Cognac Shell Cordovan Slim Strap
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Shell Cordovan is the top tier leather available, before the category of exotics. It comes from the hind of a horse, and because the fibres are packed so densely together, the leather that results from that is incredibly durable. While Shell Cordovan is usually a stiff leather, when made in the Slim style, it is very flexible and a great companion to your dress watch.
The Shell Cordovan we use comes from Shinki Hikaku tannery in Japan. Typical of most shell cordovan, it has a high gloss finish. Unique to Shinki Shell, the surface is extremely uniform and clean, with a beautiful depth of colour. This leather is so durable that it is likely to last as long as your mechanical timepiece!
Excerpt from Strap Guide by Tom: "The earliest known use cases for Shell Cordovan leather was in armour breast plates and shields of the 7th century. It's non-porous and non-creasing surface and ability to maintain oils from the tanning process made it superior to most leathers in term of both durability and water resistance. Today it is mostly appreciated for its natural and unmistakable shine and is mostly used in quality shoes and boots. The Cognac color gives the Tank a quite casual but still elegant look."
Specifications
What's Included
Strap Length Guide
There are two sides per strap, which we refer to as the long end and the short end, which are represented by C and D respectively in the diagram below.
Our handcrafted leather straps come in 3 different lengths.
- Small (C: 105mm, D: 65mm)
- Medium (C: 115mm, D: 70mm)
- Large (C: 125mm, D: 75mm)
A quick way to decide on the length to get is based on your wrist size. Here is the general recommendation (if you are between sizes, we recommend to size up):
- Wrist size of 14.5cm - 17.0cm: Small
- Wrist size of 16.5cm - 19.0cm : Medium
- Wrist size of 18.5cm - 21.0cm: Large
If you need a strap that is shorter than Small (105/65), or longer than Large (125/75), you can always have the strap custom made.
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| Measurements | Description | S | M | L |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Lug width | Varies by lug width (see product listing) |
||
| B | Buckle width | |||
| C | Long strap length | 105mm | 115mm | 125mm |
| D | Short strap length | 65mm | 70mm | 75mm |
| E | Distance to middle hole | 63mm | 71mm | 81mm |
| F | Distance between holes | 6mm | ||
| G | Size of holes | 1.8mm | ||
| Number of Strap Holes | 7 | 7 | 7 | |
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Hope this quick guide helps! Finding the perfect length to get can be a little bit more complicated, as it also depends on the lug-to-lug distance of your watch, and even the shape of your wrist. For a more detailed guide on sizing, please check out this page.
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Find Your Lug Width
If you're looking to purchase a strap for your watch, you will need to know the lug width of your watch. Lug width refers to "A" in this schematic below.
There are two ways to find out the lug width of your watch.
- Firstly, you can Google "<watch brand and model> lug width" and see if there is an answer from the brand's website, or some other websites.
- Alternatively, you can simply take a ruler and measure the lug width directly on your watch.
Lug widths are typically in whole numbers, and while the most common lug widths are between 18-22mm, they can go down to 8mm or up to 32mm even. Our ready stock straps are available in 16mm, 17mm, 18mm, 19mm, 20mm, 21mm, 22mm, 24mm and 26mm. If you need other lug widths, you can have it custom made.
You will then need to purchase a strap of the same lug width. For example, if your watch has a lug width of 20mm, you will need to purchase strap with a width of 20-16.
Note: Our Widths typically have two numbers, for example 20-16. The first number (20) refers to the lug width ("A" in the schematic above). The second number (16) refers to the buckle width ("B" in the schematic above). You just need to ensure that the first number matches the lug width of your watch.Â
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Patina Potential
This strap will patina over time, and hence the surface texture and colour of the strap will change with use. Patina is a soft glow on the leather that develops through friction and wear. Patina is often said to enhance a product (it gets better with age) as the leather product develops a character that is an amalgamation of all the conditions that it's exposed to.
Vegetable Tanned
The animal hide is turned into leather through a tanning process that uses tree tannins and water. Veg-tan is a more natural tanning process, and the resultant leather is typically more durable (and also stiffer), with colours that are rich and deep in character - mostly natural and earthy tones. Veg-tan leather has no synthetic coating and hence is able to absorb moisture and oil, and will patina over time.
