Alligator belts

[jbird1264]

I have been thinking about an alligator belt for some time now. They're pricey, of course, and I'm wondering about their durability. As an everyday (or almost everyday) belt, do they hold up as well as leather? I imagine they do, but I want to find out a bit more before dropping a nice chunk of change. I also like eelskin, which is quite a bit cheaper, but I'm guessing eelskin isn't as durable.

All thoughts are welcome.

jbird

 

[professorchaos]

I have a belt made from saltwater crocodile. It's tough. I'd imagine alligator is too.

 

[The Knize]

Real gator is very durable. More durable than the croc belt I have.

I have no idea about eel.

 

[jbird1264]

Real gator is very durable. More durable than the croc belt I have.

I have no idea about eel.

Thanks, guys! I will look at croc, too.

jbird

 

[The Knize]

Thanks, guys! I will look at croc, too.

jbird

Actually, thinking about it a bit, Henry said "salt water" croc. I doubt the croc belt I have is salt water croc. Probably something like "American" croc, which probably means South American croc. It has not been all that durable. More durable than, say, lizard. Less durable than my gator belts by far.

I think stingray is supposed to be very durable.

 

[professorchaos]

Perhaps yours is Caiman? Love the way it looks, I'd hate to think it doesn't hold up.

 

[The Knize]

Perhaps yours is Caiman? Love the way it looks, I'd hate to think it doesn't hold up.

I had a look at the black dress crocodile belt I was thinking of. I got it at Saks 5th Avenue in Bethesda, Maryland on sale quite awhile ago and it was not inexpensive. Perhaps as much as $200 on sale. I love the way it looks. I used to wear it very frequently. Now not so much, in part because it is showing some wear around the area where the holes are and otherwise. Nothing too troubling though. I do not think enough to make me stop wearing the belt and I doubt is anyone is going to notice. I mean it is not nearly as fragile as some lizard watchbands I have had.

I think it is really some Asian farmed croc and not Caiman, which I do not know too much about other than that it can be gourgeous.

In any event, all it says along the "interior" is Saks 5th Ave and the size. No reference to croc, although I am sure when I bought it it was being sold as crocodile. It may be some sort of croc over a backing of regular bovine leather. In fact, I would guess that it was.

I have three gator belts. Two from Brooks Brothers (a black and a tan) and an oxblood one from John Allen Woodward. Each of these I had for a good long while. The black one I have worn a whole lot, although it is starting to seem on the thin side to me, so not so much lately. The tan not so frequently but many times over the years. The John Allen Woodward not so much at all. It is not really a belt for suits. As I recall, JAW himself talked me into getting it wider than I had thought would be about right. I wore it some and kept it around, but it always seemed too wide to me, and now really seems too wide. (I inquired as to whether they would be willing to "remanufacture" it to be thinnier for a price and was flatly turned down. Which annoyed me a lot. His stuff is vastly more expensive these days than when I bought this belt from him, which must have been when he was getting started. In any event it is a beautify pieces of skin.)

In any event, now of these belts shows any significant wear whatsoever. They really look like they are of one piece. That is not gator over some other kind of leather. Although I see that JAW says the gator belts are lined with harness leather.

I have often had gator watch bands. I think in each has been gator over conventional leather. I do not think any of them has looked as good as the belts in the first place. But what happens with them is eventually the leather on the inside of the band has started to get sticky and has started to fall apart. I do not think the gator itself has ever shown wear.

And it is Stingray that is supposed to incredibly durable.

 

[professorchaos]

 

[The Knize]

View attachment 314052

Caiman? Wikipedia says Caiman is essentially a type of gator!

Interesting that this one is stitched, whereas all three gator belts I have seem to have the gator hide bonded without stitiching to cowhide.

 

[professorchaos]

Caiman? Wikipedia says Caiman is essentially a type of gator!

Interesting that this one is stitched, whereas all three gator belts I have seem to have the gator hide bonded without stitiching to cowhide.

Caiman. It is a brown belt finished with black wax. I think it looks remarkable.

Now that you mention it, my croc belt (wore it today!) isn't stitched either.

 

[The Knize]

Love the detail in the grain of the caiman belt. My croc belt is stitched.

Actually, I just checked and both Brooks Brothers gator belts are stitched, too. It is a finer stitch than the croc belt. It turns out I also have a thinner John Allen Woodward belt in black that looks nearly identical to the Brooks Brothers belt in black. It is not stitched. I was confusing it with the Brooks Brothers.