Why alligator watch strap so expensive?

After the watch has been worn for a while, watch enthusiasts will consider replacing the watch with a new custom leather watch straps for their favorite watch, when they search online, you will feel dazzled and difficult to choose the alligator watch strap. Prices from tens $ to thousands $, the commodity page through the aesthetic processing, are looking very professional, it is also difficult to see what the difference. Why is the price difference so big, what is the fishy, allow me to expand on.

Good crocodile skin is very rare and expensive, of course, there is a reason for this. Crocodile breeding conditions are harsh, slow growth and very grumpy like to attack each other, if they scratch to the abdomen can only basically eat their meat. In addition to the rare skin embryo with few defects, the leather-making process is also very difficult. The tanning process of crocodile skin includes soaking and cleaning, chemical treatment, cleaning again, double bleaching, acid bath treatment, chrome tanning, cutting thickness, secondary tanning, drying, dyeing, etc. There are not many tanneries that can get the quality right, which requires very professional skills and accumulation.

Real alligator vs fake alligator difference

Color tanned American crocodile

There are many varieties of crocodiles, but there are usually three kinds used to make alligator watch bands:

one is the American crocodile also refers to the Mississippi crocodile (we use this one for all our alligator watch bands), characterized by the absence of air holes, bamboo pattern neat and beautiful, very suitable for making watch straps;
second is the Nile crocodile, generally used for making bags, but the abdominal pattern is also suitable for making alligator watch strap;
The third is the Siamese crocodile also called Thai crocodile, the price is relative to the American and Nile crocodile to the people, the abdominal bamboo pattern is also very beautiful, there are small air holes, price of Siamese crocodiles is more affordable than American and Nile crocodiles.

The distinction between species is mainly in the pattern and pores, but in fact it is more important to see where it comes from.

Square-scale American Alligator skin

As for the purchase cost, the American crocodile price is much higher than the Nile and Siamese crocodiles, and it is divided into imported processes and domestic processes. The cost of imported American crocodile is about five times higher than that of domestic Siamese crocodile. In order to cover up flaws or pores, the domestic process will make the dye layer thicker and the leather surface will be more oily in response to market demand which will lose its delicate texture. Drwatchstrap only sell the high-end American alligator custom watchbands.

Read carefully when you purchase genuine American Alligator watchband

Understanding the above background, it is not difficult to guess why the bad businessman trick us . More common, the process of Nile crocodile and Siamese crocodile is masquerading as American crocodile, which most people can not see the difference, but the cost difference is very large, the business need to be honest and has a long-term business philosophy in choosing the material. The worse, they are masquerading the embossing cowhide that a lot of people would recognize as crocodile skin. Be sure to read the material: If it says alligator grain cowhide, or bamboo grain leather, or square-scale embossed, they are actually all calfskin. When you buy genuine alligator leather watchband online, read the material carefully, make sure it is genuine American Alligator with square scale (or belly-scale). Not embossed calfskin.

Some genuine alligator leather watch bands with 316L quick release spring bars, very easy to remove can also avoid scratching the case. Available in black, brown, blue, green, red and more.

Handmade OEM leather Alligator Round-scale leather Watch Strap (with quick release spring bars ) $129.95