Tattoo Chef

Reviewer: Don aka Tattoo Chef

Strap donated for review

Strap being reviewed: Ted Su Shell Cordovan, Blue with yellow stitching

Company Website: http://www.tedsustraps.com/#

Store: http://tedsustraps.3dcartstores.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ted.su.50?fref=ts

About/History:
The Ted Su work shop was established in 1994 in Bade, a small town in northern Taiwan. The work shop focused on making straps for Panerai watches using vintage Swiss and French ammo pouch leather. Ever since then, the ammo straps have become our signature products. We expanded our product lines with exotic materials such as alligator, shark, shell cordovan, rubber and composites for luxury wrist watch brands such as Rolex, Cartier, Omega in the following years.
Our business goal: To compromise nothing. Honest craftsmanship providing customers the best value products.

Stock Photo:




Strap Description:
Shell Cordovan comes from horses. The shell refers to the under layer of the skin that covers the posterior of a horse. Each horse has two shells.
Genuine shell cordovan has to be vegetable tanned, which the process takes as long as 6 months. The time consuming and labor intensive process limit the production, making it one of the rarest leather available.

Strap specifications
Width: 24/24mm
Length: 130mm/80mm
Thickness: 3.5mm
Keepers: 2, 1 fixed, 1 loose
Stiffness: 4
Stitching: yellow waxed thread
Holes: oval
Buckle: Signed polished screw in Pre-V

Price: $185 USD



Packaging:
The packaging is the same as all Ted Su straps. It comes in a clear signed zip lock style pouch. I like these very much, as I have a few of them and use them to store some of my straps. They are actually quite handy and you can fit more than one strap in these.





My Photos:


























Thoughts and Impressions:
So, as always , this is the part where I will nit pick and tell you what I don't like about the strap.
Well, not the case this time. I cant tell you one thing I personally don't like about the strap, except maybe the price......but it is Shell Cordovan, and this is one of the cases where you get what you pay for.

I sometimes hesitate to write a review where I don't have any negatives, as some might think I have a bias. But its just not the case here.

The strap is super comfortable and the feel of the shell cordovan, if you have never had one, is like no other. Its smooth to the touch, but still supple, and has a semi-gloss finish to it.
Its thickness at 3.5mm is perfect for this type of strap and should work on most styles of watches, unless your watch is really heavy and you need a thicker strap to balance it out.

The color of this particular example is a royal blue. But as you can see in the pics, it depends on what lighting you are in. Sometimes it looks a little darker, sometimes lighter and the strap has faded areas where it reminds you of blue jeans.

The back is done in a tan leather and is super smooth. The stitching is as good as I have seen. This strap really is one of the most comfortable I have worn. This is much different than your standard types of leather, really unlike anything else out there. This has no breaking in period at all.
Now, is not a super soft strap in terms of feel. What I mean is , its not at all floppy, it has a structure to it.
But the second I put it on the wrist it was like the strap was made for me and me only. The holes and sizing were perfectly done for my 7 1/2 inch wrist.

Yep, I know. Where is the negative? As I write this and wear the strap, I cant come up with one. Anyone that has ever read my reviews knows I am the first to point out what I think is wrong, could have been changed/upgraded. The only negative and its not about the strap itself per say but rather that this is the largest size available in this strap on the site. I am not sure if Ted Su makes custom or larger sizes, but I hope so, as I feel that this strap should be able to be worn by anyone, no matter the wrist size.

Obviously, this blue color is not for everyone. Ted Su makes the Shell Cordovan in an array of colors, royal blue, chocolate brown, Cognac, Red, Black and a Olive green.

This is my first time with a shell cordovan such as this, and it wont be my last.

Below is a photo of the other colors that Ted Su offers.

Thank you for reading, I look forward to your comments.

ealansdale

As always, a great review.
I love the look of these, and am sold on the idea of having a strap made with this premium leather.
Thanks for sharing!

aaronmp2001

Man that looks perfect on that watch. Looks like one awesome strap. Great pictures also Don!

mikesr

Those straps are beautiful! That is some superb craftsmanship! Great review and pictures!

Spaceview

I've seen this strap in person and the quality is exceptional. If you have the right watch to wear this with you are a lucky WIS. It is gorgeous.

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In Rotation: Accutron Spaceview T Case (1970), Tudor Pelagos 25500TN, Glycine Airman 17 Ref:3917.2, Glycine Airman 08 Chrono 7754, Omega Planet Ocean XL, Raymond Weil Nabucco GMT, Citizen Skyhawk JY0000-53E, Breitling Super Avenger A13370, Boschett Cave Dweller WF LE, Lum-Tec M53 Bronze, Uniq GAF44, Maranez Bangla Ti Cali Dial, Bathy's 100 Fathom, Maranez Bangla Ti LE, Ball Engineer Master II Aviator NM1080C-L3-BK, Orient Pro Saturation Diver EL02003W, REC M5 Mark I, Casio Tough Solar, SWAE Veteran, Panzera BREUER B44-01D (Celtic), Hamilton Sunset H62555153, Prometheus Poseidon, Luxmento Naylamp 300m Automatic Blue, Seiko Recraft, Vostok Europe Ekranoplan, Marina Militare, Hamilton Pan Europ Chrono

Smartwatches: Samsung Gear 2, Ticwatch 2

Tattoo Chef

Thanks guys.

iLiveWithWatches

Great review and picking a watch to wear it on, it goes perfectly. It looks amazing to wear and to look at. Looks like a really great strap.

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Jake

andrema

Very nice write-up, Don!

The straps look interesting. Although I'm not a fan of some of the color options, they certainly look to be very well made!

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Caddymon

Perfect match for that strap. Great review!

WatchDogue

Great review supported by terrific photographs to illustrate the quality of the Ted Su straps.

The straps have an eye catching quality about 'em, and the strap, keepers and stitching bespeak quality.

Enjoyed the Su Review.

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jankoxxx

excellent review

i would like to know though if this is the japanese or spanish shell cordovan. i have never handled it personally so a comparison with horween shell cordovan would be really interesting.

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My watch straps - www.JankoXXX.eu

brynn

Great review and pics. I'm thinking of getting the blue one myself, probably with matching blue or white stitching for my watches. Someone asked the source of the shell cordovan Ted Su uses. I asked them the question, and it is from Japan (I assume Shinki Hikaku, but not sure). Horween of Chicago is the usual source for westerners, and it is high quality. But Horween is not available in blue, and this japanese shell cordovan looks mighty good in blue, at least to me.

WrenKing

Love there'd thanks for the great review.

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Cordially, Christopher