Merlot Kudu Panerai Strap Review — A Rare Leather and a Happy Customer

Every now and then a piece of leather comes along that feels truly unique. Merlot Kudu is one of those. I found it last year. It’s a deep red‑purple kudu hide with a richness that’s hard to describe — and (unfortunately for me) even harder to replace. I have only a small amount of this leather left, and once it’s gone, I'm afraid that’s the end of it.

A first‑time customer recently contacted me about a Merlot Kudu watch strap for his first Panerai. He'd heard about my work on Reddit, and was drawn to the kudu leathers. Immediately after receiving the strap, he sent this testimonial:

“The colour is great. A deep red/purple, Merlot is indeed fitting… The strap is masculine and oozes quality. Great work!”

He also mentioned something every leatherworker secretly loves:

“After appreciating the looks I had a good sniff. The smell of a good leather is up there with coffee and freshly mown grass.”

He tells me he’s heading to Singapore and Malaysia next year for some watch hunting, and already has a couple more Panerai on his wish list. If he picks one up to add to his 112, he says he’ll be back for another strap — and I look forward to it.

Merlot Kudu is a very rare leather, and seeing it on a first Panerai makes it even more satisfying.