XILUGS artisans making watch straps by hand at long benches in the Ha Noi workshop

Best Handmade Watch Strap Makers 2026: An Honest Guide

The best handmade watch strap makers are the workshops that tell you plainly who cuts and stitches your strap, how long it takes and what happens if it does not fit. We compared six names (XILUGS, Delugs, Handdn, Milano Straps, FinWatchStraps and Hirsch) using only what each brand publishes about itself.

What makes a watch strap maker truly handmade?

"Handmade" appears on many strap listings, and the word covers a wide range of methods. Some makers cut, stitch and finish every strap by hand. Others design in-house and rely on larger production, with handwork at certain stages. Both can produce a good strap; they simply give you different things.

Handmade watch strap makers at a long workbench in the XILUGS Ha Noi workshop
Three XILUGS artisans at the bench, each working on a strap by hand while a colleague looks on.

When you read a maker's site, look for clear answers to four questions:

  • Who cuts the leather? Hand cutting lets the maker pick the best part of each hide for each strap.
  • How is it stitched? In a hand saddle stitch the thread crosses inside every hole, so one cut stitch does not undo the whole row.
  • How are the edges finished? Sanded and painted edges take time, but they seal the leather and stay neat for longer.
  • Is it made to order? When nothing is cut until you order, the strap can follow your exact width and options.

Six handmade strap makers and what they say

Each brand below comes up often when watch fans discuss custom straps. Every line restates the brand's own website, checked on October 22, 2026, so read them as each company's claims rather than independent tests.

XILUGS (Ha Noi, Vietnam)

  • Each strap is made to order by one artisan through the 18 steps on our crafting process page.
  • The hand saddle stitch alone takes about an hour per strap.
  • Making takes 3–5 business days before the strap ships.

Handdn (Da Nang, Vietnam)

  • Its about page says the name stands for "hand" and "DN" for Danang, and lists a US address in Boulder, Colorado.
  • The same page describes its bespoke straps as 100% handmade in Vietnam and offers exchange or return within 30 days.

Delugs (USA, UK, Singapore)

  • Its brand story says it began as leathercrafters in 2016, then set out to train a group of leathercrafters to make straps in larger quantities.
  • Its home page says it ships from the USA, the UK and Singapore and offers a Strap Finder to visualize straps on your watch.

Milano Straps (Florida, USA)

  • Its about page describes a family-owned business founded by a USA-based Italian watchmaker, with a contact address in Florida.
  • It says it works with Italian artisans and uses Italian leather.

FinWatchStraps (Helsinki, Finland)

  • Its about page describes a family-owned company run by the craftsman, who makes each order individually and says no machinery is used.

Hirsch (Klagenfurt, Austria)

  • Its company history says the founder made his first watch straps on his own premises in Klagenfurt in 1945, and the business is now run by the fourth generation.

We left WatchGecko out of the list because its about page describes an independent online store selling watches and straps, not a single strap workshop.

Delugs, Handdn or XILUGS: which suits you?

All three sell leather straps with custom options to US buyers, but they suit different shoppers. Delugs is built for browsing: straps are grouped by watch brand, and its Strap Finder previews them on your watch. If you want a ready-made strap quickly, that is a strong reason to choose it.

Finished XILUGS watch straps in several leathers and colors on a wooden table
Smooth, grained, scaled and perforated straps side by side show how far one workshop's range can go.

Handdn and XILUGS are both Vietnamese workshops making custom straps by hand. XILUGS traces its roots to 2016 and works from its own workshop in Thanh Xuan, Ha Noi, with about 20 artisans. Nothing is cut until you order, and in our design-your-own strap builder you set:

  • The leather: calfskins such as Epsom, Togo, Swift and Nappa, hand-dyed vegtan, or exotics such as alligator, ostrich and lizard.
  • The fit: lug width from 12 to 24 mm, and a flat build or one of three padded shapes (Domed, Square or Full).
  • The details: stitch, edge and keeper colors, the buckle and the spring bars.
  • A personal touch: engraving on the lining, up to 12 characters, at no charge.

A made-to-order strap is not always the right answer. A stocked strap from Milano Straps, Delugs or a Hirsch retailer will usually arrive sooner, and it lets you try several colors on a tight budget.

Choose made to order when the details matter: an exact width such as 19 mm, a padded build, a stitch that matches your dial or an exotic leather. Our regular leather watch straps and exotic leather watch bands show both sides of that choice.

What to check before you order a custom strap

Whichever maker you choose, these checks prevent most problems with custom work:

  1. Measure the lug width. Use a ruler between the lugs; the lug width and length how-to walks through it.
  2. Read the return terms for custom work. Many makers, XILUGS included, cannot take back engraved or custom-spec straps unless they are faulty.
  3. Ask about the lining. A soft, water-resistant lining keeps a strap comfortable in summer.
  4. Pick your spring bars. Quick-release bars make swapping straps a tool-free job; see quick-release vs traditional spring bars.
  5. Add up the total cost. Include shipping and any import duties, which the buyer usually pays.
  6. For alligator, plan the paperwork. The US Fish & Wildlife Service explains that CITES-listed species, products included, move under a permit system. Message us first if you want alligator shipped to the US.

How long does a made-to-order strap take to reach the US?

At XILUGS, each strap takes 3–5 business days to make. Shipping to the US costs $5.99 flat and takes 10–12 days, and orders over $350 ship free. Canada, the EU, the UK, Australia and New Zealand ship for $15. Prices are in USD, and import duties are the customer's responsibility.

Artisan reading order details on a phone and writing notes for a custom strap
An artisan checks an order on a phone and writes down its details before any leather is cut.

For US Christmas delivery, order by approximately December 1, since each strap takes 3–5 business days to make and about 10–12 days to arrive. Busy weeks can add a few days, so check our shipping policy for current dates.

Where to start with a XILUGS strap

These four straps show the range of our bench, from everyday calf to exotic:

Finished XILUGS straps packed in black gift boxes stacked on a workshop bench
Black boxes stacked on the bench, one lid open to show a gray perforated strap inside.

If none of these is quite right, send us your own spec, sketch or reference through the custom leather watch strap order page. To see every stage behind it, read our 18 steps of a handmade leather strap.

FAQ

Who makes the best handmade watch straps?

It depends on what you need. A made-to-order workshop suits custom widths, builds and exotic leathers, while a large retailer suits speed and the widest ready-made range. Compare what each maker publishes about cutting, stitching and returns.

Is XILUGS the same company as Handdn or Delugs?

No. XILUGS is the trading name of LunLeather LLC, and our straps are made in our own workshop in the Thanh Xuan district of Ha Noi.

Can I send back a custom XILUGS strap?

Unused straps without personalization can come back within 30 days from delivery. Engraved straps and straps built to a custom spec only come back if faulty, and we cover defects at any time.

Can I choose quick-release spring bars?

Yes. Every XILUGS strap can be ordered with regular or quick-release spring bars, chosen in the builder before checkout.

How do I contact XILUGS before ordering?

Email support@xilugs.com or message us on WhatsApp at +84 963 567 901 with your watch model and your question.

Whichever maker you pick, start with the right numbers: our watch strap size guide covers lug width and length in two minutes.

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