The ultimate calf-cow leather strap for Apple Watch thread

[bmac4]

Ok guys (and girls), never a dull moment so see below my straps. From left to right:

Apple Sport band black
Apple Classic Buckle black
Apple Classic Buckle saddle brown
Pad & Quill Classic band galloper black
Pad & Quill Classic band whiskey
Pad & Quill Classic band British tan
Nomad: brown band
Hermès: single tour fauve barenia

Let me know if you need any detail photo

View attachment 620384

Do you want to sell that Hermès band?

 

[xDKP]

Ok guys (and girls), never a dull moment so see below my straps. From left to right:

Apple Sport band black
Apple Classic Buckle black
Apple Classic Buckle saddle brown
Pad & Quill Classic band galloper black
Pad & Quill Classic band whiskey
Pad & Quill Classic band British tan
Nomad: brown band
Hermès: single tour fauve barenia

Let me know if you need any detail photo

View attachment 620384

Really like that Nomad band - have had my eyes on one for quite a while, but it's just a bit too expensive compared to other bands out there.

 

[mhoutman]

Really like that Nomad band - have had my eyes on one for quite a while, but it's just a bit too expensive compared to other bands out there.

My story on the NOMAD strap: I got one for a low prize from a fellow Dutch man who bought two at the introduction. The I had a problem with one of the screws coming loose and NOMAD was so kind to send me a second one of free. No questions asked. Great service but I still don't know how to fix no. 1 or which screw driver to use.

My thoughts on the NOMAD strap: excellent leather and high quality made, also on detail.(well forget about the screw) Personally I would prefer a smaller buckle (Panerai alike) but that is my taste.

VERDICT: excellent band with one disadvantage: its price. For USD 150,00 it is too expensive and I really would like to see it sin a ide-by-side comparison with some cheap knock off. (check iStrap at Amazon.com) That said, also the NOMAD is made in China

 

[IphoneIssues]

View attachment 620425 View attachment 620426 View attachment 620427

My story on the NOMAD strap: I got one for a low prize from a fellow Dutch man who bought two at the introduction. The I had a problem with one of the screws coming loose and NOMAD was so kind to send me a second one of free. No questions asked. Great service but I still don't know how to fix no. 1 or which screw driver to use.

My thoughts: excellent leather and high quality made, also on detail.(well forget about the screw) Personally I would prefer a smaller buckle (Panerai alike) but that is my taste.

VERDICT: excellent band with one disadvantage: its price. For USD 150,00 it is too expensive and I really would like to see it sin a ide-by-side comparison with some cheap knock off. (check iStrap at Amazon.com) That said, also the NOMAD is made in China

They sent you a second screw free or a second strap for free? There's another guy on this forum, who bought straight from NOMAD and had the same problem.

Also said they used to be selling for $70 on Amazon.

Also, no leather loops? What is your deal?

 

[mhoutman]

In earlier posts I mentioned that the treatment of the British tan Classic band from Pad & Quill with some polish. Got more vivid and warmer at once

My thought on the Pad & Quill Classic band rev 1*: I love it and gives a great leather experience. (smell and look/aging) Price is okay, given the over all (made in USA/Mexico). Nice polished buckle, but adapters are - compared with Apple's adapters - a bit wobbly and could have a tighter fitting.

VERDICT: this is a leather band how leather should be and the beginning you might find it even too thick. (about double size of the Hermès band) I could only think of one disadvantage and that is its overall length. My wrist measures an average 170 mm and the strap is a bit to short to use both keepers optimal. I would prefer a longer length of +2-3 cm. If your wrist is <160 mm it is no brainer. Otherwise buy it and enjoy it.

*according info from Pad & Quill rev 2 also has the same length but is made of smoother leather (might be a tad less thick). Rev 2 is NOT available in black but a new color is added: Deep blue

[doublepost=1457546660][/doublepost]...and you want to see the Pad & Quill Classic band in Whiskey brown and Galloper black too ? Mind you, both British tan and Galloper black seem different grain. Also all there colors consist of two layers of leather where the inner layer is alway in British tan)

First Whiskey Brown...

[doublepost=1457547837][/doublepost]

Now the Pad & Quill Classic band in Galloper Black.

 

[mhoutman]

Y

You have asked for it: finally some handkerchief time

No further comments of course

 

[bmac4]

Y View attachment 620443 View attachment 620444 View attachment 620445 View attachment 620446 View attachment 620447 You have asked for it: finally some handkerchief time

No further comments of course

Could you show how thick the Hermès leather is?

 

[mhoutman]

Top: Hermès single tour fauve barenia

Middle: Apple Classic Buckle band
Bottom: Pad & Quill Classic band

 

[pcall1128]

Mhoutman,
Beautiful taste in leather bands!! How many mm wide is the Hermés single tour strap at the lugs? And at the buckle? I've looked everywhere for demensions to no avail! Thanks in advance

 

[bmac4]

Top: Hermès single tour fauve barenia View attachment 620449
Middle: Apple Classic Buckle band
Bottom: Pad & Quill Classic band

wow it's thinner then the classic buckle.

