Carmina Shoes - Definitive Thread (reviews, advice, sizing, etc...) - official thread.

[jischwar]

All shell becomes medium brown with a lot of wear anyway, so why bother even picking colors?

Ain't this the truth

 

[jischwar]

Love these chukkas. Makes me REALLY want my Kirby GMTO chukkas. Has anyone heard any updates on these? @hangerproject told me during the first week of June that they were slated to be done that week and ship to them shortly after. I know this has been discussed in the past, but I just want an update...

Hope everyone has a good Friday. Let's keep the Alden vs. Carmina shell debate civil

I'd like an update on this as well. Maybe I'll shoot an email to them...

 

[ryebreadiest]

I think it's a stretch to say that Rolex is the best pound for pound watchmaker in the world. I really like Rolex but their biggest strength is without a doubt their brand recognition. Ask anyone to name a high end watch brand and 99% of them will say Rolex. As far as the watches themselves go, are they really pound for pound better than Lange, Grand Seiko or even Tudor? What they ultimately did was leveraged that brand recognition they already had to try to build more brand cachet through an artificial scarcity.

It's kind of ridiculous to say Alden is Tissot when both Alden and Carmina use the exact same shell supplier and use the same construction method. Slightly more elegant lasts (a design choice Carmina made) and closed channels on the soles don't turn a Tissot into a Rolex. If we're using a watch analogy, they'd have the same in-house movement and be made out of the same Oystersteel but one would have a more elegant dial and no bracelet holes.

Rolex is the Louis Vuitton of watches. Not the best at anything (there are objectively better watches, more intricate movements, more exclusive watches, more expensive watches, etc) but they have successfully positioned themselves through genuine heritage and timely, well executed marketing as arguably THE household name of attainable luxury. Elite enough to be lusted after but affordable enough for the average professional/white collar worker to actually buy.

Either way, watches are pretty different than shoes as all of the top shoe makers draw from a very small pool of identical materials and construction techniques, leaving less to differentiate themselves on than watch brands with in house movements and so forth.

 

[zag73]

Rolex is the Louis Vuitton of watches. Not the best at anything (there are objectively better watches, more intricate movements, more exclusive watches, more expensive watches, etc) but they have successfully positioned themselves through genuine heritage and timely, well executed marketing as arguably THE household name of attainable luxury. Elite enough to be lusted after but affordable enough for the average professional/white collar worker to actually buy.

Either way, watches are pretty different than shoes as all of the top shoe makers draw from a very small pool of identical materials and construction techniques, leaving less to differentiate themselves on than watch brands with in house movements and so forth.

I think you’ve summed up very well. I’ve always had/preferred Jaegers and Zeniths.

 

[officine]

Rolex is the Louis Vuitton of watches. Not the best at anything (there are objectively better watches, more intricate movements, more exclusive watches, more expensive watches, etc) but they have successfully positioned themselves through genuine heritage and timely, well executed marketing as arguably THE household name of attainable luxury. Elite enough to be lusted after but affordable enough for the average professional/white collar worker to actually buy.

Either way, watches are pretty different than shoes as all of the top shoe makers draw from a very small pool of identical materials and construction techniques, leaving less to differentiate themselves on than watch brands with in house movements and so forth.

I think you’ve summed up very well. I’ve always had/preferred Jaegers and Zeniths.

Speaking as a person who has been fortunate enough to own as some point in time at least one of PP, ALS, JLC, Zenith, Omega, Ulysses Nardin, Panerai, Nomos, Seiko, I think we can all agree that you can love manufacturers for different reasons and the question of best is very subjective (eg. most intricate complication, best movement design, best finishing, best value to cost, best value retention, best accuracy, most reliable, etc...).

I do remember a memorable three week period, when I was younger and more active, in which I was able look good in my suits while managing a work team at a very formal client site (back in the days where suit and tie where de rigueur), attend a black tie function, play my weekend soccer (the midfield is where I reside), go zip-lining, engage in vigorous extracurricular activities (if you get my drift), white water raft, help paint an elementary school and church for civic duty, enjoy the beach and associated ocean dips, and have a disastrous scuba excursion (long story)........while wearing the same watch. It never looked out of place -- neither too dressy, nor too casual. It never made me look pretentious, nor unworthy of my environment. It both received compliments and went unnoticed. When looking dirty or grimy it just required some soap and water, and it was ready to be suited up.

That watch is a Rolex Explorer.

