Testimonials
When I began making leather watch straps for other people, I promised myself that every strap leaving my workshop would be made to the very best of my abilities. That commitment hasn’t changed — but over time I’ve realised that the experience my customers have when dealing with me matters to me just as much as the quality of the strap itself.
Toshi Straps is just me: one person, one workshop, one pair of hands. So every email, every question, every order gets my full attention. One of the things I enjoy most is hearing back from customers when their strap arrives — the photos, the comments, the excitement.
The testimonials below are from some of the people who’ve trusted me to make something for them recently.
“Richard at Toshi Straps does amazing work. The character of the straps I got from him is so far above everything else I’ve laid hands on. If you have a special watch, you got to pair it with his leather straps. He’s a throw back to bygone days. So Happy. ”
23 October 2026
“Great watch strap, probably the best I've seen. Great communication and service. Well recommended and will use again.”
17 October 2026
“I have just received my new Vanilla leather strap from Rich at Toshi straps. I have a couple of nice watches ,nothing very expensive but both straps have worn out. I started looking for a good quality replacement for one of watches (a Chris Ward Typhoon ) and was initially very reluctant to commit to spending £95-00 on a strap, but decided the watch deserved it. I placed the order and a day later received an email from Rich,thanking me for the order and confirming my specifications. I received the strap ten days ahead of schedule and the moment I fitted it to the watch my concerns regarding cost evaporated. The strap is stunning and beautifully made,It makes the watch look far more expensive than it actually is, the colour is simply gorgeous. If you have a watch and want to enhance it aesthetically I doubt there are better straps out there than those made by Rich. I now have to order a second strap for the other watch but I am confident that it will be money very well spent. My thanks and compliments to Rich at Toshi for a truly outstanding piece of work. I’m not easily impressed but Rich fulfilled his part of the deal ten days early and the strap is better in every way than I expected. I cannot recommend him enough. Outstanding product and equally outstanding customer service .”
15 October 2026
“Photographs can hardly capture the wonderful texture and feel of the leather. Richard’s attention to detail extends well beyond his craftsmanship: first-class communication, delivery ahead of schedule and a thoughtful, handwritten letter accompanying the strap. A remarkable piece of craftsmanship, made with care, passion and character. Thank you, Richard, for creating something that means so much more than just a watch strap. Highly recommended.”
14 October 2026
“Rich at Toshi Straps was brilliant to deal with and my hand stitched burgundy strap arrived ahead of schedule and as ordered. Beautiful craftsmanship and the look and style especially elevates Panerai, I’d say even more so than a branded Panerai strap”
09 October 2026
“I ordered a beautiful black leather strap from Richard for my Panerai Luminor. From the very first contact, everything went to my complete satisfaction. Richard patiently listened to my questions because I was unsure about the size of the strap. His advice was very helpful. The strap itself is a wonderful piece of English craftsmanship and goes very well with the watch. Thank you once again.”
08 October 2026
“Great service/communications from Rich and a fantastic looking product too - feels well-constructed, looks like it’s really built to last.”
08 October 2026
“Received the ordered watch strap this week. Looks amazing again. Beautiful leather and top-notch craftsmanship! Communication is always smooth, will definitely order again.”
08 October 2026
“Rich's straps are works of art. He helped me through the selection process and is very prompt at responding to questions. I selected the Emperor Kudu strap. Upon receipt of my strap, I was blown away with the hand-tooled craftsmanship. Hand-cut from natural hides, hand-stitched, and natural scars on the strap from the tough life of the kudu on the Savannah. My heavy Tudor Black Bay Bronze watch, is now light on the wrist, perfectly balanced, smells wonderful and a favorite in my collection. Its a 10 of 10. Go after artisan quality. Treat yourself to Old World excellence and fantastic customer service. ”
07 October 2026
“The overall experience from Rich @ Toshi was outstanding. From initial contact with a quickly answered question to receiving a watch strap of supreme quality in both his workmanship and materials used. I Couldn’t recommend Toshi highly enough. Rich’s only problem is that his straps will last too long! ”
04 October 2026
“Just received the most amazing watch strap for my Panarai Luminor PAM 351. It was the African Kudu with titanium buckle. I think this strap just looks so cool, with the thickness and the rustic look. I can`t say how happy I am for this absolutely beautiful strap. It`s super soft, and feels perfect on my wrist and the colour tones is just amazing to look at. Richard from Toshi Straps work and attention to details is just outstanding and I will definitely be back for more amazing straps. All best from Denmark”
21 September 2026
“I recently received two straps from Rich at Toshi (my third and fourth in total) and once again, they are of superb quality. Both leathers look, feel (and smell!) amazing. The finish and stitching are beautifully executed, with the very special appearance that only comes from an expertly constructed handmade product. The buckles are similarly excellent and sufficiently substantial to make a perfect match for the straps. First class service too; an initial email exchange confirming my order details and a further notification of dispatch mail…all from Rich himself. All communication was clear, professional, friendly and refreshingly human! Thanks very much, I’ll definitely be back!”
