Ten to One

This neo-vintage Burberrys of London held sentimental value for its owner, but there was one problem: he never really liked it on the original bracelet. The goal was simple enough: replace it with leather and give the watch a reason to be worn again.

Removing the bracelet, however, revealed a second problem. The watch relied on a floating attachment bar that was held in place by the sides of the bracelet itself. Once the bracelet was gone, there was nothing to stop that bar drifting sideways and eventually slipping free. A conventional two-piece strap simply wasn't an option.

So this became my first fully permanent build.

The flame red ostrich leg strap was constructed directly around that floating bar, creating a single integrated assembly with the watch itself. It was also the first time I'd completed all edge painting and finishing work with the strap already attached to the watch.

With no traditional lugs to work from, the strap was designed to visually occupy much of the same space as the original bracelet. Rather than completely transforming the watch into something it wasn't, I retained the original 18/16mm proportions, allowing the leather to feel like a natural evolution of the design rather than a departure from it.

The design itself also bends a few conventions. Accent stitching is more commonly associated with casual or utilitarian straps, while padded straps are often paired with full side stitching. Normally, those elements don't appear together. But here, the narrow domed padding adds just enough lift through the centre to complement the unusual single-link attachment and give shape to what is otherwise a very slim dress-style strap.

The patina gold accent stitching picks up the warmth of the two-tone case, framing the flame red ostrich leg in a way that turned out even better than I expected.

Against the stark white dial, it somehow all works.

Perhaps that's fitting for a project that ignored several of the usual rules from start to finish.

Most importantly, the watch now has a reason to be worn again. There's something deeply satisfying about not just making a strap, but helping reconnect a client with a watch that had slowly been forgotten with time.

Strap specs:
Flame red ostrich leg - padded strap
Natural Kangaroo lining
Patina gold accent stitching
18/16mm
120/80mm

Matte grey python isn’t something you see often in watch straps, despite how established the material is.

This particular hide had been sitting with a New Zealand collector for years, set aside for a project that never came to be. Easy to overlook, but hard to replace once it’s gone.

Snake leathers have a reputation for being somewhat delicate because of their scales, but in reality python can be one of the more durable exotics when it’s done properly. The key is what sits beneath.

This hide has a firm, well-structured base under each scale, allowing movement without some of the usual drawbacks associated with weaker snake hides — less risk of permanent folding, lifting, or fatigue through regular wear.

That durability became more apparent once the strap left the studio.

After being gifted on a recent trip, this Seiko and its grey python strap found a new home somewhere between the rice fields and the road home. Out there, the conditions are less forgiving. Heat, dust, water, constant wear. The kind of environment that quickly shows what a material is made of.

By backing the larger scale sections of the python hide with kangaroo leather, it gives the strap more shape and structure, helping it sit properly against watches with a bit more case height or weight. It also adds the rigidity needed for long-term durability, without making the strap too stiff to articulate comfortably around the wrist.

Ultimately the goal was to keep the thickness, taper, and edge work tuned in a way that lets the material sit cleanly without feeling overworked.

If there’s one material that deserves a second look in strap making, it’s probably python.

Strap specs:
Padded Grey python leather
Caramel cow leather lining
Off-white embroidery stitch
20/16mm
115/80mm