Gorilla Leather Straps - A true hidden gem in strap making.

You purchased your grail timepiece, congrats. You have worn it for over a year now and although you may still stare longingly at it, several times per day - truth is, it is getting a little bumped around. So you break out your Cape Cod cloth or titanium refinishing pen and go to work. A few minutes later, you have a watch case that looks like it just left the showroom case. You go to put your leather strap back on it and it looks like it just does not belong. The original strap has taken a full year of daily wearing (and removing) and is looking a bit tired. You could go back to the AD (authorized dealer) and drop over $150. + on a new OEM strap. Maybe a brown one, or a gator/croc selection,(for a lot more $$) or you could go a different route...a custom strap, made exclusively for you with hand stitching and an endless selection of hides and thread colors all for a lot less than most other "custom" strap makers. Don't get me wrong, there are a number of aftermarket strap manufacturers out there putting together some real nice looking product. My favorite choice happens to be Bo at Gorilla Leather.

Bo hasn't been making straps for all that long but is a true student of design. He started drawing at the age of 3 and he is the currently a self taught Graphic Designer for a MLB team . Most recently he redesigned the teams logos and uniforms, so you know the guy has talent. He took to strapmaking rather quickly mainly because the options that were out there were far to expensive and he saw an opportunity.

While all handmade straps are truly custom, Bo takes "custom" to a whole different level. Lets say you decided to purchase a Gorilla Strap. While he does, from time to time, have pre-made straps available, the real joy is customizing your own. Once you email Bo at Gorilla Leather he can send you a form that has nine (9) different selections that you have to choose to make your strap. They range from choosing your size (6 different measurement points), 4 different cut options, numerous stitch patterns and thread options, and of course, so many leather options that you may lose your mind trying to decide. Bo's Flickr page has plenty of pics to help guide you through the process.



"There is a base cost for each strap." Says Bo. "From there you can customize your design by choosing your own options. If there is a price next to an option, that additional charge is tacked on to the base charge of the strap. If there is no cost listed, it's a free option. Genius!" An average strap custom made to your liking will cost you less than $100. bucks - an unbelievable bargain. You can also get WWII ammo pouch straps or genuine Ostrich leg for an extra $30. Each strap is branded on the back with Gorilla Leather "G" stamp.

If you have ever had a custom suit or pair of shoes made for you, you know that these things take time. Well the same goes for strap making. Bo takes his time with his craft. "Time required to make each strap is based on my current work load. And if it wasn't obvious, I take my time to turn out an excellent product and do everything I can to make your vision a reality. So yeah, it takes a while. Don't email me every week asking status of your strap. I will hate you.." He says jokingly. "Let me work and be patient." Shipping is USPS flat rate $5. but for a little bit more, you can get it any way you choose.



Gorilla Leather also creates some unique non-watch leather goods. Your pooch can show off his own custom dog collar, or you can travel in style with Bo's luggage tags. If you dream it, I'm sure Bo can make it. If you have any questions, just email Bo@artofbo.com or Twitter.com/@gorilla_straps and he will gladly answer any questions you may have. His website, www.gorillaleather.com will be going live on 10/23-09.

I guess now you can add strap making to the list of things "Bo Knows..."

Tag Heuer Monaco V4

Somebody had better send the medics over to LVMH headquarters...STAT! There is something going on with them over there. There MUST be! Why else would they stray so far from the norm that is the Tag Heuer brand and create this masterpiece? The Tag Heuer Monaco V4.

While the average Tag Heuer is priced around $2000., the V4 packs a much loftier price, $80,000. to be exact. See, now you know why I want the medics over there? What exactly do you get with the extra $78K over the standard Monaco? This is where the fun begins...

First, according to Tag Heuer, the Monaco V4 watch took them 14,200 days of R&D to make. That is somewhere around 38 years for those who are keeping score. (I'm sure that is including all man hours combined) The case is 950 Platinum and is in the familiar Monaco square shape. There is a semi-domed sapphire crystal shows off the engine-like (V4, get it?) movement in an almost three-dimensional look. The hands are a cool blue that stands out on the brushed metal movement, very well. A second hand is non-existent.

Moving to the rear of the watch, you will see a specially designed curved case back that displays two turbine looking banks of cylinders, (again, keeping with the high performance automotive theme) with four wheels in the corners driven by belts. Those four wheels are the mainspring barrels and the belts help provide 52 hrs. of power reserve for the watch. The belts actually need to be replaced, just like a cars belts do. What no oil change? Separating these two banks of "cylinders" is a linear weight that moves up and down as you wear it and serves to wind the movement. No oscillating rotor here!

S0 lets see, we have a belt driven transmission, an $80K price tag, what am I missing from describing this unique vehic, err...timepice? Of course ball bearings!! Tag Heuer uses micro ball bearings in place of rubies between the gears and movement plate. They say the ball bearings cause less friction. All these unique, yet functional elements keep the Tag Heuer well in Chronometer range by being accurate to within 4 seconds per day.



Tag Heuer is making the first 150 pieces of this watch available through auction at the Only Watch 2009 charity watch auction. The other 149 of them are waiting at the Tag Heuer showroom - I would guess next to the Rolls' and the Bugatti's!

Specs courtesy of Tag Heuer:

TRANSMISSION
5 NOTCHED BELTS INCLUDING 2 WITH INTERNAL STEEL REINFORCEMENT WIRE
3 DIFFERENT TRANSMISSION BELTS, OF 0.25 X 0.07 mm, WITH A LOAD TO 130g
2 IDENTICAL BARREL BELTS, OF 0.5 X 0.15 mm, WITH A LOAD TO 1’300g
11 MICRO BALL-BEARINGS OF 2.2 TO 4 mm DIAMETER AND 0.6 TO 1 mm THICK
6 NOTCHED PULLEYS INCLUDING THE ESCAPEMENT PINION REPLACING THE TRADITIONAL PINIONS AND WHEELS
48 JEWELS

ENERGY
2 PAIRS OF BARRELS IN SERIES, SET IN PARALLEL AND INCLINED AT 13°, STORING 450g OF ENERGY EACH: 900g TOTAL STRENGTH

AUTOMATIC WINDING SYSTEM
LINEAR MASS WITH DOUBLE RACK RAIL: 12g TUNGSTEN INGOT

MOVEMENT FEATURES
28’800 VIBRATIONS PER HOUR
STRENGTH COLLECTING SYSTEM SET ON A MICRO BEARING AT 12 O’CLOCK
2 DISCHARGE RATCHETS WITH GEAR CUT AT 13°
ANNULAR BALANCE WITH 3 ARMS MADE OF GLUCYDUR
« TOP » QUALITY SWISS BALANCE-SPRING WITH MICRO BLAZED FINISHING
« RAQUETTERIE » WITH FINE ADJUSTMENT BY ECCENTRIC SCREW
52-HOUR POWER RESERVE
AVERAGE ACCURACY PER 24H: +/- 4 SEC
RANGE max 310°, min 210°
SMALL SECOND AT 4

WATCH FEATURES
PLATINUM 950 CASE
BEVELED EDGE AND CURVED SAPPHIRE GLASS
HAND-SEWN BLUE ALLIGATOR STRAP
FOLDING BUCKLE WITH DOUBLE SAFETY PUSH-BUTTONS IN PLATINUM 950