** Quintessential Crockett & Jones Thread ** (reviews, quality, etc...)

[CTBrummie]

+1.

As someone who will be making a chestnut connaught purchase, i would love to know the best way to develop the patina, and what products to use / how to use them on the C&J chestnut calf.

I was recently fitted for some Connaughts in Black, and some Chestnut were brought out so i could easily try the F fitting. | rather quickly decided that some chestnut connaughts were in my future. Perhaps this is a well known C&J sales technique? If it is it certainly worked!

Many thanks.

You can only specifically develop a patina through polish (which is, by and large, a transient patina as it can be removed) or by deliberately scuffing your shoes, which I don't think anyone on here would recommend.

If you want to help the natural patina develop then don't baby the shoes or boots, don't shield them from the elements, and don't worry too much about which colour polish to use because it really, really doesn't matter as long as it's not on a wildly different part of the colour spectrum. To deliberately change the colour of your shoes by using polish alone would take a fair amount of time and even then a lot of it will vanish as soon as you use something like renovateur on them.

On a side note, if you are a keen polisher then avoid using renovateur as a conditioner (bad move anyway, in my opinion) as it's a cleaning agent and/or neutral cream more than a conditioner and will strip away some of the layers of polish that you've applied. I use Lexol as a conditioner for my footwear, for what it's worth, along with the occasional waxing of the stuff that really sees the foul weather.

 

[West End Closer]

In regards to the Crockett & Jones Polish... I can't honestly recommend it. They are in the process of changing manufacturer but not sure how long that will take (and the price will probably increase too). You get what you pay for, so for £4 (I'm fairly sure how much it was) you get a polish that does work but will take 3 times as long to develop a shine and will never get to the same glass-like level as a pro polish (costs about £9). I use saphir and sometimes a little kiwi on all my shoes.

Seeing as Crocketts don't offer a dedicated chestnut polish tan is the best colour. It won't darken the leather atall but will revive the shoe from minor scuffs and give a general even tone. As stated before if you use other brands you will be able to get a better colour match. I think saphir do one called Cognac which is their chestnut offering?

And Dusttruffle... It's common practice for them to bring out the same shoe in a different colour to try for size. It is just to ensure the fitting is correct before they have to fly around London frantically trying to find a pair in the chosen unavailable colour And the best way to develop a patina is regular wearing, polishing and colour. The connaughts posted earlier had definately seen some dark brown polish in their time, this will have darkened them up a fair ammount over time. Polish doesn't actually have that much pigment to it so you can experiment with thin layers.

Hope that helps

 

[West End Closer]

Crocketts also have new shoe trees which only started coming in when I left before christmas. They replace the current 'standard tree' which covers most round toe lasts. I have to say that they are by far the best decission they have made for the sundies department. I only hope they bring out the 348 version soon too!

Unfinished, double springs and a large hole cut through the body to help with drying and weight. And for the same price (£60) as the old model!!! I'm wanting to get a pair to go with by pembrokes as they fit the 325 perfectly.

A cheeky Pembroke pic.

 

[Chuckie Egg]

Thank you for your honest impartial advice, think I'll go Saphir then

 

[othertravel]

Hey guys,

Which C&J last is best for a low instep?

 

[patrick_b]

...If you want to help the natural patina develop then don't baby the shoes or boots, don't shield them from the elements, and don't worry too much about which colour polish to use...

Very well said.

We are in the midst of another snow storm with 12-18 inches in the forecast. As I was getting ready to shovel the front steps and brush off my wife's vehicle, I reached for my slip-on Blundstone boots as I often do for a quick trip outside. However, with CTB's above post still in the back of my mind, I decided to give my dainite equipped Islay boots another go in an effort to "not baby them or shield them from the elements". As I previously mentioned, I'm very pleased with the dainite sole and I'm already considering having a couple of my double soled (JR Rendedbach) shell shoes & boots resoled with dainite when they need a resole. I like it that much.

I did finally treat these with a beeswax based conditioner. I've grown to like RM Williams house brand leather conditioner. It's not as thick as Obenauf but lists its main ingredient as beeswax and does a wonderful job of waterproofing leather and buffs to a slight sheen, not shiny like paste wax polish. It reminds me of Lexol in its consistency.

 

[tifosi]

^^ @Patrick, how much does it cost to have a photographer on-staff to follow you around??? haha. Great pics as usual!

 

[patrick_b]

^^ @Patrick, how much does it cost to have a photographer on-staff to follow you around??? haha. Great pics as usual!

Thanks t, appreciate the kind words. It can get expensive, it costs me room, board, clothing and toys. With the bad weather and school canceled, I was able to enlist the help of my ten year old son. "Daddy, why are we taking pictures of your boots in the snow...again?"

He can be seen here modeling a kids sized waxed Barbour Sapper and bucket cap. Sadly, he's just about to outgrow the jacket so I've been combing the Barbour outlets in Kittery, ME and Milford, NH for a replacement.

 

[tifosi]

^^ Your boy's got some talent! And keen eye for fashion!

 

[BootSpell]

Great pics of your Islays in the snow, patrick_b. I just got introduced to Dainite soles on a couple of boots I bought and I am also quite happy with them. I was always a double-leather sole guy because I prefer not seeing the lugs of the commando type soles.

 

[Chuckie Egg]

I've started using cheaney's dark leaf brown polish on the Finsbury for now. Have only worn them a couple of times so far which is why they still look fairly new

 

[patrick_b]

^^ Your boy's got some talent! And keen eye for fashion!

Thanks again t.

Great pics of your Islays in the snow, patrick_b. I just got introduced to Dainite soles on a couple of boots I bought and I am also quite happy with them. I was always a double-leather sole guy because I prefer not seeing the lugs of the commando type soles.

Thanks BootSpell. They are a photogenic pair of boots.

 

[Cleav]

@Chuckie Egg They look great, well done.

 

[Crat]

Great pics Patrick!

Hi Will

 

[Chuckie Egg]

Thank you Cleav I thought about the Clifford too but decided on Finsbury as I preferred its medallion design, although the total cost including dainite sole conversion still came >£400 so wasn't that much less than Clifford. Not sure if I made the right decision lol but I guess both are mighty fine