The ultimate calf-cow leather strap for Apple Watch thread

[mhoutman]

$60 is the price, right? Apple CB leather may not be worth $150, but at least the DESIGN and fit & finish are impeccable.

P&Q has what in its favor? Design, bad...one look at the way the buckle sits on your wrist tells that it was designed by an INexperienced company/people. Their lack of change signals a company lacking flexibility and/or resources. Never try to copy Apple buckle design if you cannot match its features.

Fit & finish, moving on from buckle...you have leather too thick at lug end...causing it to rub against the watch body. The sides of the leather rubs against the lug connector loop. Neither of this will bold well for long term use...causing stress on leather and discoloration.

Look at the holes...poor definition! How did they make the holes? With a pencil?! And because of the poor "holing" you have stress cracks on the leather where the holes are made! It may mean that P&Q uses a blunt tool to make hole or poor leather quality/treatment. There is no reason why there are cracks on leather around holes that are NOT used!

And then of course, you have the length issue where the two bands are not proportional.

Again, basic watch band making mistakes...I may be harsh, but I think that people need to stop calling P&Q a great bargain alternative to Apple bands. It is not.

And yes, I am picky!

You know I respect your view but IMHO this is totally humbug. Your reference it the AW Classic Buckle only where you also feel to have an issue. Especially with the rev 1 Classic Band (made by Ecco) there where a lot of complaints about the quality of this band. I have rev 2 in both colors black and saddle brown and in my view they are nice but much over priced and last but not least lack any feeling or smell of leather...

You should buy yourself some other leather bands and than compare. Try a Horween one which are still a lot cheaper as the Apple bands. https://www.etsy.com/shop/E3SupplyC...r=date_desc&view_type=gallery&ref=shop_search

We could have another discussion which is more to the point wether you like hand made products or not

Last but not least it is interesting wether Apple will stick to the current adapter size with Apple watch 2....
[doublepost=1457887640][/doublepost]

For me, yes. However, I did have an issue with the side rubber coating coming off on the retainer loop on Apple Classic Buckle. So, it too is not perfect. But at least the design is flawless. Leather quality is fine...soft and smooth (in saddle brown). My issue may have been a rare issue since i have not seen others have the same issue.

rubber coating on a leather retainer loop.

 

[Thai]

You know I respect your view but IMHO this is totally humbug. Your reference it the AW Classic Buckle only where you also feel to have an issue. Especially with the rev 1 Classic Band (made by Ecco) there where a lot of complaints about the quality of this band. I have rev 2 in both colors black and saddle brown and in my view they are nice but much over priced and last but not least lack any feeling or smell of leather...

You should buy yourself some other leather bands and than compare. Try a Horween one which are still a lot cheaper as the Apple bands. https://www.etsy.com/shop/E3SupplyC...r=date_desc&view_type=gallery&ref=shop_search

We could have another discussion which is more to the point wether you like hand made products or not

Last but not least it is interesting wether Apple will stick to the current adapter size with Apple watch 2....
[doublepost=1457887640][/doublepost]

rubber coating on a leather retainer loop.

I am sure that Classic Buckle is leather...and calf leather. Lack of smell may be due to the processing for uniform texture.

How are they overpriced? Just because it lacks smell? You seem to be an expert in leather. Explain for me.

B/w Apple's word vs. 3rd party word...I would take Apple's word on source of leather any day of the week.

So, given the two bands...AW CB vs. P&Q, which would you wear? That's the bottom line.

Horween? I don't care for the unfinished/uncoated sides. Again, it is a very traditional band with a modern watch...no harmony.

Sorry, I don't understand your smilies....

 

[mhoutman]

I am sure that Classic Buckle is leather...and calf leather. Lack of smell may be due to the processing for uniform texture.

How are they overpriced? Just because it lacks smell? You seem to be an expert in leather. Explain for me.

B/w Apple's word vs. 3rd party word...I would take Apple's word on source of leather any day of the week.

So, given the two bands...AW CB vs. P&Q, which would you wear? That's the bottom line.

Horween? I don't care for the unfinished/uncoated sides. Again, it is a very traditional band with a modern watch...no harmony.

Sorry, I don't understand your smilies....

Never mind. Let's respect our views and thoughts but IMHO a leather product should not have any coating except its natural oils. So please no rubber..

For me leather brings up emotion because it is a natural product which changes by age. Although I also bought the Apple Classic buckles, they don't bring these emotions, because they are too sterile.... Hand made products are never perfect or are so expensive only a few will buy them (Hermès).

If you say "tradional" I do not recommend Hermès as it is the perfect example of heritage found in leather. I love mine a lot but also wear it occasionally because it feel it is very vulnerable...

 

[Thai]

Never mind. Let's respect our views and thoughts but IMHO a leather product should not have any coating except its natural oils. So please no rubber..