I can sell it today for almost what I bought it then. It keeps good time and it hasn't been serviced in 15 years! [Ok, that last bit is actually not something to brag about ]

So Rolex may not be the "best" at anything, however, at least in this case, it's above average at everything. It may indeed be pound for pound

Ok - fair enough. Allow me to clarify a few points:

1) Alden's "rare" shell isn't rare; and
2) Rolex woke up one day and said, "hey - we're the best pound-for-pound watch maker in the world and people love our stainless line-up. Let's artificially create a supply-vs-demand crisis and raise our overall market value and share." Why? Because they can and it's Rolex. Alden doing it is akin to Tissot suddenly implementing a similar strategy. They can - sure, but it's dumb because they suck.

I hope that clarifies things.

You hurt me with that last sentence. Deep.

My most cherished watch is my father's Tissot Seastar Seven Day Date automatic bought in Rome in 1969. It has a very 70s feel to it and is a pain to set (since I don't use a winder), but I love it! To be fair to you, Tissot is not the same company it was in the 60s. This watch feels and performs a lot like an Omega of that vintage.

UETAM full-strap navy suede to keep on thread message.

 

[Berto1]

It's very rare to find rain with storm welt. I have a few pictures saved. These are not mine...

edit: heh, this is what happens when you read the thread backwards. didn't realize someone had pics of, coincidentally, almost the same exact boot. lol

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I would like to watch those boots on single sole without storm welt.

 

[stephenaf2003]

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unlined Sineu lasted chukka in bourbon grain shell and natural shell rear quarters. Absolute heaven on your feet, especially in 90*+ weather.
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Obviously this last pic wasn’t exactly timed perfectly ?

Dude, every time I see these I’m just like,

The combination you came up with is mind blowing. One pair that is in my “all time” category. Well played my man, these are just beautiful!

 

[Berto1]

armagnac Shell

 

[jischwar]

Just heard back from Hanger Project... GMTO is supposed to ship out of Spain next week.

 

[fernando526]

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armagnac Shell

I have these exact ones! Shipped them to have triumph toe plates installed. Beautiful shoes! ?

 

[Neville Southall]

Inspired by @DL120, I just received these from Steve at Gentlemen’s Footwear. I’m always impressed by @Carmina, but damn. Apologies for the absolute **** pictures, but it’s raining hard outside and don’t want to risk these getting wet. Now, let me opine on the Sineu last. My thoughts:

1) The heel is immaculate. Cups the rear part of your foot firmly into place and, because it’s unlined, there’s absolutely no stiffness. Absolute perfection;

2) The arch curves in far more than the Rain, Forest or Oscar lasts. In effect, the waist tapers in substantially and there’s plenty of arch support.

3) I measured the length of the soles and the widest parts. Sineu is virtually identical to Forest, only one or two millimeters off. What does change, however, is that there’s less room in the toe box because Sineu tapers more acutely than Forest. Additionally, Sineu has a shorter toe box than Forest. If these were lined, they may not have fit.

Overall, I’m pleased with my purchase.

 

[DL120]

Dude, every time I see these I’m just like,

The combination you came up with is mind blowing. One pair that is in my “all time” category. Well played my man, these are just beautiful!

Thanks man! Admittedly, the choice was more out of limitation than anything lol. Sara only had enough of the grained shell for a portion of a boot, so I had to pick something for the other half. Being unlined, I figured the texture would hide the rolls more, and natty, well natty is natty ?

 

[DL120]

Inspired by @DL120, I just received these from Steve at Gentlemen’s Footwear. I’m always impressed by @Carmina, but damn. Apologies for the absolute **** pictures, but it’s raining hard outside and don’t want to risk these getting wet. Now, let me opine on the Sineu last. My thoughts:

1) The heel is immaculate. Cups the rear part of your foot firmly into place and, because it’s unlined, there’s absolutely no stiffness. Absolute perfection;

2) The arch curves in far more than the Rain, Forest or Oscar lasts. In effect, the waist tapers in substantially and there’s plenty of arch support.

3) I measured the length of the soles and the widest parts. Sineu is virtually identical to Forest, only one or two millimeters off. What does change, however, is that there’s less room in the toe box because Sineu tapers more acutely than Forest. Additionally, Sineu has a shorter toe box than Forest. If these were lined, they may not have fit.

Overall, I’m pleased with my purchase.
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They are great loafers! Enjoy!
Mine are on the way or at Jim’s now for toe plates. Can’t wait to get them back

 

[stephenaf2003]

Thanks man! Admittedly, the choice was more out of limitation than anything lol. Sara only had enough of the grained shell for a portion of a boot, so I had to pick something for the other half. Being unlined, I figured the texture would hide the rolls more, and natty, well natty is natty ?

Not sure who said it but, “some beautiful paths can't be discovered without first getting lost.”

 

[Neville Southall]

Not sure who said it but, “some beautiful paths can't be discovered without first getting lost.”

Whomever said that plagiarized Robert Frost.