【F】 Watch Strap Review 72 — Atelier Yang

After a strong start last month, we’re back with straps from yet another atelier for your viewing pleasure. Here’s a brand-new (to us) name all the way from Singapore — Atelier Yang. It’s been a while since I received these wonderful straps, but we needed to build a strategy for the restart of the Watch Strap Review series. Better late than never, as the saying goes, and I could not be happier with what I’m bringing you today. Get ready for classic elegance, premium materials, and finally, competitive prices.

Ellis, the man behind the Atelier Yang, got in touch with me a while ago and offered his brand to my attention. Atelier Yang offers straps, wallets, key fobs, and even bags, all crafted from the finest leathers available. He sent me three straps from the made-to-order range. Let’s have a look at them one by one.

Atelier Yang

Atelier Yang is a small, enthusiast-run brand emphasizing materials and execution over extensive collections or marketing. Based in Singapore, it produces leather goods in small batches, focusing on handcraft and traditional techniques.

The catalog covers a wide range of leathers, from textured calf and suede to more distinctive options for those who like a bit of flair on the wrist. Proportions are kept classic, stitching is clean and deliberate, and details like slim lug profiles and quick-release spring bars show that these straps are made by someone who wears watches.

On paper, it all sounds promising. As always, though, it comes down to how these straps perform once mounted on a watch and worn for a while.

Pigskin

Let’s start with a simple yet fun option — Atelier Yang’s Pigskin Watch Strap. Over the years, I have reviewed a ton of straps made from the most versatile materials. Just last month, we took a closer look at some wool straps, but I don’t recall reviewing many pigskin straps. It is kind of odd, though, as back in the ’30s or ’40s, many watch brands used pigskin as their go-to strap material for new models. So the idea is not new; it just eluded me until now. That’s why I was stoked when I saw that Ellis blessed me with this strap. It went straight onto my Sinn Excelsior Park. After all, a vintage chronograph deserves a vintage-vibe strap. The simplest of all three, this pigskin strap is truly a work of art for an affordable price.

Atelier Yang offers it in three sizes — 19/16mm (which is what I got), a classic 20/18mm, or a small 18/16mm for those delicate vintage three-handers. While you can pick the width you want, the length is medium at around 115/70mm. With a thickness of 2.2mm, there’s no padding here, but none is necessary. It is one of those options that looks good right out of the packaging, but with time, it ages to perfection. This strap is side-stitched by hand and made to Atelier Yang’s highest specifications with a Hydro-repel hypoallergenic and water-repellent calfskin lining for those steamy summer evenings. I do suggest, though, that you wear a more water-resistant option in the summer to protect both your wrist and your strap.

To finish off the look, a simple and elegant Atelier Yang polished steel buckle comes on the strap, as well as my favorite feature, quick-release spring bars. At €129.95, the Atelier Yang Pigskin Watch Strap is a no-brainer for a sturdy but good-looking option.

Epsom

If it’s good enough for Hermès (bags), it will definitely be good enough for us. Epsom is a heat-pressed leather with a cross-hatched grain that Hermès often uses for its handbags and other fine leather goods. For a long while now, this leather has also been a common material in the strap industry for many reasons. It not only feels luxurious but also offers a certain vibrancy to the color. Atelier Yang’s Epsom Watch Strap is the perfect complement to the pigskin. The size options, length, and even price are the same.

The only difference is that the AY Epsom comes in five colors, mine being taupe. So off it went on my Eterna, a lovely three-hander with a ton of character. It was the perfect match if you ask me. This strap offers beautiful side stitching, carefully painted edges, and a competitive price. What more can you ask for in a dressy strap like this one? Perhaps a slimmer profile? No problem; the Epsom strap is only around 2mm thick. While not a significant downsizing, it makes all the difference with a slimmer dress watch.

Bespoke Museum Calf

I saved the best for last. Atelier Yang also offers bespoke straps for watch aficionados. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with a pigskin or Epsom strap. However, if you want the full-custom treatment, Ellis and his team have you covered. Their Bespoke Museum Calf Watch Straps give you a ton of options. You can pick the basics — the color, the length (even request a special size based on the watch), and the width. But it goes deeper than that. Select your stitching color, edge paint color, and even your stitching density, as well as the strap’s style or buckle pin width. And this is not all. You really need to check the list of options, as it’s extremely wide. As you’d imagine, the price for such a service is higher than for a regular strap. Still, at €204.95, it is not insanely expensive. Keep in mind that the strap would be exactly as you’d want it to be.

Museum calf is a chromed-tanned leather sourced from an Italian tannery. The leather might be familiar to those of you who prefer exclusive footwear, as it’s used by shoemakers like John Lobb. It’s also resistant to scratches and firmer than the previous two we looked at. Yet, thanks to its 1.98mm thickness, this strap is slim and elegant, which is what we all aspire to be, isn’t it? All jokes aside, it’s a wonderful strap that looks good on any watch, including my Speedy.

Closing words

I don’t need to emphasize that, aside from the three samples Atelier Yang sent me, the brand offers a large variety of watch straps. You can search for different materials, watch types, and even straps for Apple watches. Then, you can browse the accessories or even bags. My favorite section on the Atelier Yang website, however, was the Journal, which tells the stories of exquisite straps made for breathtaking timepieces. Make sure you check Atelier Yang out and share your experience in the comments.