Custom Alligator Strap for Reversed Pocket Watch Movement – Bespoke Timepiece

This watch is more than a mechanical device. It’s a statement. A gesture.

The vintage movement, once hidden inside a pocket watch case, has been entirely reimagined: a talented watchmaker reversed its orientation, like a medal turned to show its opposite side — the one adorned with bridges, a balance wheel, blued screws, and ruby jewels. The side typically concealed behind a solid caseback is now placed on full display.

All functions remain intact. But to preserve the logic of time display after this reversal, the watchmaker engineered an additional keyless works module that reverses the direction of the hands.

A new, hand-crafted skeleton dial was made — preserving classic hour markings — allowing the viewer’s gaze to pass directly into the architecture of the mechanism. This isn’t just a visual flourish; it’s an engineering decision with philosophical depth.

To complement this vision of time, I created a bespoke strap crafted from dark navy alligator leather — perfectly echoing the hue of the movement’s blued screws. Reinforced with Jaeger materials and shaped with a pronounced padded profile, the strap was ergonomically formed to follow the curve of the wrist.

The underside is lined with black, hypoallergenic, moisture-resistant leather. Hand-stitched using a traditional saddle stitch with MeiSi linen thread and paired with a stainless steel deployant clasp, the strap was built to offer lasting comfort and refined presence.

This is not just an object.

It’s a quiet reflection on time, attention — and the truth that real beauty is often hidden, waiting to be noticed.

The underside is lined with black, hypoallergenic, moisture-resistant leather. Hand-stitched using a traditional saddle stitch with MeiSi linen thread and paired with a stainless steel deployant clasp, the strap was built to offer lasting comfort and refined presence.

If you’re interested in how strap materials perform over time, you can also read this comparison of leather, silicone, and metal watch straps.

This is not just an object.

It’s a quiet reflection on time, attention — and the truth that real beauty is often hidden, waiting to be noticed.