Normally, because the removal of watch straps is complicated, people still use the watch straps attached to the watch. However, sometimes there will be some problems with the straps. Then, replacing them is a must if you don’t want to throw your expensive and cherished wristwatch – your beloved friend for a long time, away. One of possible options is using alligator leather watch straps.
Not because using alligator leather watch straps will help to facilitate your work or bring any lucks to you, it is just simply fashionable and quite durable.
Let’s evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of owning alligator leather watch straps so that you can consider whether you should change your watch straps or not?
Of all types of animal leathers, alligator leather is the most well-known one. It is not a sudden that alligator leather can have such a strong reputation, but indeed, there have been some previously fixed principles. Since whenever talking about alligator leather, people are completely worry-free thanks to its wonderful quality.
Alligator is an extremely aggressive animal species, even raised in a “pure” habitat – which means they are raised and fed by humans. Yet, their nature does not change at all. They will show their nature of a ferocious predator if they see their prey, and fight against anything if in danger.
Furthermore, alligators live in an united community . An alligator will share food with others, and have a great solidarity.
Alligators are normally killed for both meat and skin. Nonetheless, alligator skin is much more valuable than meat due to its timeless durability. That’s why people always love using products made from alligator leather for some great implications.
Using genuine alligator leather watch straps can obviously reinforce one man’s strongest power as well as personality. Compared to other mid-priced leather materials such as cowhide and ostrich skin, alligator leather is much more luxurious with a completely higher price range.
However, you may be worried that possessing an alligator leather watch strap might be difficult due to its high price. Don’t worry! It does not require too many pieces of alligator leather to create a watch strap. It is just costly for making a handbag and shoes, or when you choose popular parts of alligator leather for instance of humpback, back, scales, and so on.
Alligator leather is soft, smooth, and quite flexible; therefore, watch straps crafted from alligator leather will be highly elastic. In fact, you will regularly put on and take off your wristwatch per day. Therefore, if the leather watch strap is not genuine, it will be broken down, or peel off soon.
If you want to have an alligator leather watch strap, don’t try to look for the rugged parts such as the back with spines, humpback, scales, and so on. Why? The reason is that even when the tanning process is conducted carefully, you may unavoidably feel uncomfortable because the rugged part directly comes into contact with your skin every day.
If you are sweaty in hot weather, don’t worry! Unlike fake leather, genuine one displays the good ability of water-absorbency. Nevertheless, it is important for you to clean the leather watch straps regularly, take it off several times per day, use dry towel to absorb sweat or water if necessary. Leaving it unused at the end of the day will lengthen the lifespan of alligator leather watch straps.
Using alligator leather watch straps not only helps your wristwatch more luxurious and elegant, but also creates more chances for you thanks to your broad knowledge!
Despite its own “idiosyncrasy”, fashion style, and higher class, alligator leather still has some limitations that you should bear in your mind.
As alligator leather is a valuable and preferable material, the production of fake one is still popular and uncontrollable.
Even people specializing in genuine leather sometimes find it difficult to distinguish real from fake leather because of sophisticated tricks used by fake material producers. However difficult it may be, there are some ways of realization thanks to precious experience of a leather craftsman.
If the price is below 100,000 VND, don’t expect it is a genuine alligator leather watch strap. Right from the stages of ordering, tanning until finish and complicated sewing, it is unlikely that a genuine alligator leather product has such a low price. At least, the price must be above 200,000 VND.
You can also choose alligator leather watch straps combined with high-class cowhide lining to reduce cost; however, you ought to definitely find a prestigious workshop to buy quality alligator leather watch straps with a reasonable warranty.
Due to the government regulations on wildlife protection, it is almost impossible to have real leather from an alligator living in wild nature. Nevertheless, you can use leather from an alligator raised by human under strict rules.
Even so, it is inevitable that man-made leather products mingle in the market, making customers confused to discern with real leather ones.
The advantages of possessing a real alligator leather watch strap outweigh its disadvantages. Hence, you should choose one of the most suitable products for yourself quickly as a result of all these wonderful benefits alligator leather watch straps can bring about!
October 28, 2021| 17870
When it comes to picking your next wristwatch, you will be inundated with different brands, features, designs, and functions to choose from. All these are important things to consider, however, we argue that nothing has as much gravitas as the band of your timepiece.
