Notched Shell Cordovan Strap for a Citizen Axiom
The Citizen Axiom is a slim, angular case where the bracelet flows straight out of the lugs. That looks good on the bracelet and it is a problem on leather: a normal strap end butts against the case and leaves a gap you cannot unsee. A notched strap for the Citizen Eco-Drive Axiom closes it. The corners of the strap end are cut away so the leather tucks in against the case profile instead of sitting proud of it. This one, ordered from Texas, went a step further and moved to shell cordovan.
Build sheet
| Watch | Citizen Eco-Drive Axiom Chronograph (AT2242-55E) |
| Strap type | Custom corner-notched |
| Leather | Black shell cordovan |
| A | 22.5 mm (0.89 in) |
| B | 14 mm (0.55 in) |
| C | 5 mm (0.20 in) |
| Strap length | 75/125 mm (2.95 in / 4.92 in) |
Why these choices
Corner-notched is the right pattern for a case like this — it is the same geometry we cut for a Cartier Santos, where material comes out of the two corners of the strap end and the middle stays full width. Center-notched, where the bite is taken out of the middle, is for a different problem entirely. Choosing the wrong one produces a strap that is beautifully made and completely useless, which is why the A, B and C measurements matter more than anything else on the order.
From the bench: the numbers this strap was actually cut to are A 22.5, B 14, C 5 mm. Cut them a millimetre generous and the leather fouls the case; cut them a millimetre shy and the gap you were trying to close is still there. We recommend having the notch jeweller-measured, because we build precisely to the figures you send us.
Shell cordovan was the customer's own idea — they asked mid-order whether they could move up to it. It is an equine leather from Shinki Hikaku in Himeji, Japan, much denser than cowhide and famously close to non-creasing: instead of the fine cracks a calfskin develops across the bend, cordovan rolls. On a chronograph that will be worn hard, that is the leather that ages best.
★★★★★
“…couldn't get my two oldest favorite affordable Citizens to fit right in stainless steel. Had to come back home to VGreen and bought two straps. The Cordovan leather is a game changer! Never seen a strap of leather that elevates a timepiece like this type.”
Ryan B. · Verified purchase · Black shell cordovan strap
Questions we get about this build
How do I measure a notched strap for the Citizen Eco-Drive Axiom? A is the full width of the strap end, B is the width of the tongue that enters the case, C is how deep the notch cuts back. A jeweller with calipers will have all three in two minutes, and we cut to your numbers exactly.
Can I have this pattern in a different leather? Yes — the notch is a cut, not a material. Every leather we carry can be corner-notched to the same measurements.
Cut to order at our bench — allow 2–3 weeks to delivery. Start on the corner-notched strap builder, read up on shell cordovan, or see every fit in the notched strap collection.