AnOrdain's Bespoke Strap Service: A Review
The Ultimate in Personalization: Is It Worth the Price?
If you're a watch enthusiast, you've probably dreamed of a truly bespoke timepiece, one that's made just for you. But for most of us, that's a pipe dream, reserved for the likes of Mayer, Jay-Z, or Clymer. However, there's a more accessible way to achieve that bespoke feel: a new strap. AnOrdain, a Glasgow-based watchmaker known for its artisanal enamel and porcelain dials, has recently launched a bespoke strap service, offering the same level of craftsmanship and attention to detail that goes into their watches.
The Process: From Questionnaire to Custom Fit
The first step is to select the leather candidates from a questionnaire on AnOrdain's website. Of 22 distinctive hides, from French goatskin to bison, the customer narrows the options to eight picks. Small swatches are packaged in a sample box, along with examples of stitching options and edging types. Also included is a tailor's tape for measuring wrist circumference. The sample kit is simple but elegant, befitting the experience and the price of £380 (~$520 at the time of writing).
Once the leather and stitch color are chosen, and the preferred type of edging is selected, the customer measures their wrist for a truly custom fit. Nothing says 'bespoke' like a strap that's perfectly tailored to the wearer's wrist, with no excess tail and only three holes punched in exactly the right places.
The Craftsmanship: A Single Artisan's Touch
At present, AnOrdain has a single person, named Abbie, making the bespoke straps. Abbie communicates with the customer throughout the process, sending photos of the process and asking questions about wrist measurements and tail end angles. The strap is then made with meticulous attention to detail, with the leather split to the desired thickness, glued and stitched to accommodate spring bars, and the edges sealed.
The Result: A Strap That's Both Functional and Beautiful
The finished strap arrives in a box with care instructions, a cloth, and some leather treatment balm. The Carlo Nofin leather, from the Badalassi tannery in Italy, is buttery soft and has darkened to a rich, warm brown over the year. While the Model 1 watch on which the strap is mounted is the dressiest piece in the author's collection, it has been worn through a fair bit of abuse, from hikes in Scotland to home renovation projects.
The Price: Is It Worth It?
The strap costs $500, which is a significant investment. It's a third of the price of a Model 1 watch, but it's not an unreasonable amount of money for a handcrafted, premium product that takes an artisan with very specialized skills and equipment three days to make. The author hopes the strap will last a long time, as it was expensive, and while it may provoke some eye rolling in the comment section, it's a testament to the craftsmanship and attention to detail that goes into AnOrdain's bespoke strap service.
The Verdict: A Worthwhile Investment for the Watch Enthusiast
AnOrdain's bespoke strap service is a worthwhile investment for the watch enthusiast who wants a truly unique and personalized timepiece. While the price may be steep, it's a testament to the craftsmanship and attention to detail that goes into each strap, and the result is a strap that's both functional and beautiful.
