Center-Notched Red Lizard Strap for Cartier Vendome
The Cartier Vendôme reference 881002 does not take a plain straight-cut strap end. The fix is a center-notched strap for the Cartier Vendôme: a notch is cut into the middle of the strap end so it clears the case at the attachment point, while the strap keeps its full width on either side.
This order came from California, with the owner's own measurements and the original Cartier buckle.
The build
| Strap style | Center-notched |
|---|---|
| Watch | Cartier Vendôme ref. 881002 |
| Leather | Red lizard |
| Notch measurements | X 14mm (0.55 in) / Y 4mm (0.16 in) / Z 2.5mm (0.10 in) |
| Strap length | 70/115mm (2.76/4.53 in) |
| Buckle end | Tapered to 12mm (0.47 in) |
| Buckle | Owner’s original Cartier buckle |
Why these choices
A center notch is the opposite of the corner notch on a Santos. Instead of trimming the outside corners, it removes material from the middle of the strap end, which is what lets the strap seat against a case like the Vendôme. The three numbers in the table are the owner's X, Y and Z measurements from our center-notch template. On a notch this small, half a millimeter changes the fit, so we cut exactly to the figures supplied rather than to a generic Vendôme pattern.
The far end tapers to 12mm so the owner's original Cartier buckle goes back on. Keeping the original buckle matters on a vintage Cartier: the watch keeps its original hardware, and nothing is lost in the swap.
Lizard is the dressiest of the exotic leathers. Its fine, even scales suit a small dress watch where a bolder grain like crocodile would overwhelm the dial. On lizard, red stays crisp because the small scales do not break it into large patches. At 70/115mm the strap is sized for a smaller wrist, which matches the proportions of this case.
The owner also planned to email photos of the original buckle alongside the order. Photos of supplied hardware let us confirm the width before the end is tapered, so the buckle closes cleanly without forcing the leather. On original hardware, that small check is worth the extra email.
★★★★★
“I needed a notch cut into the strap. VGreen took my measurements and pictures, communicated with me, and did a perfect job.”
Bob S. · Verified purchase · Custom center-notched strap
FAQ
How do I measure for a center-notched strap for a Cartier Vendôme?
You need the three X, Y and Z measurements at the case end, entered on our center-notched strap page. A jeweler with calipers is the safest route to accurate numbers.
Can I keep my original Cartier buckle?
Yes. Tell us the buckle width and we taper the strap to match, as we did here at 12mm.
Each strap is made to order, so allow 2–3 weeks to delivery. See more fits in our custom notched straps, Cartier watch straps, lizard leather watch straps and red leather watch straps.