ricardmg

Both straps sold, but third aged buckle still available for making last strap like the others... Anyone interested?

Hi!

Resting in my little flat by the sea this summer, I received an order from a kind customer, very satisfied with last strap made for him. Although I was in holidays, I had a 'lite' kit for strapmaking with me, so I accepted only this order, a very special order I want to share with all users.

Customer asked me for a LEGACY strap for PAM (strap series usually made for Tudor Black Bay watches) but adding a sewn GPF-mod buckle. I suggested to submit the buckle to an aging process into the sea, because strap will be for a Homage vintage watch project and it will look better instead of 'brand new' buckle. Here I'll show all the process done from the beginning. This is... HOW2MAKE a LEGACY-GPF strap...

First I show you the beach where I use to enjoy my holidays...

Well... I started aging treatment for 3 buckles, one for customer strap (26mm), another for having other strap in stock and for upcoming 'pro' pics (24mm) and last buckle for future strap (24mm).

Buckles were brand new...

First step was a fresh bath, tying buckles using fishing line to avoid lost of any buckle. After 3 hours of free surfing, next step.

Second step was 'gravel and sand hand-brushing'...

and stone brushing...

Here are the buckles after first day in the beach.

After that, I submerge buckles into the sea overnight, tying them to a rock in a hidden corner of the coast...

Meanwhile I started straps, one in 26/26mm for the customer and the other one in 24/24mm. Both 130/80mm. I chose Siena brown for back side and Legacy leather from a spanish tannery.

Cutting 4 pieces, larger than 130mm and 80mm

I use to bend backside for best fitting once strap is finished. Coming up next, I cut Legacy leather, larger than backside leather because is necessary to do lug and buckle holes. Is not necessary to cut this leather exactly because I'll do it later.

Next step is to glue backside and Legacy leather, putting on glue generously...

Wait a couple of minutes and hitch both pieces firmly. After this step, cut excess leather with scissors.

and we have preliminary straps...

At the morning after rescue buckles from the sea and make another hand brushing with gravel, sand and stones, was the moment of a glass of champagne...

Well, not exactly champagne... maybe better a mixture of salty water, sulfhidric acid, copper coins and gravel for these buckles.

And wait one day...

This was the result of corrosion...

Nice, isn't it?

Meanwhile, watching some old movies in the TV at the same time, I was continuing the straps...

Next step was to add a thin leather piece for lug and buckle holes, to improve durability and best fitting:

Cutting excess leather in the sides and measuring always 26/26mm and 24/24mm

For making lug holes, I use a simple toothpick as you can see...

I engage both sides once glue is dry...

Here you can see lug holes done in both straps...

Buckles were submerged again into the sea, so I continued with straps...

Next step was 'edge cut' in large strap part. You can see how I use to do, measuring 130mm in this case and using a cutting tool.

But the edges need something special for this strap, isn't it?

I applied my 'secret formula'...

Do you like it? :thumbup:

Next step was keeper. Customer wanted one big fixed keeper, so I made as silicone PAM straps, one one keeper but not floating, fixed, instead of 2 small keepers (one fixed and another one floating). For this strap, one keeper gives more vintage looking and I prefer because fits very well once is finished.

I cut a small piece of Legacy leather, pasting calf leather in the back side, pasting keeper in the small part of strap.

and we got it!

Do you remember the buckles?

After long time into the sea, I rescued and applied last brushing treatment for taking away oxide.

Buckles finished, more or less 30 years of aging, having a fresh bath in the sea again ready for fitting straps...

Next step in the straps was to cut buckle pin hole, 4 mm width...

And this is how both straps look with sewn aged buckles...

Next step is stitching hole picking... I start with large strap part from edge to case side.

And when large strap is pricked, I make small strap part measuring it with large strap part from case side to buckle side...

I holed buckle side end...

And now, strap is ready for stitching...

Customer wanted dark brown stitching, so I made it and stitched the other strap using natural white thread...

What do you prefer? Brown or natural white...? :thumbup:

Now is time for buckle pin holes in the strap. I made 3,5mm of diameter holes, measuring first hole at 55mm from case end, and the marking 4 holes more using a template for 26mm and another template for 24mm.

And last step... (I use to put a paperboard piece in the back side to avoid undesirable marks on it)

And here I introduce these 2 beautiful straps...

Legacy-GPF 130/80-26/26mm brown stitching...

Legacy-GPF 130/80-24/24mm natural white stitching...

Both together...

And fitting a PAM 111:

I hope customer like it, and you...

Thanks for looking!

Hi!

I want to show you the new strap I made for my Montblanc Timewalker Chrono, my 'workhorse' watch in which I test all my new creations. I think it's a great watch for testing as it's stylish, versatile and 'adventurer' as it has that 'flieger' spirit that we like in it and in other brands.

I called this strap 'Legacy', and is made from dark gray 'distressed' leather (look at the texture in the pics...), with high quality and pretty hard to find in Barcelona. The leather is thin but it goes very well with calf base that I have put to make padded finish that you could see in the pictures.

Once made, it is flexible but rigid enough to fit heavy cases (like Timewalker's).

The strap has waxed edges to give it a top finish and enhanced durability, together with the full sewing with double finishing near the case and buckle side.

You can see some pics...






Some pics on my Montblanc Timewalker Chrono... (I like it a lot!!!!)






Some wrist shots...




and also, based on some requests on different watches (especially Tudor Black Bay, but obviously PAM, IWC, etc...), you just need to change sizes, the thread color or/and stitching style, padded or not padded finish, and the strap will have a new look ... just have to try combinations ...


 

and some daylight pics...

Waiting for your comments,

Thanks for looking!