The band is a hugely important design feature of any watch, as most watch aficionados will tell you, it's the first thing people will notice ahead of the brand or other features and will hold most of the aesthetic appeal of your watch. Therefore, it is important to understand the benefits and drawbacks of either a leather or metal band, because if you’re going to invest in an everyday watch, it's a decision you want to get right.
Leather straps are familiar territory for most people. They hold a classic, timeless appeal, and were infamously made popular by Rolex. They were first born out of necessity when men couldn’t stand to wear their jackets and vests in the hotter seasons to accommodate their pocket watches. Today, there is a surplus of options of leather bands for watches to accommodate everyday timepieces as well as sports and diving watches due to the material’s naturally soft and lightweight feel.
The leather we see in clothing and accessories is commonly made from cowhide, however, leather watchband styles also include alligator, calf, crocodile, ostrich, and shark hides. Each will have its own unique texture, pattern and beauty. Leather certainly adds a touch of sophistication to a watch and the added bonus is being able to coordinate your other accessories to match the leather, such as belts, shoes, and bags. They are also generally made with a solid buckle to prevent the watch pin from coming undone unexpectedly.
However, you do have to consider that it's necessary to care for and clean the leather to avoid cracking and help maintain the band’s elasticity. What’s more, it is a given that the leather will wear out over time, meaning that the small strap hold could break or become stretched, causing change to the fit of your watch. Also, while leather straps are available in a diverse range of colours, some may find that while the colour compliments the watch face, it may not pair well with all outfits, making it restrictive at times.
However, you can easily replace a leather watch band more than once throughout your watch’s life, and it has a pretty long life span so you wouldn’t find yourself replacing it often due to wear. Also be careful of getting your watch wet as due to its nature, leather can stain and smell when exposed to water. It is advisable that you remove your watch when washing dishes or swimming. Keep in mind that the same effect can be caused by sweat, so it's best to remove your watch when performing any high-intensity exercise. If you do get your leather band wet, lie it flat and leave it out to dry in direct sunlight.
Metal straps are the most popular watch strap of choice on the market. They are suitable for many sporting activities, including diving, as well as being the more formal choice for a dress watch. The metal strap also has its ties to Rolex, as they appeal to a more luxury style watch that in turn generally gives it a higher price tag than leather bands.
The tough and durable nature of metal bands provides its wearer with a sense of assurance in the watch’s stability. They are built to be strong and are unlikely to break from day-to-day wear. They also perform extremely well underwater and do not damage as easily as leather when exposed to water and sweat.
However, some find that metal bands are too weighty for everyday wear and while they look great for formal occasions, they don’t have the same traditional chic as a leather band. What’s more, due to metal’s sensitivity to temperature, you may find the strap to be itchier on hotter days due to sweat being trapped under the metal, which can be unpleasant.
The metal is also prone to scratch marks if hit forcefully and it is also possible for the clasp to become undone unexpectedly. Depending on the price point of your watch, you can buy watches that combat this. For example, more luxury watches manufacture straps with a positioning clasp with safety. Also, tiny scratches your metal band endures can be polished out so they are not always there forever. You can also adjust the fit of your metal band by having links either added or removed until the length is suitable.
Let's take a closer look at both straps, comparing the pros and cons to each:
PROS
CONS
The design suits formal wear
Irritable on the skin when wet or sweaty
Easy to fit alone
Wears out over time
The soft strap allows for comfortable everyday wear
Colour may not suit all occasions and outfits
Unlikely to come undone suddenly
Leather will stretch out over time with wear
PROS
CONS
Long-lasting
Difficult to fit alone
Water-resistant
Prone to coming undone
Easy to clean
Retains temperatures - can be hot/cold in extreme temperatures
Luxurious appeal
Gathers dust and dirt if not cleaned regularly
As you can see, both leather and metal watchbands boast their own strengths and purposes. If a classic and timeless style is important to you, a leather band will ooze sophistication for years to come. However, if sport plays a big part in your life, you might find you're better suited to a metal band as it will accommodate your lifestyle with much less issue.
Either band is suitable for everyday wear, and much of your decision will likely come down to personal style, and lifestyle. It is a good idea to browse both leather and metal band watches so you can discover which is more appealing to you. At Wallace Allan we have a huge variety of watches to choose from so that you are guaranteed to find either a leather or metal band watch that meets your personal requirements.
You can browse the full collection of watches at Wallace Allan here.