Alligator straps, buy or not

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Kwijibo

·Dec 25, 2023

Hello to all and merry Christmas for those celebrating.

I bought two alligator straps for an Seamaster and a Zenith El Primero.
I have some concerns about exotic straps in general. With a little help on Google one can see how alligators are cared for in Asia...
I chose some Louisiana alligator with small scales. It's cheaper than large scales and I like it better.
There's a IRV tag on them that confirm the material, country of breeding. I have no real illusion concerning animal breeding in general.
Can I have your opinion in general on such a tag?

cheers

 

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Dan S

·Dec 25, 2023

I have no idea about that particular tag, but alligator farming in Louisiana is highly regulated and the population has rebounded and is doing well.

 

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Evitzee

·Dec 25, 2023

That tag means they were farmed animals and not taken from the wild. American alligators were in trouble over 50 years ago, now they are thriving. Check out www.Cites.org for more info. Personally, I have no issues with croc and alligator goods, it's a farmed product.

 

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Kwijibo

·Dec 25, 2023

Hello Dan,

The IRV tag is a german norm that ensures that endangered animals such as reptiles are controlled.
https://www.reptillederverband.de/EN/
@Evitzee, even not taken from the wild a quick search on alligator breeding in Viet Nam is freaking. A quick look on ebay shows tons of alligator straps though alligator is supposed to be submited to import restrictions and controls.
Of course, I could not buy alligator at all if I'm concerned about animals as a whole but alligator skin is very sturdy which doesn't mean we have to make animals suffer more than "necessary"

 

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Larry S

·Dec 25, 2023·Color Commentator for the Hyperbole.

I do agree. I’d want to know if this animal had one bad day.

 

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blufinz52

·Dec 25, 2023·Hears dead people, not watch rotors.

If only we were as concerned with mass shootings as we are about alligators.

 

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Poppyboy

·Dec 25, 2023

I’m able to be concerned about both. I have no interest in any animal product bands/straps. Bracelets and rubber straps provide me plenty of options.

 

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Evitzee

·Dec 25, 2023

Poppyboy

I’m able to be concerned about both. I have no interest in any animal product bands/straps. Bracelets and rubber straps provide me plenty of options.

But of course your rubber straps are made from petroleum so there is a downside there. In today's world you can't win, everything we do and consume is considered detrimental to the earth.

 

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krogerfoot

·Dec 25, 2023

I’ve purchased a number of reptile-skin straps in Japan that turned out to be sourced from Thailand. Alligator is a beautiful material for a watch strap, but I have no idea what the industry is like in Thailand. Things tend to be more on the up and up there than Westerners imagine but a lot of low-priced stuff in Thailand comes in from other countries.

Of course, here we are whiling our days away on a forum devoted to inessential luxury items when we could be out making the world a better place, but I guess you all just don’t care as much about these things as I do /halo/.

 

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Kwijibo

·Dec 26, 2023

If find that there's no perfect option for watchstraps. Synthetic strap a generally petrol based. All kind of leather means the death of an animal. The only good option would be hemp or ohter vegetal material.
Yo be completly honnest, as I still eat meat even I try to eat some quality meat, not wearing an animal based strap is a little hypocritical.
may be I'm buying myself a good conscience with buying sourced alligator. I also say to myself that compared to a cheap shitty strap, it's more durable if taken care of. My last one is more than 10 years old and still in pretty good condition.
I red about Louisiana alligator that doesn't look to be in danger at all. Speaking of exotic skins, it's perfectly illegal to take home some non sourced skins or souvenirs but perfectly easy to buy a strap from Viet nam on ebay. Very little risk of control.
As for mass shooting of course I'm concern but not as much as if I was a US citizen. it seem though that alligator skin is more regulated than firearms.

Edited: Dec 26, 2023

 

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Zman4eva

·Dec 26, 2023

I have no concerns about buying and using alligator, croc, ostrich, lizard, or cows for watch straps. They're all farmer in the US and there's no shortage.

 

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Kwijibo

·Dec 26, 2023

Not really a question of shortage or not only. Animal well being I would say.

 

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wagudc

·Dec 26, 2023

Zman4eva

I have no concerns about buying and using alligator, croc, ostrich, lizard, or cows for watch straps. They're all farmer in the US and there's no shortage.

If people are eating the meat, the skins should be put to good use. I'm not a fan of farming exclusively for the skin. I don't imagine people are eating the little lizards that are used for dress watch straps.

 

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DaveK

·Dec 26, 2023·Yoda of Yodelers

wagudc

If people are eating the meat, the skins should be put to good use. I'm not a fan of farming exclusively for the skin. I don't imagine people are eating the little lizards that are used for dress watch straps.

That’s my understanding as well. Cow, ostrich, kangaroo, alligator (tastes like chicken) and even stingray are raised for meat, so why waste it. I doubt anyone is eating lizard burgers, so I’d avoid that until proven otherwise. Locally I can get toad, beaver tail and salmon leather, though I have no interest in toad and salmon has been out of stock for a very long time

 

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wagudc

·Dec 26, 2023

DaveK

Locally I can get toad, beaver tail and salmon leather, though I have no interest in toad and salmon has been out of stock for a very long time

My dog can think of a better use for that salmon skin.

 

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ghce

·Dec 26, 2023

wagudc

My dog can think of a better use for that salmon skin.

I've been holding back, I wasn't going to go there but along with my baby Fur Seal coat and hat I have been thinking a nice Dolphin or Whale skin strap would suit my Eskimo / Viking aspirations.