The finest watch strap that money can buy

"The right strap or bracelet is as important for a watch as good shoes are for completing the look of a fine suit or outfit..."

More than just a question of quality…

All our straps and bracelets are of superb quality but there is no denying that to experience the ultimate in luxury watch straps you need look no further than a strap made from the skin of a Louisiana Alligator.

For our men’s watches we only use the finest square grained parts from the centre of the alligator skin which means our straps are softer, have a more attractive pattern and, because usage is necessarily reduced, are the dearest parts of the skin to buy.

The finished strap is carefully padded before being stitched to ensure comfort and balance on the wrist is maximised, we then add the perfect finishing touch of a Christopher Ward customised deployment clasp with a butterfly opening mechanism for ease of use.

These are not any alligator straps, they are the finest alligator straps money can buy and are available as an upgrade on many of our men’s models at an additional cost to our Italian leather versions of £100.

Not a trifle we know but our honest pricing policy now means the finest straps in the world are available through Christopher Ward at the lowest prices in the world and, if your budget can stretch this far, you will not be disappointed.

For more information on how to upgrade upgrades

An endangered species?

“I would absolutely love an alligator strap but aren’t they an endangered species..?”

If they were we would certainly not be happy to be using their skins but this is a common misconception and Louisiana alligators are not endangered. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Whilst the commercial trade in American alligators is regulated through the Convention or Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) by the US Fish & Wildlife Services (USFWS) this is only because of the closeness in appearance to other crocodilian species that are endangered.

In fact the Louisiana alligator is thriving and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries manage the species (Alligator Mississippiensis) as a commercial renewable natural resource and their sustained use programme is one of the world’s most recognisable examples of a wildlife success story.

The alligators that are used to provide the skins for our straps are farmed in carefully monitored environments.

The majority of farmed alligators are freed back into the wild but a small percentage are used for commercial use. It is from this carefully regulated number that our skins are selected.

If you would like to learn more about the flourishing Louisiana Alligator and the excellent work of the Louisiana Government’s programme we recommend you visit their website at: www.wlf.louisiana.gov