shell cordovan

[shameless]

obviously i have read up on the process and history but i would very much appreciate seeing some members watches with shell cordovan straps and to hear your views on the product on the wrist -even possibly your preferred choice cow or horse shell
not having had one is there a plasticity to its look and feel for instance ?

[FuzzyB]

I'm a big fan of shell cordovan. It wears very well and in my experience has been darn near indestructible. I like that they are thin being a single layer of leather. You can find padded shell cordovan straps, but I prefer thin straps. It looks and feels like a regular leather strap except that it is smoother. My first one was on my Nomos, and I liked it so much that I bought several more for other watches.

[Der Amf]

I've only ever manhandled one, the one that came on Geoff's Nomos and which he had put on another watch.

I wasn't impressed and simply couldn't understand the fuss. I could see why Geoff had opted for something else, it just seemed lifeless.

(edit: I'm aware of the danger of extrapolating from a sample of one so I'll avoid drawing conclusions)

[OhDark30]

I've owned four horse leather straps (some of which DA has unknowingly seen

Juchten leather strap by Ledermax

Horween no 8 shell cordovan by Fluco

Hodinkee shell cordovan (never got a pic of this on the Beijing I bought it for)
and of course

RIOS 1931 art manuel shell cordovan
Thoughts:
Shell *is* very odd when you buy it, with a glossy sheen and mac-like (oilskin) texture.
But with use it matures into something very rich and special - as on the Strela
I got the Horween no 8 because of its legendary colour changes with aging, but haven't worn this strap (or the Hodinkee) enough to see this
You don't have to pay the earth if you look around (searching ebay.de for juchten leather works well)
The hype about its easy care and sweat resistance are true, making it a great summer strap material
Plus, it looks fab

[OhDark30]

Compared to cow leather, straps made of horse leather feel harder and drier to me.
Difficult to describe, but I think this dense strength and lower moisture absorbence explain its strength at lower thicknesses, and it's water resistance

[Der Amf]

Compared to cow leather, straps made of horse leather feel harder and drier to me.
Difficult to describe, but I think this dense strength and lower moisture absorbence explain its strength at lower thicknesses, and it's water resistance

Of your pictures, the more the strap appears to be trying to take advantage of the materials durable qualities, the more attractive it looks, to me at least

[OhDark30]

Plus I think I've got better at choosing straps with time
The most disappointing (and expensive) was the Hodinkee. It's the classic single thickness shell cordovan style, but the edge treatment has been sloppily applied, and the cut of the strap isn't very precise. (Perhaps this is all part of the hipsterish *authenticity*, though?)
I do wish the No 8 had had more wrist time. It still has the new slightly scary glossy surface, and I'd like to see how the colour develops

[shameless]

Compared to cow leather, straps made of horse leather feel harder and drier to me.
Difficult to describe, but I think this dense strength and lower moisture absorbence explain its strength at lower thicknesses, and it's water resistance

thankyou for your imput -you use the word 'harder ' - do you mean they are not as supple or comfortable as a standard leather - also i think i read somewhere that the actual natural colour for cordovan would be the burgundy

[OhDark30]

Thanks, shameless!
Harder: this *is* where it is hard to describe, lol
The surface is harder, shinier in it's raw state than cow leather and there is less give when you press down on the strap.
But.
The strap is suppler and instantly comfortable.

Colourwise, the natural colour is that of the Hodinkee strap above.
More here:
http://corvuswatch.blogspot.co.uk/20...-cordovan.html

Pic from here and more info:
http://www.keikari.com/english/horwe...dovan-colours/

[shameless]

very interesting thankyou Dark