What Makes A Quality Watch Strap? Leather, Stitching, Edges. A Guide for Wrist Watches. 

The wallets are sold out. Big thank you to all supporters! I will get in contact with you today.

Machine sewing a watch strap uses two spools of thread: the top thread (Oberfaden) and the bobbin thread (Unterfaden). The bobbin thread only shows at the bottom, and the top thread only shows at the top. It is just as easy to match the bobbin thread to the strap lining as it is to use the same colour as the top thread. Different coloured thread showing on the lining side isn't evidence of cheap construction, except insofar as it is an indicator of machine rather than hand sewing. You can achieve the same effect when hand sewing if you use a stitching awl (with a bobbin inside) rather than saddle stitching: rather than using a single thread to push through each hole and to secure each stitch, you can use a separate thread in a different colour to stitch and to secure.

Leather worker here! For the strap linings the most common problem is actually that crappy leather is used. I've found straps that have like a canvas impregnated with "leather" residues and is marked as "genuine leather". On quality straps or handmade ones made from high end artisans you can expect premium calf usually, on my straps I use Zermatt Calf leather from tannery Haas, which is specifically designed to be used on watch strap linings for example! Glad to see a video with many insights about the leather working processes to educate people about what they are buying!

Wow wow. So many talents. We are enjoying the fruits of all your dedicated work. Thank you ☺️

With your interest in watches, and leather, the obvious product you should make and sell to your channel viewers is a leather watch roll/travel roll.

I always enjoy the musical outros, thanks for the tips in this video Tim, that’s high quality craftsmanship.

I love your videos from style to watches and especially leather! Thanks Tim

Those straps look amazing

Still my favourite watch channel

love it Tim.

Great looking wallets - and shoes. In both cases, quality comes at a price, but I'd say it's the right price.

Hey Tim, I had to work all my way thru this leather thing until finally be rewarded by this nice guitar concert .

Thanks Tim, great content, information and outro of course 👍😉.

Nice music and guitar playing Tim!

Very well played!

skipped straight to the song. And gave that thumbs up. Loving the content

thanks for the useful video! I'd love if you had gone even deeper and given your opinion of say branded Omega or JLC straps costing €300 vs. say the €100-150 straps some youtubers sell vs. say Hirsch or Morrellato, both of which I have often found perfectly good and cost less than €40. I often feel that given the strap is for a luxury watch people think they can overcharge

A like and comment to feed the algorithm. Useful for me as I just bought a Longines Heritage Diver, on a sailcloth strap. I'm planning to buy a couple of interchangeable straps.

Thank you! I just bought a beautiful vintage gold GS and I've been looking for a great strap to go with it. Now I know a little bit better what to look for. Also, I really really enjoy your music. Bravo!

Great idea for a video. I can't say that I have seen this topic on any of my regular channels.

Thanks for sharing this Tim - I have been dabbling in a bit of leather work myself, but have yet to make a decent watch strap - your work and perspectives are an inspiration ⌚✊🏼

Nice music , love it❤

It took me years to figure out why I hated my straps so much. i thought they just needed time to break in, but the reality was, they just had this plasticky varnish over the top. A lot of the straps sold at local jewelers in the US were like this. Thanks to the internet, I can now find exactly what I want in the way of straps. And often times for not much more money than the cheap looking ones I used to buy. I feel bad for you that Allen Edmonds cost so much in Europe. I live just 15 miles from the factory in Wisconsin and I find deals on AE for often $150 or even less sometimes. (though not for their iconic models like the Strand or the Park Avenue). Kudos for you and your part time Wallet business. I am a recent convert to quality minimalist wallets. My current wallet is from a local place here in Wisconsin called Mitchell Leather Works. I bought one of their Wallets made out of Horween leather, and 18 months on, it still looks and functions great.

Your new shoes will last decades. Very wise choice. I've had my AE shoes for a few years, and with shoe trees and proper maintenance, they will look better than new for many years to come.

Nice finger work on that solo. Keep it up.

I am sure only guys playing guitar understand the difficulty of what you play. A lot more difficult than people think.....always a pleasure !!

‘Saddle Soap’ is a good product for cleaning and preserving leather, it contains lanolin and beeswax.

I just received 2 Rios straps from Germany. Extremely pleased with the quality, especially the single riveted pilot strap made from vintage leather. I think I'll try Eichmüller next. Thank-you for the performance Tim. Live music seems like a distant memory.

Just received a Rios buffalo leather strap that you recommended in another video. Great quality and super affordable. Thanks for the info, Tim

Love the music!

Yes, good question! They can all look good initially.

'Chinese music always sets me free, Angular banjos sound good to me' Steely Dan - Aja Great playing man! The stuff you put on the leather, I think is called 'dubbin'. We used to put on our football boots back in the day. Shouldn't your Presscard be tucked into your hatband? 'Let me through, I'm a hungry newshound!' Love those brogue shoes :)

Very interesting Tim and a good fix of Jazz Manouche guitar...............................

