View single post by bigrustypig
 Posted: Sun Oct 25th, 2009 04:49 am
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bigrustypig



Joined: Sat Apr 11th, 2009
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 7504
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Psmith, you said something about beating up the strap. I agree.

If the strap looks more beat up and used, it may add to the total look. I was on an overnight Singapore a couple of months back on my way home and bumped into a local guy at a watch store who had the shiniest, spankiest and maybe the newest Pam homage I had ever seen. But his light tantalum-colored leather strap looked like something an entire Marine regiment beat up and punished --- and it looked terrrific. It was so scuffed and beat up that the whole rig looked so authentic. It also had the greatest smooth patina I had ever seen.

I asked him how he did it and although he wouldn't share his technique exactly, he said he used diluted drain cleaner and a hammer to bring out the look. I tried to picture how this was done and all I can think off is he may have mixed some water and drain cleaner and then applied the mixture to the strap. Then maybe after a few minutes, he laid it on a hard surface and started gently beating a hammer into the leather. I think he may also used some abrasive paper to remove some of the tanning liquids. The resulting scuff marks and patina was unbelievable.

I think the combination of a sparkling and lustrous new polished steel case and scuffed leather is something extremely notable.

Maybe if I get carried away someday and I find some leftover drain cleaner at home, I might just try thissubtlelaugh.gif