I stumbled across an eBay seller from Vietnam who makes crocodile straps to the Omega deployant pattern, and decided to try them out. I bought the 20mm version in red-brown:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/221737043012Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

You can tell it's a genuine skin when you flex it; the skin stretches in the same place it would on a live crocodile. Interestingly, it seems to be lined with some other grained animal skin, perhaps buffalo?

Finish is good; this is a shiny as opposed to matte finish. The buckle end of the strap is nearly identical to OEM; the hole end of the strap is a mm or two longer but not enough to be bothersome.

The straps are quite flexible new. Won't take a long time to break in. As for how durable they'll be, if the skins they started with are of good quality, then there is no reason to think that the strap won't last a long time. For $40, I think it's a steal.

They also make straps for pin buckles if you prefer that or you don't have an Omega.

Tom

 

The declaration on the package says "1 handmade leather watch strap". So I've have to say no.

Did a little looking online and it seems that this is a crocodile, not alligator... and that the Siamese crocodile is extensively farmed in Vietnam for skins and food.

Article: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/DH20Ae02.html

Tom

 

I'll have to go bend some live crocodiles for comparison purposes.

 

Me too!
Excellent quality
Just don't forget to ask for holes.

 

To clarify, NONE of this sellers strap auctions come with holes in the strap, unless you ask for them specifically. I ordered mine with 6 holes of
2mm any they work nicely with a standard modern buckle. That's what the heads up was about. You will love the quality, finish and liner.

 

I'm not sure what you mean? The non-buckle side of the strap I received clearly had holes in it... pretty much the same as an OEM Omega strap.

Tom

 

Glad you got your holes
I bought mine 2 months ago. At the time, none
of the auctions seemed to have holes.
My auction(s) stated:

1.DESCRIPTION

If you want to make strap holes and buckle hole please email me after purchase.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/221681026604?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:ITPurchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network
http://www.ebay.com/itm/321632345623?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT`Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

 

Well, that's not the same thing, now, is it? The auction I reference above says "for Omega" and clearly shows the holes. Since I know how to read, I knew what I was getting.

"That was then, this is now."

Tom

 

WTF is your problem?
I was trying to warn people to be sure
and order the holes. You've got nothing better
to do than be a troll?

 

WTF is your problem?
Your auction was nothing like mine.
You have nothing better than to post irrelevancies?

Tom

 

You're are irrelevant, and a troll.
Go away.

 

And it's not irrelevant, half of his current auctions
state the same, even your auction

 

Sorry Tom, but it isn't the first time you've been abrasive. Act like a schmuck and you WILL be called out on it here. I thought you'd have learned that by now - and you have a title under your name to remind you of the last incident.

Thanks,
Some random guy.

 

Heh, abrasive. Me.

Something I forgot to mention that is important to me, so how did I forget it? The thickness. The straps are padded and not padded, if that makes any sense, the same way the OEM straps are. I've seen other aftermarket straps where the buckle end, for example, is padded all of the way to the buckle, and I'm not a fan of that.

They don't currently have any auctions for 20mm black, but I will be buying one if they do.

I'm half-tempted to see if they'll make the older-style twin pad except 20/18 instead of 20/16.

Tom

 

I ordered a dry run of two(black and brown-red) for my 168.010 to determine the turn-around time and quality.

FANTASTIC quality and execution. Stitching and finish both superb. Turn around quick.

This is the brown-red with specified small round scales and at 19mm/16mm stainless buckle, XL size.

 

Don't leave us hanging Tex...the big question is, did it have holes and did you have to ask for them!