How Old Luxurious Wallets Are Turned Into Handmade Leather Watch Straps

As a leather artisan, I recently had the opportunity to repurpose two exquisite wallets into unique leather watch straps. One was a custom-made black alligator wallet that had been ageing gracefully for over a decade, while the other was a Russian reindeer leather wallet from George Cleverley that had seen some wear and tear due to a lack of reconditioning. The plan was to re-use the material of the wallet for a watch strap that will later be used on vintage Vacheron Constantin and Cartier Tank watches. In this blog post, I will share with you the step-by-step process of how I repurposed these wallets, as well as the end result of the transformation.

Step 1 - Assessing the Wallets 

The first step in repurposing the wallets was to carefully assess their condition and determine the best way to utilise the leather. The black alligator wallet was still in excellent condition, with the scales showing a rich patina from years of use. The Russian reindeer leather wallet, on the other hand, had some scratches and scuffs that needed to be addressed before it could be transformed into a watch strap. Upon checking and measuring, it was determined that two straps could be made out of the alligator leather and one strap from the Russian reindeer leather.

 Step 2 - Cutting and Creasing  

 I carefully cut out the leather pieces needed for each strap from the respective wallets. The alligator scales were carefully selected to ensure proper symmetry of the watch strap. Zermatt leather was used for the lining on all straps, which added durability and a contrasting colour to the straps. To ensure added comfort and profile, I added padding to the straps as requested by the client, carefully layering it between the alligator and reindeer leather pieces. This added thickness and plushness to the straps, making them more comfortable to wear and enhancing their overall aesthetic appeal.

Once they were all cut into shapes, I started creasing the edges of the watch straps. In leather-crafting, creasing refers to the process of creating a decorative indentation or groove on the surface of the leather. This is typically done using a heated creasing tool that is pressed into the leather to create a groove or line. Creasing can be used for various purposes, such as adding decorative details, marking stitching lines, or creating clean folds for edge finishing. It requires skill and precision to achieve consistent and even creases, and it adds a professional and polished look to leather projects.

Step 3: Stitching and Edge Painting

Next, I stitched all the straps using the saddle stitch method, a traditional and durable hand-stitching technique that would ensure the watch straps would stand the test of time. I used high-quality linen thread that matched the colour of the leather for a subtle look. After stitching, I carefully painted the edges of the straps with multiple layers of edge paint. Each of the paint layers was then sanded down and heated to create a smooth, polished finish. The same process was applied to the loop keepers. 

Step 4: Attaching Hardware and Buckles