Hand made briefcase by Aaron Bespoke

It was about this time last year, that I met Aaron Pimentel, the Canadian strap maker using traditional French techniques, and a few days ago, I went back to visit his workshop located near the famous Jean-Talon market, in the Little Italy of Montreal. I wanted to follow up on the latest developments and see some of his new creations.

If last year, it was only the three of us, Aaron, TimeCaptain and me, this year the workshop was a lot busier. Even as it is a weekend, there are several people diligently working on making watch straps.

While Aaron shows me the way to a small table, where we could sit and talk, I ask him about the past few months.

Aaron: It’s been a busy year, we started using new material, we developed new techniques, new products.

WP: For example?

Our edges are perfect, the size is perfect, the stitching is much nicer. I would say, we doubled if not tripled our quality. From time to time, if there a small mistake, something is a bit crooked, we start all over. We spend time even on the details that are not visible. We don’t cut any corner.

How did you got there? Is it the experience, new machines?

It’s the experience, not the machines, as everything is hand-made. We learned new techniques, we invested in new materials and it’s the practice, strap after strap, after strap.

In a few weeks, we will launch a new line of products, belts, wallets, card holders, which will be sold under Aaron Bespoke, while keeping Combat Straps for the watch straps, as it is a name that is already known.

We also bought a laser engraver, so people could have their initials on a card holder, or on a briefcase, or even on a watch box.

For belts, what would be the price range?

Well the “regular leather” it will be $180 and for exotics, it could vary between $300 – $800 and more, depending on the material. For example an alligator belt will be around $800, however it will last a lifetime and it is an exclusive item, there are not too many people that would have one.

Apart the belts and small leather goods, we will also have small pouches for documents, for guys to carry their stuff around. It’s going to be high-end traditional leather goods, using standards rarely seen in Canada. Our products will be hand-made: hand-cut, hand-stitched, the only thing done by machine is the laser engraving.

Did you had a strap that was more memorable, more challenging?

Each and every strap is unique and besides all the hours it takes to make a strap, there is also quite a lot of thinking and planning involved, nothing is left to chance. I look into the thickness of the leather, the thickness of the thread. Where do we put the thread? How does the watch work?

Among the more challenging straps, I could think of the ones prepared for Audemar Piguet, the Royal Oak Offshore. We use metal inserts, we have to wrap them, put them in a certain thickness that fits in a precise way. We don’t just come and cut the leather, there is a lot of research behind.

Making straps for the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore, presents several unique challenges.

While handing me a business card with the Aaron Bespoke logo, I asked if the wallet from which he pulled it out was made by him. Yes, it was a prototype, a nicely finished brown leather wallet, with beautiful stitching and really thin. I just don’t know how it could hold several credit cards and business cards, and still stay that flat?

Apparently, making a wallet is way more work than making a strap, as there are several layers that can use up as much as four feet of leather. There are many edges to finish and a lot of stitching to be done.

Even as his team has grown over the past year, the main designer and the person responsible with the final quality control, is still Aaron. The standard he imposes is very high, and the slightest error will mean that the product has to be redone from zero.

To discover more of Aaron’s works and to keep up with the latest, you should follow his Instagram account or check out his websites at www.aaronbespoke.com and www.combat-straps.com.

Even if it’s not the same weight category as an AP, the Swatch System51 dressed up with a stingray strap looks sharp.

SevenFriday con un po’ di italiano

IWC with blue alligator, please notice the finishing on the edges