Now available on sales section:

http://www.rwgforum.net/index.php?/topic/167587-FS%3A-2-Aged-light-brown-vintage-straps

For me its a little too rough , the leather i mean , but the strap it self looks greatVerzonden vanaf mijn iPad met behulp van Tapatalk Pro

Good opinion!

The rough finish is applied for retro-vintage look, very different vs. calf or croco leathers.

Hi!

I am new to this forum and i must say that i love that vintage look! You made it yourself?

Yep!

Wrist pic right now wearing my pilot jacket

Hi!

After wearing during this Christmas holidays my Montblanc Timewalker Chrono 7753 with stainless steel bracelet, ideal for dressy purposes, after surviving family feasts I decided to make another strap for this outstanding watch, trying to give it a strong vintage feel.

Stirring vintage leather hides at home I thought convenient to use again a leather used lately for the V40 series. Now, I've made a strap with marked 'flieger' look, considering the watch spirir and dial, making it with generous padding, leather and edges aged processing and full stitching to match white dial marks. It will develop a great patina with using.

I called 'Legend' to this strap...

After fitting it on the watch and wearing, I've rolled back to any military flight during the 40's.

I hope you like my last work for this watch

Here are some pics:










Do you like it?
Thanks for looking!

In love with this watch, and your added watch band tops it off. Where can I find more information about this stunner?

Obviously...ask to me

Bienvenido al foro!

Hi to all! finally I do a review... The protagonists are: Montblanc Timewalker Chrono-7753, purchased to Ryan less than a month ago. OstriX SupremE, brandy brown genuine ostrich strap selfmade (didymoStrapS) Well, before this Timewalker, I already had the previous version 7750 Chrono. In the new version with 7753 movement, the datewheel is much closer to the dial, while not completely sunk as all 7750 chronos with datewheel at 4.30. Also takes a pretty decent AR (green), resembling to GEN, which gives a much more 'credible' than the previous 7720 version without AR. The subdials are somewhat sunken on the dial than the previous version. My impression is that this dial is 'stuck' to the GEN, not yet having found no significant difference. Regarding the case, is much better finished, especially in the 'Montblanc stars' is in the 4 handles. The backside is identical to the previous one, having corrected the 4810 501 number in the rotor to 4810 502. The movement is very fine, and finally the date change button at 10... 'works'!! yeahhh!! They have also added some lume, nothing spectacular (like the GEN, which is neither) but at least something has, unlike the previous version was not wearing ... I bought this watch with steel bracelet, which gives you a breathtaking majesty when you take it, although I've done a strap to dress as you can see in the pics. The strap is my new creation, the Supreme OstriX, brandy brown genuine ostrich. Just have to say that is my favorite strap and... I'll not sell it! Here are the pics ... Thanks for looking!!

Benvingut a RWG! Seu i acomoda't. Salutacions des de Barcelona Ricard

4,5mm aprox. There's no problem on thickness.. It's easy to so thicker or thiner straps from this leather.

I prefer to so thicker near the case and decrease from there to strap end for better fitting at holes.

Thanks Andy for purchase it and to be a great customer! (we've wrote and respond more than 20 emails to do this strap

Regards

Ricard

Hi!

Recently I've purchased a superlume GMT from Trevor. I've owned another GMT before and I found this watch with greenish hands in comparison with dial marks. Do you think the same?

What mods I got to do to obtain a great GMT from this? AR cyclops? Gen bezel? Crown?

Where could I found these mods?

I want to build it step by step...

Thanks to all!

I'm glad to know that you liked my creation. A pleasure working for you.

Hi friends!!

Today i've rest in a hotel in Barcelona to enjoy a great day and charge batteries before start a limited series of croco straps for a spanish forum. I'll post some pics when I finish these 35 straps (for pam, iwc, breitling, tag heuer, hublot, APiguet and otbers...). Today i attach this explicit pic...

Every strap of the PRESTIGE SERIES is characterized by its distinctive design, made from selected leather and the highest level finishes to conserve the classic design that many customers wants for their watches.

'PRESTIGGIO' is a Pre-V design strap with 1 fix and 1 float keeper and fully stitched. With 4mm thickness, is flexible and consistent enough. All handmade finishes are intended to resemble the classic Pre-Vendome design, highly appreciated by many 'paneristis' (aged brown burnished edges, vintage character, fine thread, makings between sewing and edges, marked keepers...). 'Prestiggio' straps can be customized with black, brown, natural and white thread.

A few pics...

Thanks for lookin'!!

Looks great! Very unique design and strap!

Yes! This is an unique and limited creation. I think that is original and very different as classic creations (as I like too).

Thanks for lookin'!!

Hi friends,

proudly I want to introduce one of my last creations into didymoStrapS's Limited Series: 'VENDETTA'

This strap is 'V' graven and stitched, made for all types of watches, providing a unique and exclusive vintage look as you can see.

Firm and flexible with 4 to 6mm of thickness, is very comfortable due to having premium cowhide on its back. I've customized this strap according to customers preferences (thread color, number of holes, etc...).

Take a look, please...

I wait for your comments...

Thanks for looking.

Here i post some crappy pics...

#1:

#2:

Thanks for looking!!

Hi friends!

Recently I've received an order from Trevor...two 111M HB factory, but i think that are different...I'll call #1 and #2.

#1 has a rubber strap that smells vanilla (#2 odorless), crown more separate from case on #1 than #2, CG tigher on #2 than #1, numbers and hour marks less deeper on #1 than #2 (very difficult to see) and movement winding more noisy on #1 than #2.

Do you think that #1 really correspond to hublot factory? And #2? Is #2 from NOOB factory?

Thanks!!

I got the same problem.

Please, inform to us when will be possible to upgrade

Best regards

Sorry,

But don't smash your watches with it.