Extra-Long Ostrich Leg Strap for Chronographe Suisse
A vintage 18K Chronographe Suisse is a small, light watch that ends up on a wrist far larger than the case was designed for. This order came from Australia with a 16mm buckle end and a 105/160mm length — roughly 265mm of strap, well past where most makers stop. The problem was not the leather or the colour. It was finding an extra-long strap for a Chronographe Suisse that still looked proportionate against a slim gold case.
Build sheet
| Watch | 18K Chronographe Suisse |
| Leather | Ostrich leg, rooibos tea |
| Strap length | 105/160mm (4.1 in / 6.3 in) |
| Buckle width | 16mm (0.63 in) |
| Buckle | Classic, gold |
| Spring bars | Regular |
| Style | Classic |
| Stitching | Side stitching, matching thread |
| Padding | Flat |
| Tip end | Tapered |
Why these choices
Ostrich leg is the scaled leg skin rather than the round body hide, so it carries a natural grain rather than the quill bumps people associate with ostrich. On a 16mm strap that grain reads as texture instead of pattern, which is what you want under a dress chronograph. Rooibos tea is a warm red-brown that sits with yellow gold without competing with it, and the matching thread keeps the eye on the case.
The rest of the build is deliberately quiet. Flat construction with no padding keeps a 105/160mm strap from looking like a slab on the wrist — at this length, any bulk gets multiplied. The tip is tapered so the long end tucks cleanly through the keepers rather than fanning out past them. Regular spring bars were fitted because the case is vintage and the lug holes on watches of this era are best left to a spring bar tool, not a quick-release lever.
★★★★★
“Looks and feels great! The xl size fits my 9"wrist.”
anthony c. · Verified purchase · Ostrich leg leather strap
Questions we get on this build
How long is an extra-long strap for a Chronographe Suisse?
This one was cut 105/160mm, measured 265mm end to end before the buckle. VGreen builds extra-long for wrists from 8.5 in to 12 in (216mm to 305mm), which is where most makers stop. The two numbers are the short side and the long side, so you can move length to whichever side your lug position needs.
Does ostrich leg work on a small vintage case?
Yes, and better than round-skin ostrich does. The leg grain is finer and flatter, so at 16mm it does not read as a novelty texture. Flat construction keeps the profile close to the case.
If your wrist runs past where stock straps end, start with the extra-long watch strap collection, or see this exact hide on the rooibos tea ostrich leg strap. Every strap is made to order — allow 2–3 weeks to delivery. You can also build one to your own measurements.