DIAL & HIDE STARTED WITH A STRAP THAT WAS ALMOST TOO NICE.

I ORDERED A BEAUTIFUL, EXPENSIVE LEATHER STRAP FOR ONE OF MY WATCHES. THE CRAFTSMANSHIP WAS FLAWLESS. THE LEATHER WAS PERFECT. AND THAT WAS THE PROBLEM — IT FELT UNTOUCHABLE. TOO POLISHED. TOO PRECIOUS. SOMETHING MEANT TO STAY PRISTINE.

I WANTED SOMETHING THAT FELT ALIVE. SOMETHING WITH GRAIN, CHARACTER, AND A LITTLE EDGE. A STRAP THAT WOULD BREAK IN — NOT SIT IN A BOX.

WHAT BEGAN AS LATE NIGHTS AT THE KITCHEN TABLE BECAME SOMETHING MORE. I PRACTICED, TESTED, FAILED, ADJUSTED. I SHARED EARLY STRAPS WITH CLOSE FRIENDS AND MEMBERS OF WATCH FORUMS WHILE REFINING THE CRAFT. EVERY PIECE TAUGHT ME SOMETHING.

I BELIEVE GOOD LEATHER SHOULD FEEL LIKE LEATHER. IT SHOULD SOFTEN. DARKEN. DEVELOP PATINA. IT SHOULD TELL A STORY ALONGSIDE THE WATCH IT’S PAIRED WITH.

I ALSO BELIEVE GREAT MATERIALS AND HONEST CRAFTSMANSHIP SHOULDN’T COME WITH ABSURD MARKUPS.

THAT’S WHY I USE PREMIUM, FULL-GRAIN VEGETABLE-TANNED LEATHERS — THE KIND THAT AGE BEAUTIFULLY — AND BUILD EACH STRAP BY HAND IN NASHVILLE. NO INFLATED BRANDING. NO ARTIFICIAL SCARCITY. JUST SMALL-BATCH STRAPS MADE WITH INTENTION.

THIS IS HONEST LEATHER. THIS IS DIAL & HIDE.