lee_44106
Distinguished Member
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2006
- Messages
- 8,043
- Reaction score
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I just received my new alligator belt in the mail. It is not a name-brand nor a store purchase. Rather, I ordered it online. The price was quite reasonable and I took a chance. It is made in the USA! Overall impression was FAVORABLE. I will definitely buy more in different colors to match various outfits/shoes. I have taken photos for illustration purposes.
As a comparison, I used a Polo Ralph Lauren alligator-grained calf leather belt (China made of Italian leather), and a Ralph Lauren Purple Label genuine alligator belt (Italian made of American alligator).
-An overview of the belt, color is dark brown, Nickle-plated solid brass buckle that's removable, in a safari (matte) finish
-closeup of removable buckle
-stamping on back, indicating size (not visible in this shot), genuine alligator, and "handcrafted in USA"
-closeup of the three belts. From top to bottom: faux-alligator RL belt, RLPL alligator belt with sterling buckle, and the non-branded alligator belt in question
-Another view of the three belts to show the scale pattern. The faux-gator has a clear repeating pattern, whereas the genuine gator belts do not. I can't really say what portion of the gator hide the RLPL belt is sourced from, but it does include an umbilical portion. The no-brand gator belt I requested a belly/flank pattern.
-This shot shows how the genuine gator belt was made. The actual gator hide, approximately 1mm thick, is bonded/sewn/glued to a sturdy calf back.
-closeup of the side finish. (Top to bottom: RLPL, no-brand gator, and faux-gator RL). The sides of the genuine gator belts are nicely finished to mask evidence of the multi-layer nature of the belt. The faux leather belt side is significantly thinner at 1mm thickness vs. 2mm for the genuine gator belts.
-This is a shot of my new belt showing the nicely finish on the splicing portion of the gator skin. You can just barely make out the vertical line showing where two different strips of gator hide are pieced. It's a very good pattern matching. It is very rare, if not impossible, to have a whole belt made from one single continuous piece of gator hide. The belt is usually pieced together, with the visible portion utilizing the largest continuous hide, and the less visible portions (such as close to the buckle where it would be covered) used for the actual splicing.
-Detailed shot of the non-buckle end of the belt. This is where the gator belt falls short. (Left to right: gator belt, RLPL, faux-gator) As you can see, the tapering is uneven comapred to the perfect finish on the Purple Label belt. Even the faux-gator belt does a better job.
-Another detailed shot of the stitching. RLPL at top and my new belt at bottom. The stitiching on the RLPL belt is nice and even throughout, the other belt not so much. It is overall not bad and quite even, but does perhaps explain why the RLPL retail for $985 and my new belt only $185. Incidentally, despite both being genuine alligator, notice how the grain pattern/grooves on the RLPL appears much shallower than its competitor
-Examination of stitching pattern on back of belt. Again the RLPL belt's attention to detail is quite obvious.
So to summarize, I'm quite happy with the belt. I can't comment on longevity as I have not worn either the RLPL or the new gator belt. I did purchase the Saphir Special Retile lotion to condition the belt.
As a comparison, I used a Polo Ralph Lauren alligator-grained calf leather belt (China made of Italian leather), and a Ralph Lauren Purple Label genuine alligator belt (Italian made of American alligator).
-An overview of the belt, color is dark brown, Nickle-plated solid brass buckle that's removable, in a safari (matte) finish
-closeup of removable buckle
-stamping on back, indicating size (not visible in this shot), genuine alligator, and "handcrafted in USA"
-closeup of the three belts. From top to bottom: faux-alligator RL belt, RLPL alligator belt with sterling buckle, and the non-branded alligator belt in question
-Another view of the three belts to show the scale pattern. The faux-gator has a clear repeating pattern, whereas the genuine gator belts do not. I can't really say what portion of the gator hide the RLPL belt is sourced from, but it does include an umbilical portion. The no-brand gator belt I requested a belly/flank pattern.
-This shot shows how the genuine gator belt was made. The actual gator hide, approximately 1mm thick, is bonded/sewn/glued to a sturdy calf back.
-closeup of the side finish. (Top to bottom: RLPL, no-brand gator, and faux-gator RL). The sides of the genuine gator belts are nicely finished to mask evidence of the multi-layer nature of the belt. The faux leather belt side is significantly thinner at 1mm thickness vs. 2mm for the genuine gator belts.
-This is a shot of my new belt showing the nicely finish on the splicing portion of the gator skin. You can just barely make out the vertical line showing where two different strips of gator hide are pieced. It's a very good pattern matching. It is very rare, if not impossible, to have a whole belt made from one single continuous piece of gator hide. The belt is usually pieced together, with the visible portion utilizing the largest continuous hide, and the less visible portions (such as close to the buckle where it would be covered) used for the actual splicing.
-Detailed shot of the non-buckle end of the belt. This is where the gator belt falls short. (Left to right: gator belt, RLPL, faux-gator) As you can see, the tapering is uneven comapred to the perfect finish on the Purple Label belt. Even the faux-gator belt does a better job.
-Another detailed shot of the stitching. RLPL at top and my new belt at bottom. The stitiching on the RLPL belt is nice and even throughout, the other belt not so much. It is overall not bad and quite even, but does perhaps explain why the RLPL retail for $985 and my new belt only $185. Incidentally, despite both being genuine alligator, notice how the grain pattern/grooves on the RLPL appears much shallower than its competitor
-Examination of stitching pattern on back of belt. Again the RLPL belt's attention to detail is quite obvious.
So to summarize, I'm quite happy with the belt. I can't comment on longevity as I have not worn either the RLPL or the new gator belt. I did purchase the Saphir Special Retile lotion to condition the belt.
