Finepics Posted September 19, 2006 Report Posted September 19, 2006 Well here is the next phase of my 3646 project. My good friend Rob Ross (of the Metta leather) has just sent me the pics of my new vintage strap that he has made for me. This leather is over 60 years old and crucially so is the thread that has been used to stitch it, which is very different from the modern threads and really adds authenticity to the period. Rob has also paid a lot of attention the the photos I sent him and has used a typical period pattern of stitching which means the stitches are a little closer together than the modern straps. Basically this is about as good as a strap could possibly be. Note how straight the stitching is - I am absolutely thrilled to bits with his workmanship and cannot wait until I get this on my wrist to add a few wrinkles to the leather!!! Thanks Rob for your hard work with this. If anyone else working on a similar project wants one of these (he will custom make them to your specs) then email him at robertross04@aol.com
swdivad Posted September 19, 2006 Report Posted September 19, 2006 What a great strap finepics Goes perfect with your project
ehtolcad Posted September 20, 2006 Report Posted September 20, 2006 looks amazing. patina with a capital p!!!
Finepics Posted September 20, 2006 Author Report Posted September 20, 2006 well the leather and thread are period so perfect for this. Actually there are two more pieces in the puzzle to come yet and this really will be a special watch when it's done. I cannot wait to give it some wrist time!!
mikellem Posted September 20, 2006 Report Posted September 20, 2006 The strap is a sure keeper! Enjoy this beauty..
Finepics Posted September 20, 2006 Author Report Posted September 20, 2006 Has to be a keeper really as it is sewn to the case!!!
leitztozeiss Posted September 20, 2006 Report Posted September 20, 2006 That is breathtaking. Man Mark . . . always to the next level!!
Finepics Posted September 20, 2006 Author Report Posted September 20, 2006 LTZ you should think about one of these for yours and the cost is not much - certainly no more than an MF strap.
Watchmeister Posted September 20, 2006 Report Posted September 20, 2006 One of the nicest straps I have ever seen. Could you please repost his link. I am too lazy to look but the leather and the thread are an unbeatable combination. But I ain't sewing that strap to any one watch.
leitztozeiss Posted September 20, 2006 Report Posted September 20, 2006 LTZ you should think about one of these for yours and the cost is not much - certainly no more than an MF strap. I just picked up a nice Greg Crazy Horse strap for a nice price. But, you're right. Period leather and thread . . . the attention to detail is incredible.
leitztozeiss Posted September 20, 2006 Report Posted September 20, 2006 Ok. I just emailed Rob on price for 26/26/145/85.
V Posted September 20, 2006 Report Posted September 20, 2006 Very nice strap Mark.. and Rob's work is very nice indeed.. Imagine that when I first foundhim, he wanted to send his straps to be made somewhere else because he thought he wouldn't have the perfect results as them
rmcsherry Posted September 20, 2006 Report Posted September 20, 2006 Mark, that looks amazing! The second I sell my watch, I'll definetly put an order in. It'll be awesome when it's finished, can't wait to see the results.
madasboot Posted September 20, 2006 Report Posted September 20, 2006 Mark, just to tell you that I started to eat my nails again... Never seen such a fine strap specimen and now I want one... Badly. Rob is a leather master... do you think he will do one of those for my 3646 in time before my trip to the Kingdom? Marco
Finepics Posted September 20, 2006 Author Report Posted September 20, 2006 @V - it was a real coincidence that I came across him by accident and only because I had seen your metta strap did I realise who he was!! I have since become very good friends with him although I have still to meet him sometime. He is a really very nice guy and we have so much in common that I joke with him that we are almost clones!!! It's funny he was almost on the point of giving up his leather work completely but the straps have re-enthused him to carry on and I am so glad he has as his skills are very rare and he is totally self taught. He went to a lot of trouble for me in finding the right piece of leather for this and I cannot thank him enough. So V I am very glad you were wearing that strap when we met up otherwise I might never have had this beuaty!!! Thanks!! @Marco - email him - I will speak to him on the phone tonight or tomorrow and will ask him for you but he might even read this post so may be waiting for your mail!!!
madasboot Posted September 20, 2006 Report Posted September 20, 2006 @Marco - email him - I will speak to him on the phone tonight or tomorrow and will ask him for you but he might even read this post so may be waiting for your mail!!! @Mark - Got him! Waiting for his reply now... same kind of humor as yours. BTW What are the dimensions on your strap? Marco
Finepics Posted September 20, 2006 Author Report Posted September 20, 2006 @Mark - Got him! Waiting for his reply now... same kind of humor as yours. BTW What are the dimensions on your strap? Marco I went for a 26/26 130/85. He will ask you to measure where you want the hole that you will do the strap up with so that it will fit perfectly and have holes in the right proportions. By the way this is what he modelled the strap on with regard to the colour of the leather and the stitch spacing (which was different in those days to the modern type of stitching).
rmcsherry Posted September 20, 2006 Report Posted September 20, 2006 Is the GPF-style buckle brushed, or 'raw'? I'm really tempted to go for an engraved one, but I'm not sure of it's historical accuracy for the project I'm planning. I take it that's not your compass?!
Finepics Posted September 20, 2006 Author Report Posted September 20, 2006 Is the GPF-style buckle brushed, or 'raw'? I'm really tempted to go for an engraved one, but I'm not sure of it's historical accuracy for the project I'm planning. I take it that's not your compass?! Actually that's somthing I had not noticed - thanks. They are brushed but in a horizontal direction - damn, wish I'd seen that sooner. Might still be able to correct it but not that worried. I think (correct me someone) that the engraved buckles were usually on the Kampfschwimmers or the 6152's and then not always.
Dani Posted September 20, 2006 Report Posted September 20, 2006 wow Mark that was a killer strap Cant whait to see it all togheter
rmcsherry Posted September 21, 2006 Report Posted September 21, 2006 Actually that's somthing I had not noticed - thanks. They are brushed but in a horizontal direction - damn, wish I'd seen that sooner. Might still be able to correct it but not that worried. I think (correct me someone) that the engraved buckles were usually on the Kampfschwimmers or the 6152's and then not always. It was intended as fault finding - I'm actually deciding whether to go with the raw buckle for accuracy, or the brushed for aesthetics. The brushed actually looks better with the strap, I wouldn't change it!
madasboot Posted September 21, 2006 Report Posted September 21, 2006 The brushed actually looks better with the strap, I wouldn't change it! Me neither!
rmcsherry Posted September 21, 2006 Report Posted September 21, 2006 I've just found this on Timezone - so maybe there were brushed vintage buckles? Unless it's just my eyesight!
baltic Posted September 21, 2006 Report Posted September 21, 2006 That is one beautiful strap Mark! Wear it well.
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