Adventures in Pocket Watch Lanyard Making

Thx Canuck. V2 is still to come. It’d be very easy to lose a digit with a knife this sharp laying out on the workbench, so I should get on that. I’ll post a pic of my latest lanyard tomorrow 😀

Mine have arrived... oh my....

and in case anybody is hesitating because these might not be tough enough, I think you could tow a truck with one of these things. Pleasantly over engineered!

Pics or it never happened 😉

Thanks for the kind words 😀, and amazing watches @Fritz, look at the case on that one!

I said you could tow a truck. I’m into motorcycles and as they aren’t Harleys I have no need for a truck.

but I’ll try towing a bike if you’d like... I’m sure they’re strong enough.

That lanyard looks teriffic , and looks professionally made good work !! 😁

Thank you very much 👍 It’s been fun making these.

@Mad Dog ?
Edit: I made one that ended up being more earnest than it was awesome ☕ Design changes would be needed to bring it to the next level.

This is the beta test lanyard for wrist watch operations that @DaveK fabricated. Since I primarily use it on my U.S. military issued Breitling navigation pocket watch, I had to re-learn how to utilize it for wrist watch operations since it’s been a while since I’ve worn it in that capacity...pics from a few minutes ago...

More Mad Dog modeling pics from a few minutes ago featuring the @DaveK beta test lanyard for wrist watch operations...

Damn! So much manlyness!

Every so often we pick up on a concept and it blows our minds. I love those moments.

much of my leatherwork has been made with oil-based dye. These dyes stink while using them, and since my kitchen counter is my workshop, my wife gives me suitably nasty reports on when I have offended the natural order of our home. There are water based eco dyes, and they can be okay, but have only disappointed me.

I recently heard from a leather worker who colours his leather black using Vinegar Black (AKA iron gall black and vinegaroon). So what is it? Vinegar Black is basically steel wool dissolved in vinegar. A long story made short, this isn’t a dye, but it reacts with the tannins in vegetable-tanned leather and turns is a lovely charcoal or black. I’ve made some of the solution and have started experimenting with it, and although it is a bit of a process to make and use, I love it.

Here is a pic showing the progression from a simple handcut strip of vegetable-tanned leather that is now a half-completed lanyard made black using Vinegar Black



And if you have 2:20 to watch a boring video without narration showing the application of Vinegar Black (I’ll make improvements to the video later on)


And the finished product 😎

That’s a really nice thing to say (and a really nice watch!)

That’s the spirit 👍

I’ve had a request for a new method to attach the lanyard to your watch, and wanted to survey the group for your thoughts.

The brown lanyard shown is my original design that uses a loop held closed by what’s called a button stud (sometimes called a Sam Brown). I like it because it is 100% secure, it’s long lasting, it’s very easy to swap the lanyard onto another watch, and, it holds the lanyard nicely away from the crown. The belt loop end of the lanyard opens as well - and to facilitate this, the design calls for the backside of the leather to be exposed.


The new version, shown in the black lanyard, features a simple loop end to attach your watch. You’ll see that I make a little sliding keeper to tuck the little tab away in. This is very easy to use, and a bit more flexible at the end because there is less leather and no button stud hardware. The simple loop employs two thinner strips of leather vs one wider strip in the other version - so I don’t expect it would have the longevity of the other version. But, if you wear out a lanyard, well that’s excellent, as it means you’ve been wearing your watch a lot 👍. I was also asked to have the smooth leather facing out on the belt loop end. So I’ve done that but as a result, this version doesn’t have a belt loop end that will open. I’ve secured it instead with a rivet. This version would cost less, as it doesn’t need the two button studs, and there is a bit less sewing needed.



Both still have the “mystery braid” woven in.

Which do you prefer? I welcome your thoughts or suggestions.

New rivets that I picked up on the weekend 😎