 

[Thai]

Mhoutman,
Beautiful taste in leather bands!! How many mm wide is the Hermés single tour strap at the lugs? And at the buckle? I've looked everywhere for demensions to no avail! Thanks in advance

My guess is 24mm.

For me, the Hermes band puts the others to shame which is expected given their heritage and cost. IF you take cost out, there is no question in quality. The other bands look so un-refined to my (untrained) eyes. Look at the way the holes are made on the other bands vs. Hermes. Some of the other bands have holes that are cracked at the edges (even on holes not being used!) already.

Nomad is my 2nd choice. Looks good in pics. But THAT buckle is just hideous! And overall leather type (and buckle) does not match the modern design of Apple Watch IMO.

Pad & Quill looks like crap to me. Sorry, just based on posted pics above. Horrible. Poor fitting to the lug...like someone didn't have time to measure properly and stuffed it into the lug connector. And then the buckle design is just plain horrible! The buckle points DOWN (not sideways like others)...that is a classic sign of poor design for leather band. That will irritate your wrist (when you rest your wrist on desk) and scrap the crap out of the polished buckle too. Just as an outsider reading up on leather bands, that buckle design is Leather Class 101. Basic mistake in design.

Sorry if i sound harsh...long work day!

 

[mhoutman]

Mhoutman,
Beautiful taste in leather bands!! How many mm wide is the Hermés single tour strap at the lugs? And at the buckle? I've looked everywhere for demensions to no avail! Thanks in advance

At the lugs/adapter: 23 mm
At the buckle: 20 mm

 

[pcall1128]

At the lugs/adapter: 23 mm
At the buckle: 20 mm

Thank you so much! I literally have been going nuts trying to find that.

 

[mhoutman]

My guess is 24mm.

For me, the Hermes band puts the others to shame which is expected given their heritage and cost. IF you take cost out, there is no question in quality. The other bands look so un-refined to my (untrained) eyes. Look at the way the holes are made on the other bands vs. Hermes. Some of the other bands have holes that are cracked at the edges (even on holes not being used!) already.

Nomad is my 2nd choice. Looks good in pics. But THAT buckle is just hideous! And overall leather type (and buckle) does not match the modern design of Apple Watch IMO.

Pad & Quill looks like crap to me. Sorry, just based on posted pics above. Horrible. Poor fitting to the lug...like someone didn't have time to measure properly and stuffed it into the lug connector. And then the buckle design is just plain horrible! The buckle points DOWN (not sideways like others)...that is a classic sign of poor design for leather band. That will irritate your wrist (when you rest your wrist on desk) and scrap the crap out of the polished buckle too. Just as an outsider reading up on leather bands, that buckle design is Leather Class 101. Basic mistake in design.

Sorry if i sound harsh...long work day!

Hey man , no problem

For some reason I prefer the look of the P&Q above the Nomads. The P&Q buckle fits very nice with the polished steel of the Apple Watch, where the Nomads has brushed steel...for this hilarious bug buckle
[doublepost=1457567588][/doublepost]

Thank you so much! I literally have been going nuts trying to find that.

why ?

 

[Thai]

Hey man , no problem

For some reason I prefer the look of the P&Q above the Nomads. The P&Q buckle fits very nice with the polished steel of the Apple Watch, where the Nomads has brushed steel...for this hilarious bug buckle
[doublepost=1457567588][/doublepost]
why ?

You probably don't wear it much, but that Hermes band looks to be in NEW condition...no signs of wear...which again makes it worthwhile to own for a long long time. Hermes does not disappoint.
And you showing me the other bands actually makes me want Hermes even more!!

 

[bmac4]

Hey man , no problem

For some reason I prefer the look of the P&Q above the Nomads. The P&Q buckle fits very nice with the polished steel of the Apple Watch, where the Nomads has brushed steel...for this hilarious bug buckle
[doublepost=1457567588][/doublepost]
why ?

I have the P&Q and hate it. The fit is terrible the pin that goes in the holes in too long, and the leather is so stiff. I have tried just about every leather band there is, and for the AW the classic buckle is the best. Well expect the Hermès, but that is another level. I think the classic buckle can hang with the best.

 

[Thai]

I have the P&Q and hate it. The fit is terrible the pin that goes in the holes in too long, and the leather is so stiff. I have tried just about every leather band there is, and for the AW the classic buckle is the best. Well expect the Hermès, but that is another level. I think the classic buckle can hang with the best.

Sadly, i agree...i have research the hell out of this. The "aftermarket" ones are just not appealing for one reason or another. P&Q just looks bad...and for the price they charge, it is insanely bad!