Another great video yet again. Always great information and content. Love the leather work and can appreciate the handmade workmanship. The musical ending is always a great bonus. Love anything Django...... My problem with straps is I can't seem to find a manufacturer who makes long enough leather straps to fit my 8" wrist and not end up always having to be useing the last hole. Yes they just about fits but useing the last hole makes it look terrible and I can't always keep the tail end in the loops. Can anyone help please?

Just wanted to mention that if you put a different color thread in the bobin when using a machine you will get different color from top to bottom so they may be sewn all the way through. Just a thought

Thank you Tim. Maybe a next video on how to care for watch straps 👍

Thank you very much for this video on leather straps. I wonder why there are not more videos on this subject. In fact, when you say that you have hundreds of leather straps I was hoping that you would show us many more. In my city I don't have any shop with a big stock of leather straps... I would really appreciate videos on the best of them. Perhaps you could show us the work of other people as you do with watches. I would love to buy more straps but when I do on the internet most of the times I am disappointed either by the color, the quality or just because it is not quite the match I expected... and they can really make the difference. I bought a vintage Datejust on a leather strap and it was nice, but man, what a change the day I bought the jubilee! I am sure I am not the only one thinking that this is like wearing the best suit with the wrong shoes. By the way, Tim, I encourage you to start using your own name as a brand. Caseback Watches is a nice name don't get me wrong, but it hides the real value on this channel which is not the watches (and even less their caseback), but your personal taste and opinions, your friendliness, the way you communicate and even your music. I just realised that you show Spanish Sherry "Amontillado" on your intro. Muy bien!!!! Don't forget to try some Jamón Ibérico of the best quality next time you visit us If you haven't already. You will thank me for this piece of advice. Cheers and keep the good work!

There is an old saying in English (usually expressed when one is gambling and hoping for a winning result, but sometimes used when embarking on a risky business venture as well) "Baby needs a new pair of shoes." Using the wallet money for shoes made me think of that. :)

When can we expect the first Caseback strap collection? Has to be on the cards Tim.

As for wallets--I have stopped carrying a bill-fold: now I just have a carrier for my 2-3 ID cards, a single bank card, and maybe enough space to shove a bank note. Slimline is the way forward!

My favorite edging I've never seen on a watch strap, but look at how R Horns in Vienna does edges

Great video. Really cool video idea. What do you think about Colareb Straps?:)

Hi Tim, What do you think of Mancave Leather straps? I've bought a couple of them and have enjoyed mine.

I wouldn’t skip clasps. I’ve found that a good deployant clasp significantly increases the lifespan of a leather strap

Hi Tim, great Video! I assume from your subtle accent and the Giro-Card, that you are German. Do you have any suggestions for a good online or brick and mortar shop based in Germany, best case in Hamburg. Cheers, Thorben

what is the brand name of this substance in the jar that you are using for sealing?

I loved everything about this episode; but especially the Django Reinhart tune ... Terrific ! btw - Have You had the opportunity, to check "Hell Bent for Leather ... the Saga of the A- 2 & G-1 Flight Jackets" ? (by Derick Nelson & Dave Parsons) On a previous video, I may have misdirected you ? As the Title was incomplete. So, your computer may have taken you to a old movie western ! Hope this will correct the issue. And better still You'll enjoy the book.

Have you considered working with Shell Cordovan?

I wish that I would have seen this video three days ago. I bought a leather strap off of ebay. One thing that I have noticed is that many sellers only show the top side of the strap and no edges

Maybe it's just me, but I pay way too much attention to the buckle on a watch, I need it to flow with the design of the watch

First! I'm on a streak....

Horse hide no ciushion...is good stuff!

Just sent my email.... please do a video for hot/humid weather straps soon.... Also you have me hooked on Django Reinhardt to the consternation of my father who is a devoted smooth jazz person...(many many car trips with miles davis in the background)

How to get one Time stamp should be 11:15

I would like to get a wallet good sir

My father makes leather...he usually seals the edges with a wax (not a rubber)

Not first.

get the Handmade Italian Vintage Style Brown Center Cut Crocodile, Tacking-Stitching #GR-VIN02 from long island watch!

Did I hear a string bass on your guitar recording?

what do you thiN k of strap master -DANGEROUS 9---D9

You have to start with a happy cow...

Me: that strap looks nice Tim: this strap is shit Me: that strap is shit

Yes we all know Tim has a not so secret life as a jazz musician. But he obviously needs a line of products making expensive jazz inspired BDSM gear. Matching burgundy leather guitar strap and whip perhaps?

Having different colored thread on the top and bottom does not suggest anything about quality. It does suggest that it was not hand sewn but instead machine sewn. A saddle stitch would make it impossible to have one color on one side.

Do you make watch straps?

Need a coin holder wallet............