There are innumerable craftspeople making straps and other leather goods. You can find some on Instagram, sure, but the majority keep their virtual storefronts on Etsy. Searching through Etsy for a quality maker can be a chore; there are simply too many and how do you know which one is worth your money? Hopefully, I can lend a hand on that front. Several years ago, I spent hours finding a strapmaker for a custom piece I was looking to have made for an inherited vintage Bulova 23. I found Klevlin Leather Goods, the store of Kiev-based Anton Klevlin. I ordered a light blue leather strap that arrived exactly as I’d imagined. Last year, I had him make a leather zip case for a dominoes set. And this year, I’ve ordered two more custom straps that have just arrived.
Full disclosure, Anton offered these straps for free in exchange for the review. Also full disclosure, I turned him down. He’s an independent craftsman who relies on sales to support himself and his family. But he did give me a slight discount on the two straps I purchased. Having recently broken a favorite suede strap, I had him make a straight-stitch camel suede piece. To get a feeling for his ability and add a bit of non-brown color to my strap lineup, I chose a textured green with matching traditional stitching and very light padding for my second strap.
The finishing on the edges and the ends is top-notch. I’ve had several custom straps and these are just as good. I like how sturdy the straps feel while still being pliable. We’ve all encountered leather straps that feel flimsy or rubbery, and thankfully that’s not the case here. You’ll note the straps don’t have quick-release bars. While I like the convenience those provide, I’ve had a number of them fail, so the traditional spring bar is just fine by me.
There’s nothing special about the hardware here. It gets the job done and it’s unobtrusive.
As soon as I put my hands on the green strap, I knew the watch it had to go on. I’d paired my Omega Seamaster with green before, but I really love the combo here. The silver and black and green just work perfectly together. The texture of the strap plays nicely against the wave dial, too.
The camel suede was a bit more of a challenge to pair. It’s a versatile strap, I believe, but I wanted a great combo. I landed on my Mercer (RIP) Durham. For me, the coolness of the dial, in spite of its “Cocoa” color, balances the warmth of the strap.
Both straps wear incredibly well. They both easily wrap around the wrist, buckle easily, and didn’t show any signs of slipping around.
I’m incredibly pleased with the results of my custom order. There are tons of options for custom straps, but Anton Klevlin has once again impressed me. His straps are reasonably priced ($50-$100, for the most part) and the quality is on par with far more expensive straps. While his Etsy storefront is closed for the time being, Anton is responsive on both Instagram and Facebook. I highly recommend you get in touch for your next strap order–you won’t regret it.