 

[bmac4]

Sadly, i agree...i have research the hell out of this. The "aftermarket" ones are just not appealing for one reason or another. P&Q just looks bad...and for the price they charge, it is insanely bad!

Yep could not agree more. You could find ones that are standard band for other watches that are great band, but for the AW the only way to go is the classic buckle or the Hermès.

 

[IphoneIssues]

I have the P&Q and hate it. The fit is terrible the pin that goes in the holes in too long, and the leather is so stiff. I have tried just about every leather band there is, and for the AW the classic buckle is the best. Well expect the Hermès, but that is another level. I think the classic buckle can hang with the best.

It does look really stiff...that was going to be my first choice...

 

[bmac4]

It does look really stiff...that was going to be my first choice...

I would not recommend it. It's what $99. Just save another $50 and get the classic buckle. Much better

 

[IphoneIssues]

I would not recommend it. It's what $99. Just save another $50 and get the classic buckle. Much better

I bought a couple of classic buckle type bands. Posted them on the other page. $90 each. Quite satisfied so far.

 

[bmac4]

I bought a couple of classic buckle type bands. Posted them on the other page. $90 each. Quite satisfied so far.

I have not found one that equals the quality of the classic buckle. Love to know if there are any, but none were as soft and flexible.

 

[mhoutman]

I have the P&Q and hate it. The fit is terrible the pin that goes in the holes in too long, and the leather is so stiff. I have tried just about every leather band there is, and for the AW the classic buckle is the best. Well expect the Hermès, but that is another level. I think the classic buckle can hang with the best.

You are right on the pin but this problem only exists when the band is fitted too tight. I use pin hole 4 (from the end). If I use pin hole 5, the pin is definitely too long as it protrudes a bit.

I wrote P&Q with a list of some improvements (pin, advise to users better (Apple) adapters, longer length) but they seemed not very eager to adopt them; call it stubborn.

On the Apple Classic Buckle as I have them both (rev 2). It is a Apple product so its design etc is excellent, but a leather product should also look and smell like leather. Especially from a distance they don't look like leather and the smell is terrible. Also the price is very high, but if people are willing to pay even more for the Modern Buckle band, who am I to decide about pricing I had never seen the latest Hoco's but they might be a great option if you are not willing to pay a premium price. http://superphen.co/2016/01/30/revi...assic-buckle-15-us-itunes-gift-card-giveaway/
[doublepost=1457590014][/doublepost]

It does look really stiff...that was going to be my first choice...

It is stiff, but if you ever buy yourself a premium brand of shoes like Church's, Allan Edmonds, Crocket & Jones, you also need to walk them in for months before they become come. It is leather and not even saddle leather which is even thicker

 

[Thai]

From my reading, leather can come from many different types of animals. Cheaper brands can use leather (genuine and top grain for sure!) from stray cats or dogs. From the HOCO review of knock-off of Apple's classic band above, you can see that lug connector loop (where leather band attaches to it) is too wide...allowing for the leather band to slide back and forth sideways (lateral play).

Sorry to keep on picking on P&Q, but if they have no interest in improving their very flawed product, then why are people fecommending them???? It is not like they are $25 and thus you can forgive their bad design or unwillingness to fix a problem. From the pics, P&Q is downright a ripoff.

 

[bmac4]

You ar right on the pin but this problem only exists when the band is fitted too tight. I use pin hole 4 (from the end). If I uses pin hole 5, the pin is definitely too long as it protrudes a bit.

I wrote P&Q with a list of some improvements (pin, advise to users better (Apple) adapters, longer length) but they seemed not very eager to adopt them; call it stubborn.

On the Apple Classic Buckle as I have them both (rev 2). It is a Apple product so its design etc is excellent, but a leather product should also look and smell like leather. Especially from a distance they don't look like leather and the smell is terrible. Also the price is very high, but if people are willing to pay even more for the Modern Buckle band, who am I to decide about pricing I had never seen the latest Hoco's but they might be a great option if you are not willing to pay a premium price. http://superphen.co/2016/01/30/revi...assic-buckle-15-us-itunes-gift-card-giveaway/
[doublepost=1457590014][/doublepost]

It is stiff, but if you ever buy yourself a premium brand of shoes like Church's, Allan Edmonds, Crocket & Jones, you also need to walk them in for months before they become come. It is leather and not even saddle leather which is even thicker

So you don't think the classic buckle looks or smells like leather? I thought it did smell like leather. And yeah I don't know how P&Q can ask for $99 from a product that is so flawed. One hole is way too tight, and the other is way to big. In my mind the CB is just so much better.

In terms of breaking in the leather. I totally understand, but when it's something you are wearing on your wrist all day. Being uncomfortable is miserable. I think they need to think about that when they make these bands.