The making of a watch strap

For some people their watch isn't just their watch... therefore they decide to go for a handmade watch strap. It looks like a simple piece of leather and in fact, it is ;-) Never the less the process of making a strap will take some time and I want to show how I made a watch strap from vegetable tanned leather.

Skiving the end parts of the buckle strap because they are folded together

the glued parts

sanding the straps for a perfect shape and nice edge

'burning' the edges for a smooth result

punching all stitching holes

3x dyed in 2 colors. A nice dark brown result with a vintage look when finished

soak in Duke & Sons Leather oil for 1 night

dying the edges with special edge coat

final finishing applied to get a shiny result and a genuine leather smell

polishing after the finished gel is absorbed by the leather

waxing the thread with bee wax

hand-stitching the straps