Donerix 2.0

This is a cheap strap from AliExpress and it is not an exact replica of the original strap (different tail) but the material is very smooth without attracting lint and the fitment is very good Newest addition: Peter Blake

Thanks. Should have not been that trusting I guess. What a poor way to make a living though. Hope Karma will catch up with him one day...

I was offered a replica Omega mesh bracelet from Bryan007. Sent payment for the agreed amount of $180 on December 31st. He confirmed receipt of payment and promised to ship it out and send me the tracking number. Haven't heard from him since despite several attempts to contact him and seeing that he has been on the forum in the meantime. I understand that due to the situation of the forum ownership there is really no admin team, but I wanted to at least warn other members. In my research I found out that the same bracelet (identical photos) has also been offered to people on the Omegaforum.... Be aware

Still in the honeymoon phase:

Just got this:

An unusual combo but I dig it:

FXD on Bonetto rubber nato

FXD on Bonetto rubber nato

This does look pretty awesome I have to say. ...

I see I am not the only one in this predicament. Maybe (another one) I should have a look at the sales section and see if something tickles my fancy...

I still remember when the release of a new watch of a certain brand would send my heart rate into unhealthy territory and inject serious amounts of endorphins in my blood stream. At first trying to satisfy my need for a fix by perusing countless pictures of said object online and then finally rushing to a store or watch show to see it in the flesh or - yes it could really happen - actually hold it in my own hands and feel the perfection of the steel between my fingertips. And the love for the more mature pieces and the never ending pursuit of the best possible build of the rarest of rare timepieces. Will I ever forget the moment when my eyes caught sight of a certain case shape between a mountain of worthless junk during the visit to a flea market in Germany which turned out to be an original Rolex GMT 6542 case with case back and original ghost dial completely devoid of any lume markers ..... I found the grail. And then the ensuing hunt for the right GMT movement from the original manufaktur to fill the missing link and the countless sleepless nights considering the sacrilege of actually re-luming this piece of history despite the fact that it was barley legible even in the brightest of lights. What happened to this passion that seemed to fill every free hour of the day? Or to the excitement of making a hand-stitched strap for the latest vintage Panerai from that perfect piece of old cow hide ripped from a dilapidated suitcase or well worn boxing speed bag? Why do I know seem to miss the logic in buying literally dozens of different endlinks to finally get the perfect fit for this vintage rivet bracelet for that Tudor build. Boxes of parts stare at me repeating the question: What happened? Was it the pandemic's fault, that gripped so many of us with it's subconscious depression and tried to pull us down? Why did I not make better use of these months where all economic activity had stopped and do something with this most valuable asset? Learn a new language, go out and surf, unlock that last thing that makes my golf swing still suck. Build some watches out of all these parts piling up in my work studio. Anything would have been better than wasting hours - which added up to days, if not weeks - watching depressing youtube videos or calculating the newest Worldometer numbers of new cases and COVID deaths for the next 24, 48 or 120 months... yes I really did that! But no. I think it had started before the news of the first cases started coming out of China. Somehow that light of passion for watches that had been glowing so strong and for so long had started to flicker already some time ago. But why? Was it because I had seen it and done it all? Barely. Why is it that the Tudor Black Bay 58 which should be right in my wheelhouse just gets a nod of deference with a snidely comment about it's chubby side profile compared to it's ancestors or that basically nothing in the current Rolex lineup even gets a second look. Panerai has already lost me a while ago with it's endless sequence of ever more identical looking models hidden in their model number salad. Have I become that jaded? I know my other passion, the one for four wheeled pieces of art is still going strong like always. Maybe it's because living in the Third World most of it needs to be satisfied online and only the occasional trip to Puerto Banus will get me a car fix strong enough to hold me over for a while. But shouldn't this also be the same for watches...? After all watch spotting there is a real treat in comparison to the fields of Nicaragua. But somehow the new Porsche GT3 Touring or the new Ferrari 296 GTB or the recreated Lambo Countach can do to me what neither a new Daytona nor Nautilus seem to be able to... Maybe I am just in a phase of reorientation .... having worn my Seiko Turtle every day for the last several months seems to point that way. Something that seemed unthinkable a couple of years ago especially considering the other pieces collecting dust in the watch box. And I am wearing it on the same strap all the time! And I didn't even make it! It's a ridiculously expensive Eulit perlon strap (worth very penny though if I am honest). I still enjoy making watch bands for other people though, but even there I have to admit that the creative challenges are getting harder to find between those orders for AP hornback or Hublot croc belly straps. Maybe I am just getting old? Maybe I need a change of scenery? Maybe I need a project? Maybe I need to see a shrink, because technically I have nothing to complain about. So why did I just type all this? I really don't know but I suddenly had to do it. Maybe to just get it off my chest. Thank you for allowing me to do so. Maybe, just maybe ( a lot of "maybe-s" for someone who usually doesn't have a problem making even tough decisions) you have an idea? Donerix

Manta Ray Turtle

Can't decide today:

6105-8000 build

Just unwrapped this:

Willard rep:

With plenty of time on my hands I used a hide I recently bought to make some sample straps. I think the Oiled Bronze looks very classy. What do you think?

I saw Max Verstappen's watchband and wanted to recreate it for my Tudor:

While I still like it best on the bracelet this combo is also growing on me:

Hologramet yours isn't too shabby either

We could always find out I have dark grey, dark bronze and stainless steel grommets.

After many years I finally managed to open an Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/hamiltonleatherworks/ I would love it if you would follow me on the journey and maybe even post some pictures of your watches with my straps on them. Offering a free strap for the best 3 pictures in the first 50 Thank you Donerix PS: Newest creations: basketweave leather straps inspired by Singer's Porsche 911s

I found some basketweave leather and made a "Singer-style" strap for my favorite driver's watch: Liked it a lot so I made some more:

You sir have become a true artist of photography. Also a great watch BTW