Engine Turned Belt Buckles -- What are the rules?

[Abraham]

I have long wanted an engine turned belt buckle from someone like Tiffany, Brooks or Ralph Lauren, etc. To be honest I have never actually seen anyone wear one -- at least not around here. Are they considered to be in good taste or are they gauche? What are the "rules" that govern them? Which vendor to choose? Does one actually have it engraved -- with actual initials or something like "BFD" or "XXX"? By machine or hand? Which "font?" Thanks much.

 

[ButteMT61]

Considering every high-end shoppe seems to offer them, I can't imagine being an outcast for wearing one. Just out of money

 

[Tomasso]

I have long wanted an engine turned belt buckle .

Then get one. They're classic.

 

[Abraham]

Then get one. They're classic.

Thanks. Now that I know they are in good taste -- sterling or gold plated? Tiffany, Brooks, Ralph or do they all carry the same level of panache? Monogrammed or leave it without? Thanks again.

 

[Tomasso]

Thanks. Now that I know they are in good taste -- sterling or gold plated? Tiffany, Brooks, Ralph or do they all carry the same level of panache? Monogrammed or leave it without? Thanks again.

All these choices amount to a matter of personal preference. If your talking of the classic engine turn design that most stores put out then they're pretty much the same item, though design details can very a little. Unless you're absolutly sure about monograms the go without at first as you can always add them later. Hand monogramming is only as good as the person doing the work and it's more expensive whereas machine work is cheaper and foolproof.

BTW, the buckle is actually the cheap part (solid gold aside); it's the straps that end up costing......

 

[Abraham]

All these choices amount to a matter of personal preference. If your talking of the classic engine turn design that most stores put out then they're pretty much the same item, though design details can very a little. Unless you're absolutly sure about monograms the go without at first as you can always add them later. Hand monogramming is only as good as the person doing the work and it's more expensive whereas machine work is cheaper and foolproof.

BTW, the buckle is actually the cheap part (solid gold aside); it's the straps that end up costing......

Beautiful straps! RL has their buckles deeply discounted right now so I think I'll pick one up. I'll probably have it engraved using block font. I considered the gold (plated!) but it just looks too ostentatious for me. Maybe one day.

One more newbie question. My wedding band is yellow gold. One of my dress watches is yellow gold. The other is black. Would it be in bad taste to wear a yellow gold wedding band and watch along with a sterling belt buckle? My gut feel is that this would be wrong (sort of like wearing silver cufflinks in this situation) but I really don't know. Thanks again for all the insights...

 

[Marc Chevalier]

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This doesn't answer your question directly, but here's my two-cent opinion regarding detachable engine turned buckles:


-- Silver looks best with black or dark oxblood belts.

-- Gold (or brass) looks best with saddle tan, brown, or cordovan belts.


That's not to say that silver can't go with, say, brown: it certainly can. I'm just stating my personal preference, for what it's worth (which may be nothing).

 

[scottyrocks]

That's generally my preference, as well, although I have 'crossed over' on occasion, so to speak. I generally wear only silver jewelry, my watch has a stainless steel band, and my wedding ring is white gold, so yellow gold generally isn't even in my vocablary. I would say that it probaby looks better when jewelry colors are matched, but it's not an absolute. You can wear jewelry that has both yellow gold, and silver color in it.

This may not be everyone's taste, but it is done and it works.

 

[Tomasso]

Would it be in bad taste to wear a yellow gold wedding band and watch along with a sterling belt buckle? My gut feel is that this would be wrong (sort of like wearing silver cufflinks in this situation) but I really don't know.

It's an old debate, reaching beyond metal to leather and cloth.....To match or not to match..... Personally, I lean towards matching...if not exactly at least in the color's realm.....let's call it complementing.....

 

[Abraham]

Thanks for all the input. I ordered a sterling silver buckle from RL on sale for $98.59 delivered including the engraving. I think I will try a simple black belt from here to start: http://beltmaster.com/showprod.asp?subid=94&gid=4&catid=6 Hope everything looks OK...

 

[Abraham]

I also wanted to ask, AC -- Are fake crocodile/alligator belts such as the ones on beltmaster readily identifiable by those in the know? Thanks again.

 

[Tomasso]

Are fake crocodile/alligator belts such as the ones on beltmaster readily identifiable by those in the know?

Pretty much. Personally, I'd go with a quality calfskin strap before any of the stamped stuff.

 

[Alex Oviatt]

Pretty much. Personally, I'd go with a quality calfskin strap before any of the stamped stuff.

Couldn't agree more!