16 September 2026
“I purchased a Toshi Strap for my Seiko 5 to give it a bit of a lift and match the blue face to a blue strap. Rich has been great throughout making sure that I got just what I wanted. The materials he uses are excellent and his craftsmanship is of the highest quality. ”
02 September 2026
“I had a great experience with Toshi Straps. I'm really pleased with my strap both the quality of the workmanship and the materials. However the customer service is what really made the experience excellent. Rich reached out to me after my order to confirm the details and was extremely helpful, positive and friendly. I would not hesitate to order another strap from Toshi Straps.”
28 August 2026
“The quality of your workmanship and thoughtful design has given new life to an 11-year-old watch that I had stopped wearing for a few years now due to fatigue with the metal bracelet. This watch is incredibly special to me; it's a Citizen Perpetual Calendar, World Timer, Chronograph and was a gift from my wife for a new job in 2015 after a period of great hardship. It was a Citizen because my grandfather wore a mechanical Citizen, and my first self-purchased watch was also a Citizen, which I bought in Tokyo in 2006. The watch in the picture started a family tradition where my wife buys me a new watch for good luck when I start a new job. Saying I'm incredibly grateful for the new life in this watch would be an understatement; I truly believe this strap makes it feel like a new watch and makes me believe that good things are to come. I just wanted to write and let you know that I truly appreciate my buying experience with you, start to finish, and the way your workmanship and quality have elevated something that holds deep sentimental value.”
26 August 2026
“I received my Toshi strap from Rich today here in Estonia, and I have to say the whole experience was fantastic from start to finish. What stood out to me most was the personal service. In a world where just about everything is mass-produced and automated, it was refreshing to get actual emails from Rich himself. You can picture the guy in his workshop making these straps one at a time, and that connection to the person behind the product really matters. The quality is obvious the second you put it on your wrist. It's hard to explain until you experience it yourself, but it simply feels better than the mass-produced straps I've owned in the past. The leather feels great against the skin, the craftsmanship is excellent, and there's a substance and character to it that's hard to find these days. A great strap says something about you, and it's worth investing in quality. Toshi delivers that quality, and Rich makes the entire process enjoyable from start to finish. This definitely won't be my last Toshi strap.”
22 August 2026
“This is the third watch strap I have purchased from toshi-straps. Each one has been excellent quality and beautifully made. Rich provides a first class service.”
21 August 2026
“Impeccable service and craftsmanship to match, will be ordering again. Order was fulfilled ahead of schedule also! Thanks! ”
18 August 2026
“The strap arrived today and I’m really happy. As soon as I took it out of the packet I thought the colour was great. A deep red/purple, Merlot is indeed fitting. After appreciating the looks I had a good sniff. The smell of a good leather is up there with coffee and freshly mown grass. The strap is masculine and oozes quality. Great work! I’m going to Singapore and Malaysia next year and will be watch hunting. A couple of PAMs are on my list and if I get one I’ll be back to you for sure. I feel like I got lucky. Someone mentioned your name on Reddit and I did a Google, then pulled the trigger. I have zero regrets! Thanks again, your talents are much appreciated.”
06 August 2026
“This has been a wonderful experience! - Richard has been extremely helpful and replied to all my emails swiftly. The order was completed in about half the time he initially suggested,which was a welcome surprise. The strap is everything I wanted and perhaps more, it’s beautifully made and the quality and craftsmanship is clear to see. Now I have discovered Toshi I am sure more straps will follow.”