For me leather brings up emotion because it is a natural product which changes by age. Although I also bought the Apple Classic buckles, they don't bring these emotions, because they are too sterile.... Hand made products are never perfect or are so expensive only a few will buy them (Hermès).

If you say "tradional" I do not recommend Hermès as it is the perfect example of heritage found in leather. I love mine a lot but also wear it occasionally because it feel it is very vulnerable...

Traditional by way of design/looks...not the actual heritage/history of the company making it. What did you think I meant?

What is the treatment on the sides of the Hermes?

Handmade leather are never the same from one sample to the next in the leather grain or subtle texture. It does NOT mean that you can forgive bad design and poor workmanship!!!!!! I am beginning to wonder if you understand leather.

Are you so sure that the leather of P&Q are 100% hand treated from the actual cow to your wrist?

 

[bmac4]

Traditional by way of design/looks...not the actual heritage/history of the company making it. What did you think I meant?

What is the treatment on the sides of the Hermes?

Handmade leather are never the same from one sample to the next in the leather grain or subtle texture. It does NOT mean that you can forgive bad design and poor workmanship!!!!!! I am beginning to wonder if you understand leather.

Are you so sure that the leather of P&Q are 100% hand treated from the actual cow to your wrist?

I can say I don't know much about leather, but the Apple CB is real leather and I have yet to find a third party band that comes close. I have the P&Q (we know it's short comings very well), I have a HOCO (much cheaper leather), and I have a Monowear band (again good but not up to the Apple band). I know the Hermès is true craftsmanship, but other then that the CB is the way to go.

 

[IphoneIssues]

I can say I don't know much about leather, but the Apple CB is real leather and I have yet to find a third party band that comes close. I have the P&Q (we know it's short comings very well), I have a HOCO (much cheaper leather), and I have a Monowear band (again good but not up to the Apple band). I know the Hermès is true craftsmanship, but other then that the CB is the way to go.

I guess if you want to be safe, but there are tons of leather bands on Etsy.

 

[bmac4]

I guess if you want to be safe, but there are tons of leather bands on Etsy.

Yeah I have been there and done that with my Moto 360 a couple of years ago, and every single one was not good. The leather was nice but stuff and as board. No thanks

 

[Night Spring]

I can say I don't know much about leather, but the Apple CB is real leather and I have yet to find a third party band that comes close. I have the P&Q (we know it's short comings very well), I have a HOCO (much cheaper leather), and I have a Monowear band (again good but not up to the Apple band). I know the Hermès is true craftsmanship, but other then that the CB is the way to go.

Back around June, I looked at some watch bands from Coach for around $90 that were quite nice, and at least in terms of leather quality, felt superior to Apple's. Of course, those were regular watch bands, and I would have needed a third party adapter to use them with the Apple Watch. Unfortunately, Coach stopped selling those bands. But I do think if you go to a good watch store, you can get good quality leather bands for less than a $100.

 

[xDKP]

Yeah I have been there and done that with my Moto 360 a couple of years ago, and every single one was not good. The leather was nice but stuff and as board. No thanks

Okay not a great experience, but it looks like there are some pretty damn nice on there

 

[mhoutman]

I can say I don't know much about leather, but the Apple CB is real leather and I have yet to find a third party band that comes close. I have the P&Q (we know it's short comings very well), I have a HOCO (much cheaper leather), and I have a Monowear band (again good but not up to the Apple band). I know the Hermès is true craftsmanship, but other then that the CB is the way to go.

Sure the Apple Classic Buckle bands are real leather, yet they do not give me the "leather experience" I desire or expect from "real leather". The black Classic Buckle comes closer as it has a different texture.

As I own a Nomad, some P&Q's, a Hermès and the Apple Classic Buckles, it is nice to change bands now and then and have a complete different experience. Here the adapter system really shines.

A fews weeks ago I contacted Bexar Goods http://www.bexargoods.com/collections/watch-straps but never got a reply. Do you know these bands ? They seem nice bands but with a hefty price....

 

[bmac4]

Okay not a great experience, but it looks like there are some pretty damn nice on there

Yeah I have not had a great experience with ETSY, and the shipping took forever. It would take at least 2 or 3 weeks which is kind of crazy.

 

[bmac4]

Sure the Apple Classic Buckle bands are real leather, yet they do not give me the "leather experience" I desire or expect from "real leather". The black Classic Buckle comes closer as it has a different texture.

As I own a Nomad, some P&Q's, a Hermès and the Apple Classic Buckles, it is nice to change bands now and then and have a complete different experience. Here the adapter system really shines.

A fews weeks ago I contacted Bexar Goods http://www.bexargoods.com/collections/watch-straps but never got a reply. Do you know these bands ? They seem nice bands but with a hefty price....

