First watch band!

[motocouture]

So, in order to convince hubby that I needed a another croc hide, I had to promise him a watch band for his shiny new Apple Watch. This is my first watch band, so learning as I go. Outer is Nile croc scrap, liner is HAAS Zermatt (?) calf in tan, stitched with 532 Lin Cable using KS 3.0mm stitching irons. 

[motocouture]

For the strap hardware, I’m using Stouch Apple lugs (slide into the body of the watch) and a stainless steel deployant claps from Bob Davis (18mm width)

[battlemunky]

If this is as awesome as your usual fare, I can't wait!

[motocouture]

1 hour ago, battlemunky said:

If this is as awesome as your usual fare, I can't wait!

Thank you! I’m enjoying working on something that’s not 16 x 6 in lol 

[RockyAussie]

2 hours ago, motocouture said:

For the strap hardware, I’m using Stouch Apple lugs (slide into the body of the watch) and a stainless steel deployant claps from Bob Davis (18mm width)

If its not to late I have to say on croc or ostrich leg or similar I usually do one of 2 things where the strap folds over the pin that connects to the watch. I do not know the thickness of an apple Stouch lug so one method may not work. The cotton wool ear buds you get have a plastic tube that normally fits nicely over a normal spring pin (not all)and I have found them an easy one to fold the skin over and glue on to. Cut over long to start then trim down to size after. You can cut through the skin and it if you like as well. The other method is to put a very thin (.5mm) veg strip onto the croc at the pin fold area. This is normally about 3/4" long and thinned at the ends to hold the croc shape better and to support the weakest area that is normally the area that fails on a watch band. I generally give this a tight curl when I stick it down to avoid any wrinkling as much as possible. because of the depth of the grooves in the scale areas they tend to break away on a watch band quite easily if you go with croc alone. The veg or the plastic tube help to take the drag of of the croc skin. I prefer the tube method when I can use it. Brian

[motocouture]

5 minutes ago, RockyAussie said:

If its not to late I have to say on croc or ostrich leg or similar I usually do one of 2 things where the strap folds over the pin that connects to the watch. I do not know the thickness of an apple Stouch lug so one method may not work. The cotton wool ear buds you get have a plastic tube that normally fits nicely over a normal spring pin (not all)and I have found them an easy one to fold the skin over and glue on to. Cut over long to start then trim down to size after. You can cut through the skin and it if you like as well. The other method is to put a very thin (.5mm) veg strip onto the croc at the pin fold area. This is normally about 3/4" long and thinned at the ends to hold the croc shape better and to support the weakest area that is normally the area that fails on a watch band. I generally give this a tight curl when I stick it down to avoid any wrinkling as much as possible. because of the depth of the grooves in the scale areas they tend to break away on a watch band quite easily if you go with croc alone. The veg or the plastic tube help to take the drag of of the croc skin. I prefer the tube method when I can use it. Brian

Thanks for the detailed advice! I think I remember seeing you mention the wool bud tube idea (awesome idea!). The Stouch lugs are a little thicker than an average pin, so I nicked a couple of fine coffee stirrers from the last hotel I was at, and used those. The diameter aligned nicely with the depth of the padding at the top. Also tried to make sure the fabric interfacing ran up past the bend - I noticed as I was flexing it just how weak some area felt, like you said. 

Here are the templates laid out, along with the trimmed calf. I reinforced the croc with some finally woven cotton I had in my stash (not very neatly, but ah well...), then used some scrap Horween Essex to pad the upper part of the strap.

[motocouture]

Stouch Apple Watch adapter (Amazon image)  22mm internal width on the bar

Edited December 16, 2017 by motocouture

[RockyAussie]

Apple watch and coffee stirrer all in one.......what will they come up with next???

[YinTx]

2 hours ago, RockyAussie said:

on croc or ostrich leg or similar I usually do one of 2 things

Brian, I have been contemplating a watch strap with exotic leather, but wasn't sure where to start.  You are a fount of knowledge, and I truly appreciate it when you share.  

Motocouture, I watch with bated breath...

YinTx

[motocouture]

11 hours ago, RockyAussie said:

Apple watch and coffee stirrer all in one.......what will they come up with next???

Ha! Exactly!

10 hours ago, YinTx said:

Brian, I have been contemplating a watch strap with exotic leather, but wasn't sure where to start.  You are a fount of knowledge, and I truly appreciate it when you share.  

Motocouture, I watch with bated breath...

YinTx

Couldn’t agree more on the first, and thank you for your kind words!