Exhaustive belt search

[Chips]

I'm getting nowhere in my ongoing search for a simple yet particular belt. Google is no help. Online stores like J. L. Powell, Trafalgar, Leyva, Worchesterchire, Filston, etc... to no avail.

Can anyone point me in the direction of where I can find a BLACK pebble grained belt? Obviously casual... At least as wide or wider than 1.5 inches, preferably with no contrast stitching and a solid brass buckle, no plating, but at this point, I'd even cut off an ugly buckle if I could find the right leather. Price doesn't really matter, because I'd rather have one that will hold up over time.

Has anyone had any experience with ordering custom made belts with a maker they could recommend?

I damn near choked when Google only showed some lame Nike belt as 90% of its results.

Thanks.

 

[rob]

I did a quick google search for "black pebble grain belt" and I found some. Whether or not they are to your liking is another matter. Try it.

 

[voxsartoria]

http://www.allenedmonds.com

- B

 

[Chips]

Uhhh, yeah.. no bueno. I wouldn't have started a thread if I hadn't already tried that.

 

[teddieriley]

^^Those belts naturally look like seconds.

Did you check Paul Stuart or Ben Silver? What about Land's End?

 

[Chips]

Originally Posted by voxsartoria

http://www.allenedmonds.com

- B

Now that bad boy is about the closest I've come to finding what I want. No contrast stitching, not a cheap looking lightly embossed pattern. I shall email them to inquire as to the width.

If that came in antique solid brass, I'd be in heaven.

 

[rob]

Originally Posted by teddieriley

^^Those belts naturally look like seconds.

Did you check Paul Stuart or Ben Silver? What about Land's End?

I live in Milwaukee, the land of seconds. Shall we expound?

Rob

 

[pscolari]

The closest I can think of is the C&J version. I know they make the tan with brass, but I think the black is only with silver buckle. Might be worth asking if they can make the black with the brass buckle as a special order considering they seem to have them on hand.

 

[TRINI]

Why don't you just get someone to make it for you?

 

[Chips]

Ben Silver had some nice stuff, nothing the proper width. Lands End was also a bust.

Yes, the idea of paying someone to make one exactly as I desire would, in my mind, be worth up to $200-250 out of my pocket. But I've no experience with any makers. Hence, I'm turning to the wisdom of the board.

That C&J is sweet, but a tad too narrow.

 

[Wes Bourne]

Martin Dingman has 4 Scotch grain belts available in black, 2 of them are 1 3/8 wide. Unfortunately, none have a solid brass buckle.

 

[Chips]

Originally Posted by Wes Bourne

Martin Dingman has 4 Scotch grain belts available in black, 2 of them are 1 3/8 wide. Unfortunately, none have a solid brass buckle.

Same problem as the the C&J. I don't get it, it's a casual belt, 1.5 inches shouldn't seem out of the realm of common.

 

[chasingred]

I believe Ralph Lauren makes black pebble grain belts. Might want to scour eBay and the RL site.

 

[sfnapolifan]

you're in san francisco, no? maybe april in paris on clement street or suzanne george the shoemaker in noe valley? belts on april in paris' website start above $400, but that's including a silver buckle. i'd imagine suzanne george would be less expensive. maybe also consider glaser designs--prices seem almost reasonable from their website.

 

[Chips]

Hmmm. Any more info on this Suzanne George? All I can find is a yelp review, but it seems to be a glowing one.

April in Paris is an option that I will consider, if I exhaust every other possibility. I think there could be no finer example than what she makes, but $400 is a bit steep for a casual belt that will get worn maybe twice a month at the absolute most.

I'm tempted to do drop by her store tomorrow and see if she could craft something sans buckle, but with her level of quality, that might not be the market she caters to. But, I agree, if she did, it would likely be cheaper than $400.

I just got off the phone with a home town guy, up north who's made two belts for me in the past, out of very thick bridle leather. He is getting a hide in, in the next week or two that is a nice black pebble grain, so I might go that route. Especially since his costs are amazing. It's just harder buying completely sight unseen, especially when it comes to the buckle option. The downside, according to him, is that most pebble grained leather that is destined to become a belt needs to be laminated on top of another solid piece of leather. He is not fond of laminated belts, and prefers to use only full grain hides that are damn near 1/4 inch thick. At the price he's quoting me to make one up, I might have him make the first version using the unlaminated thinner stock, and if I don't like it ( he says it's a bit flimsy for what he considers a belt) then I'll just have him make it again, laminated.

He is dropping a few samples of the leather in the mail in the next week or so, when he gets it, so I'll keep my fingers crossed.