A great watch strap should never be an afterthought. It shapes how a watch wears, how it feels, and ultimately how often it earns time on the wrist. The Forge Watch Strap was created with that philosophy firmly in mind, designed to bridge the gap between refined everyday style and genuine, hard-wearing performance.
At first glance, the Forge presents the purposeful texture of sailcloth, a material long favoured for its durability and utilitarian appeal. Look closer, however, and you will find something far more considered. This is not sailcloth at all, but a technically advanced leather strap built to deliver the same resilience while retaining the comfort and sophistication only leather can provide.
Forge - A New Approach to Performance Leather
The Forge Watch Strap is crafted from Astico Matrix leather, a specialised PU-coated split leather developed and produced exclusively in Italy. Astico is renowned for its advanced material engineering, and Matrix represents a modern reinterpretation of what leather can achieve when traditional craftsmanship meets contemporary technology.
Using proprietary moulds and precision coating techniques, Astico Matrix recreates the distinctive woven texture and structure associated with sailcloth. The difference lies in the material’s composition. Beneath the surface, it remains classified as genuine leather, preserving the natural flexibility and wearing comfort that synthetic alternatives often lack.
The ultra-thin polyurethane coating, measuring less than 0.15mm, is key to the Forge’s performance credentials. It significantly enhances resistance to abrasion, repeated flexing, and environmental exposure, all without stiffening the strap or compromising how it sits on the wrist. The result is a material that looks robust, feels supple, and ages gracefully through everyday wear.
Built for Daily Wear, Whatever the Setting
Versatility was central to the Forge’s design brief. This is a strap equally at home paired with a field watch on a weekend hike or a clean, time-only piece under a shirt cuff during the working week.
Light padding gives the Forge reassuring structure without excess bulk. Measuring approximately 4.5mm at the lugs and tapering smoothly to around 3mm, it provides a balanced profile that complements a wide range of case sizes. The strap wears flat and comfortably from the first outing, avoiding the break-in period often associated with thicker leather straps.
On the underside, a hydrophobic cow leather lining improves moisture resistance and comfort, helping the strap cope with warm days, light rain, and extended wear. It is a small but important detail that reinforces the Forge’s all-day, everyday intentions.
Craftsmanship You Can Feel
Each Forge Watch Strap is handmade and hand-stitched in Germany, a country with a long-standing reputation for precision leatherwork. The construction is deliberate and purposeful, with double box stitching reinforcing key stress points and adding visual balance to the overall design.
A polished stainless steel buckle completes the strap with a clean, understated finish. It is robust, corrosion-resistant, and visually versatile, pairing just as easily with brushed tool watches as it does with more refined cases.
Every element has been considered not only for aesthetics, but for longevity. This is a strap designed to be worn hard, not saved for special occasions.
The Ideal Companion for Modern Tool Watches
The Forge Watch Strap sits comfortably at the intersection of form and function. It offers the sleek sophistication of leather while delivering durability and performance comparable to sailcloth-inspired alternatives. That makes it a natural match for field watches, military-inspired designs, pilot watches, and modern everyday classics.
For collectors who want a strap that can keep pace with their lifestyle without sacrificing style, the Forge represents a compelling option. It proves that technical materials and traditional craftsmanship are not opposing forces, but complementary ones when executed with care.
In short, the Forge Watch Strap is built for those who expect more from the details, because the smallest components often make the biggest difference.
Key Features at a Glance
- Handmade and hand-stitched in Germany
- Crafted from Astico Matrix leather, produced exclusively in Italy
- Genuine leather with advanced PU coating for enhanced durability
- Textured finish inspired by traditional sailcloth
- Hydrophobic, water-repellent cow leather lining
- Polished stainless steel buckle
- Reinforced double box stitching for added strength
A modern strap for modern watches, the Forge is designed to work as hard as you do, wherever the day takes you.
