapViet example

Probably the best $35 I've spent improving a rep:

 

[Poolsfinest]

I guess that if you are wanting to buy from the "best" most famous strap makers then you will pay the premium to do so.
I have just received a StrapViet croc strap which seems very good quality. It is certainly outstanding value.

Or putting it another way,

Do you want to pay for the designer label guaranteeing best quality or will you sacrifice a the label and get more value for money. It's not really a new question...

 

[Acid_pixel]

The strap color looks nice.

 

[telebuzz]

What watch is this? That is beautiful.

 

[telebuzz]

Ok lets say making watch strap is an art. Then making airplane is what? Making a 3d printer? what is that? Its 2016. Watchstrap is not an art. Everyone can made it with little experience. Maybe we cant create leather jacket. But strap? You dont need to be 200+ iq for that or have some talent. You can find million tutorials for everything on internet. Making 10cm leather are basics in tailoring. Its the most easy job in leather industry. Everything else is more complicated. Even a keychain is more complicated then a watchstrap. Then everything is art. My life is art lol

You don't own the authority to decide what I feel is art or not art. If you feel that you do, you have an incorrect definition of "art". I hear your points and I disagree. I will pay $200 for a leather strap that is 10% better than a $40 strap off of aliexpress. It is my money and it is my decision to spend it on the things that I want. Fast horses, slow whiskey, and mean women...all of them get my money.

 

[trailboss99]

10 minutes to make a strap? 10 minutes to cut four pieces of leather, fold and glue them, punch the thread holes, sew, cut the tang notch, punch the tang holes, seal the edges make the keepers and finish the strap? You have no idea what you are talking about so kindly stop insulting artisan strap makers including those on his forum.

 

[zafod999]

10 minutes to make a strap? 10 minutes to cut four pieces of leather, fold and glue them, punch the thread holes, sew, cut the tang notch, punch the tang holes, seal the edges make the keepers and finish the strap? You have no idea what you are talking about so kindly stop insulting artisan strap makers including those on his forum.

+1
I think it is around 4 hours to make a quality strap. Here's a couple of video links showing the process if anyone is interested:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6r3CuVv6D00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFDo-zzr9dY

 

[txrob779]

Orloff , Made in Italy and very best straps.......

Junio M.

:junio:

 

[zafod999]

What watch is this? That is beautiful.

IWC 5007 7 Day (any TD can get this) with custom curved end alligator strap from "StrapViet".
Cheers.