Fascinating insight into Horween history, thanks for that! I have a pair of Alden boots in cordovan (although Whiskey, not #8) and you're certainly right, it does not wear out much at all. Totally different animal to my crocodile Florsheims (pun intended!?) which go through a care regime every six weeks even when I don't wear them. But I digress... Plenty of strap options are out there and I look forward to trying out a few.

 

For this Seamaster a black strap gets my vote.

My JLC Geographic has a brown strap which works well with that watch....just saying I am not a purist.

 

The mailman came today with something pretty cool! My photo is only slightly better than the photos from the website, but it does the job. My timer says about -30 seconds a day so I'm not too worried about it, it's a 70 year old non-certified watch so I think that's respectable. My watchmaker has the correct crown so I'll be having that fitted soon and I'll see if he thinks the movement is dirty.

 

I forgot to mention, I have a midnight blue saffiano leather watch strap on the way, which I think will look quite striking paired with the textured dial.