Barenia, also known as Novonappa, hails from Tanneries Haas located on the Rhine River plain in France. Still owned and run by the founding family, the sixth-generation tannery carries its extensive knowledge in calfskin processing through to its products. Having strong partnerships with high-end luxury fashion brands including Hermès, Chanel, and Bottega Veneta, Tanneries Haas also developed product-specific expertise, not least in the watch strap industry, where the Barenia and Zermatt articles are synonymous with beauty, comfort, and reliability.

The buttery-smooth calfskin has a mellow and plush feel, with just the right amount of rigidity and flex. Fine pores on its surface not only add to the leather's beautiful grain, but grant it the ability to catch the light at a range of angles. This results in a soft gloss which complements the mild patina that it develops with use and time.

While one would associate such features with the need for delicate handling, Barenia has not only survived but shone in its last 50 years' use in handbags, footwear, and saddlery. Such time-tested excellence would certainly do well on your wrist.

The Alran tannery was established in the south of France, producing stunning goatskins and calfskins with the black mountains and lush forests as its backyard. The tannery's attention to detail developed naturally as its primary clientele in its early years were upholstery, book, and shoemakers, creators of products which had to stand up to close scrutiny. Alran continues to actively innovate and work closely with the most prestigious design houses to evolve their range of offerings.

Alran's Chèvre goatskin is immediately recognisable from its texture and grain. The slight pebbled texture is a result of a manual technique done by hand to reinforce and emphasise the natural grain of the leather. A smooth surface and a slight gloss immediately imparts luxuriousness to products made with this leather. Not only a feast for the eyes, chèvre is also strongly water and scratch-resistant, and is a great option for the exteriors of watch straps.

Hands down, Crazy Horse leather lives up to its name. Evoking images of cowboys, saddlery, and the Wild West, this leather is what you get when you mix Nubuck and Pueblo into one. Velvety soft and yet able to take a beating, these straps will develop a patina with rugged charm. Colour variations give it a visual texture which is only improved with time and use as it flexes, shifts, and collects the marks of your daily adventures.

Nubuck has a softer hand feel with a short and even nap. Crafted from the outer layers of cowhide, Nubuck offers more structure, and is more robust for active wear. Straps made with Nubuck can take a pounding, and lend a visual kick to your wrist.

The Badalassi Carlo tannery from Tuscany, Italy, wields over 40 years of experience and tradition in hand-finished vegetable tanned cowhides. The strong personality of this tannery is visible in the vibrant and instantly recognisable leathers that have made waves in the footwear and bagmaking world.

Badalassi Carlo is also a member of the Consorzio Vera Pelle Italiana Conciata Al Vegetable, a consortium of leather tanneries sharing the same high standards of production, and a mark of quality and authenticity.

Pueblo, named as a tribute to the indigenous peoples of south-western USA with strong character, offers a hand feel like no other. Its rough surface belies a supple cowhide, offering both ruggedness and elegance in a single package. The distinct artificial scratch patterns on its surface are achieved by rolling iron balls over the more classic 'Minerva ' article. Easy to maintain, Pueblo quickly patinas into a smooth surface that loses none of its rustic, vintage feel.

Founded in 1951, the Shinki Hikaku tannery is nestled in Kobe, Japan. True to Japanese reputation, the hides produced by this quiet horsehide expert display a high level of attention to detail.

Dubbed the diamond of leathers, shell cordovan is made from the muscle around the horse's rump which forms a "shell". It is an exceedingly rare leather for three reasons. First, only two small oval shaped areas can result from each animal. Second, horses are only raised as part of the food chain in a few places in the world, resulting in a low supply of horsehides as a byproduct. Third, shell cordovan techniques require complicated tanning techniques that take up to six months to complete.

Shell is particularly at home as a watch strap, one of its signature properties being that it tends to ripple rather than crease. Shinki Hikaku's version of the leather is also extremely clean and uniform, and can show off cool tones and depth of colour.