Leather strap advice

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13th March 2017, 16:01
mindforge

Leather strap advice

All you leather experts out there....

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...5681d0d9ab.jpg

I have my Zenith El Primero on a brown leather strap, fitted to a period Zenith deployant. It's 19mm lug width, tapering down to 16mm at the deployant. At the moment the strap is a cheap Accurist one which was £10 from eBay - this was to see whether I liked the look and I do, but now the coating is peeling off as can be seen, so it's starting to look cheap.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...f84591dcd9.jpg

Hirsch seems like the obvious choice, but I'm not sure of the difference between the various types of leather.

Lizard might be interesting but I have no idea how this will wear/look,
https://www.watchobsession.co.uk/col...iant=317704687

Then there's shiny crocodile which I suppose is the most similar looking to what I have already,
https://www.watchobsession.co.uk/col...iant=315853197

And alligator, although I don't understand the difference with crocodile,
https://www.watchobsession.co.uk/col...iant=315200167

Would be interested in your thoughts and recommendations...
13th March 2017, 16:09
nunya

Alligator and Crocodile have different grain / scale pattern one is larger than the other (can't remember which way around). Croc tends to be the gloss finish and 'gator the satin / matte finish to the leather.

Hirsch is a good call I have a couple for my PAM00512, a Carbon fibre in black and a calf leather Hirsch Knight with Alligator pattern in dark grey
13th March 2017, 16:10
ordo

I agree that the 2nd one looks similar to the one you have now. I personally don't like shiny straps as they look cheap (most cheap es are shiny so...).

I like the first one but feel that the 3rd might feel better for this watch model.
13th March 2017, 16:10
mindforge

Quote:

Originally Posted by nunya

Alligator and Crocodile have different grain / scale pattern one is larger than the other (can't remember which way around). Croc tends to be the gloss finish and 'gator the satin / matte finish to the leather.

Hirsch is a good call I have a couple for my PAM00512, a Carbon fibre in black and a calf leather Hirsch Knight with Alligator pattern in dark grey

Ah that's helpful, thanks.
13th March 2017, 17:03
animalone

I think you may find the Lizard is a bit thin for the watch as it is flat and not lightly padded like the croc and alligator ones are.
IMHO I don't think you can go far wrong with either the croc or alligator you have linked.
Do you have a jeweller nearby that has Hirsch? you should go in and have a look at the colours in person if you can as the pictures don't always convey how the straps look.
13th March 2017, 17:09
Omegamanic

ABP look very nice too.
13th March 2017, 17:35
mindforge

Quote:

Originally Posted by animalone

I think you may find the Lizard is a bit thin for the watch as it is flat and not lightly padded like the croc and alligator ones are.
IMHO I don't think you can go far wrong with either the croc or alligator you have linked.
Do you have a jeweller nearby that has Hirsch? you should go in and have a look at the colours in person if you can as the pictures don't always convey how the straps look.

Ah that's a good idea, didn't realise they were widely stocked.

Do you know anywhere in London?

Edit, I see there is a Watch Surgery in Bond Street who are down as a stockist, wonder if they would be trustworthy to change the strap over.
13th March 2017, 17:43
animalone

Quote:

Originally Posted by mindforge

Ah that's a good idea, didn't realise they were widely stocked.

Do you know anywhere in London?

Edit, I see there is a Watch Surgery in Bond Street who are down as a stockist, wonder if they would be trustworthy to change the strap over.

Lot of stockists http://hirschag.com/haendler/?lang=en
Can't comment on the Watch Surgery (not been to Bond Street in years), sure someone on the forum will have advice though