26 July 2026
“Just ordered my fifth strap they have all been magnificent. The quality of work is beyond belief A+. Rich shows what true craftsmanship really means. The communication and shipping are excellent. I will order from again! ”
23 July 2026
“This is my second strap that I have purchased from Toshi Straps and am very happy with it. The leather and quality of the end product is fantastic and looks great on my Panerai. The range of leathers is extensive and I recommend speaking to Rich if you want any advice (his knowledge of the products and experience is invaluable). Thanks Rich!”
22 July 2026
“Great service and communication. I actually received the watch strap ahead of time and the quality is absolutely first class. The photos on the website don’t do justice to these straps. Highly recommended and I will be doing business with Toshi Straps again in the near future.”
17 July 2026
“Great quality hand-made watch straps. Friendly and efficient communication. Thank you!”
16 July 2026
“I have always been happy with the professional service and quality of products I have received from Toshi Straps. The choice of leather types and colours is vast. With customisation options like thread colour, buckles and personal requirements being catered for. Excellent communication throughout the process, delivery and follow up support confirming your delivery. I have enjoyed years of swapping my straps over to suit the mood, and Toshi Straps with the fair pricing and offers allows me to have a varied selection”
13 July 2026
“A fabulous service from start to finish. I have a very specific Anonimo model that requires a notched strap to accommodate a concealed crown at 6 - Rich from Toshi is an owner of such watches and therefore knows the precise way to create the strap. It is a truly high quality strap and really sets off the face of my Anonimo Zulu Time. Thanks Rich, next order will be with you soon!”
02 July 2026
“I spent some time searching for UK based watch strap makers and following finding Toshi Straps, I have made a great decision! The communication has been spot on throughout and even managed to complete the order early, arriving in time for my birthday! The strap itself is smart and really suited to the watch. The quality is excellent and should last a long time. ”
29 June 2026
“Just received my strap and I absolutely love it. Everything about it screams quality, from the texture, the workmanship, the feel, the smell the look. Thank you so much for prioritising my order and getting it out to me so quickly. I actually want to wear my watch now! Thanks again Richard and will be back soon”
15 June 2026
“The strap arrived today and exceeded my expectations. It looks and feels of very high quality, showcasing your excellent workmanship. I love the fact that the leather is very unique and will stand out from the typical products available on the market. Smells fab too! ”
30 May 2026
“Excellent service from Toshi! We had some good interaction in the ordering process to get the perfect strap, that happened immediately so I then ended up with exactly what I wanted. The Strap itself is outstanding, quality is off the chart! The only (nice) problem now is I will have to order another in an alternative colour for different occasions. Great company to do business with.”
27 March 2026
“A very good experience, with professional advice. Rich provided feedback throughout and after the process.”
04 February 2026
“Phenomenal service from start to finish. Rich answered all of my questions on the front end and helped me pick the right strap size for my vintage IWC. His communication was excellent. The strap itself is beautiful. The pricing was fair. This guy is excellent and I will absolutely be ordering from him again.”
01 February 2026
“Just received a Zombie strap from Rich at Toshi Straps, absolutely fantastic quality leather with an awesome matte finish army fatigue type colour. Amazing quality stitching and the strap was finished in only two weeks. I would not hesitate to order again, brilliant customer service Rich listens intently on watch you want and delivers 100 %.”
30 January 2026
“The experience dealing with Rich was 1st class. Good comms from initial contact and also when the strap was finished and in the post. Original date of completion was improved upon and the strap was delivered a week early. The strap itself is absolutely fantastic. The quality of workmanship is excellent and it fits perfectly to the dimensions of the watch. The leather is really supple and is extremely comfortable from the off. This strap is clearly made by someone with skill and passion. The overall fit, feel and look is more akin to something twice the price. Overall I am highly delighted with my unique strap and feel lucky to have found Rich and his beautiful straps.”
23 January 2026
“I ordered a blue leather strap for my Panerai 1392. Shortly after Rich contacted me via email to confirm the order. We discussed size, and I ended up changing it slightly. Rich was very helpful and service minded from order to delivery. I also ended up having tubes included. The strap itself looks, and FEELS, fantastic. Pricing is honestly more than fair for both the quality of the leather and the craftsmanship. I am very happy with Toshi and Rich, and will surely order from him again!”
23 December 2025