I have never heard of those before. They looks pretty nice, but maybe a little rugged for my taste. Have you seen anyone review them?

 

[mhoutman]

I have never heard of those before. They looks pretty nice, but maybe a little rugged for my taste. Have you seen anyone review them?

No not yet. I have send them 3 mails but never got any response.

On ETSy: I had only one experience with ETSY and that was with the Pad & Quill store. They were extremely fast with sending their old stock items

 

[bmac4]

No not yet. I have send them 3 mails but never got any response.

On ETSy: I had only one experience with ETSY and that was with the Pad & Quill store. They were extremely fast with sending their old stock items

Oh wow great customer service to not send you an email back.

Well the experience I had was with small vendors. P&Q were not on ETSY when I ordered. I got my P&Q direct from them which took 2 months. I pre ordered and it said it would be released in December. Then they pushed it back further in December, and then into January. I did not get mine until the middle of January.

 

[mhoutman]

Oh wow great customer service to not send you an email back.

Well the experience I had was with small vendors. P&Q were not on ETSY when I ordered. I got my P&Q direct from them which took 2 months. I pre ordered and it said it would be released in December. Then they pushed it back further in December, and then into January. I did not get mine until the middle of January.

The Classic Band I presume ?

 

[bmac4]

The Classic Band I presume ?

Yeah I think so. I just throw it in the pile of all the other bands I have after I tried it on. I was very disappointed in the band.

 

[Thai]

Sure the Apple Classic Buckle bands are real leather, yet they do not give me the "leather experience" I desire or expect from "real leather". The black Classic Buckle comes closer as it has a different texture.

As I own a Nomad, some P&Q's, a Hermès and the Apple Classic Buckles, it is nice to change bands now and then and have a complete different experience. Here the adapter system really shines.

A fews weeks ago I contacted Bexar Goods http://www.bexargoods.com/collections/watch-straps but never got a reply. Do you know these bands ? They seem nice bands but with a hefty price....

Be careful with using the adapter system...i would use Loctite if you exchange the leather bands on the adapter often. I have heard stories where the screws work themselves loose.

Isn't Hermes band same texture as Classic Buckle Saddle Brown??

 

[xDKP]

Yeah I have not had a great experience with ETSY, and the shipping took forever. It would take at least 2 or 3 weeks which is kind of crazy.

I bought a filt sleeve for my rMB in there. Extremely nice, fast shipping and couldn't be happier. Haven't used Etsy for the bands yet though

 

[IphoneIssues]

No not yet. I have send them 3 mails but never got any response.

On ETSy: I had only one experience with ETSY and that was with the Pad & Quill store. They were extremely fast with sending their old stock items

3 emails and no response...and then I see see people asking them all kinds of things on their Instagram page and not one response.

I don't know what's wrong with these people. When you posted the link about the sale, I thought about grabbing one. Even considered the full-priced deep blue. However, I refuse to patronize a company that doesn't respect their customers.


As for my experience on Etsy, I've only dealt with Arrow and Board. They say it can take around 2 weeks, but bands were always shipped within 5 days. Got delivered in 2-4 days. Mind you, there's a 1,000+ mile distance between where they are and where I am.

I sent an email to them the first time because my package had shipped 3 days prior and there had been no updates. Got a response an hour later. Sent several emails back and forth with them, between the two bands I bought. Always got a quick response. I completely recommend them.

 

[mhoutman]

3 emails and no response...and then I see see people asking them all kinds of things on their Instagram page and not one response.

I don't know what's wrong with these people. When you posted the link about the sale, I thought about grabbing one. Even considered the full-priced deep blue. However, I refuse to patronize a company that doesn't respect their customers.

Fully agree, nice website, nice products but lack of response...it is a crazy world.
[doublepost=1458135321][/doublepost]

I have never heard of those before. They looks pretty nice, but maybe a little rugged for my taste. Have you seen anyone review them?

Here is a review wth additional comments. https://www.reddit.com/r/AppleWatch/comments/3fnw47/bexar_apple_watch_band_review/

 

[IphoneIssues]

I've been hearing nice things about this brand:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/BlackForestAtelier


Nice selection.

 

[mhoutman]

I've been hearing nice things about this brand:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/BlackForestAtelier


Nice selection.

Well I send two mails and never got a reply. They are in Vietnam/Germany)

 

[IphoneIssues]

Well I send two mails and never got a reply. They are in Vietnam/Germany)

Why is it that these guys don't seem to like you?

 

[mhoutman]

Why is it that these guys don't seem to like you?

probably

 

[Mr Kram]

are you guys familiar with Rob Montana? he makes custom watch straps intended for higher end mechanical watches. his straps are easily adaptable to the apple watch market. his stuff isn't cheap, but it's top notch craftsmanship. i am not affiliated with him, but i am a customer. strapsmith dot com.