Greetings all
Thought I'd share my obsession of the last 7 years or so here, during which I've probably been through 40+ wallets. The craziness began with an alligator wallet I received as a gift. It was a beautiful wallet but I've since gone off alligator and crocodile because I prefer leathers that age more noticeably and favourably. Grade A Ostrich leather also looks very good, is tough and very comfortable in your pocket but like the other two it doesn't develop an attractive patina with age, rather it just stays the same. That's also true of bison. So far I have tried virtually every type of wallet leather (including alligator, crocodile, ostrich, bison, bridle, calf, stingray, elephant, horsehide and kangaroo) with the notable exception being shell cordovan.
In this review are pictures and details of the three that have survived my culls; my favourite three if you will.
Refreshingly, these are by no means the most expensive I have owned, but IMO they are certainly the best.
This one is the one I've had longest. It's in the style of a cricket ball and is made from the same leather - though don't ask me what that is. All I know is It's thick leather that has stood up remarkably well, in fact the thing feels indestructible, which if you take into account the demands that are made of an actual cricket ball is perhaps not altogether surprising. It has 6 card pockets in front of 2 utility pockets with one full length compartment for notes. The appeal of this wallet for me is that I am a huge cricket fan + I really do appreciate the depth and quality of this leather. It was a struggle to get good pictures that show it off, and in the end these are the best that I could do. This wallet was part of a run commissioned by an ex-player (or so I was told) and consequently it's no longer available. Note: a cheaper inferior variety is currently available, but this model is not.
This is the Siena wallet by Hugo Boss in brown kangaroo leather. The first picture is the true colour. Functionality wise this is the best I've ever come across. Without being baulky it comprises 10 card pockets in front of a further 4 utility pockets. Behind those there are two full length note compartments, and because of the way these have been fashioned this wallet is able to hold a thicker wad of notes than any other I've experienced. I think the design is first class and it's the only one here that can house £50 notes. I haven't used it so far but I gather that kangaroo is the strongest type of leather there is, which bodes well for it. In the flesh it is attractive in its current state, though how well this leather ages I am unable to report since I haven't yet used it. The cheapest place to get one is probably here:
http://www.johnlewis.com/242533/Product.aspx?s_pccid=pc_gs_400_70000&
continued...
Thought I'd share my obsession of the last 7 years or so here, during which I've probably been through 40+ wallets. The craziness began with an alligator wallet I received as a gift. It was a beautiful wallet but I've since gone off alligator and crocodile because I prefer leathers that age more noticeably and favourably. Grade A Ostrich leather also looks very good, is tough and very comfortable in your pocket but like the other two it doesn't develop an attractive patina with age, rather it just stays the same. That's also true of bison. So far I have tried virtually every type of wallet leather (including alligator, crocodile, ostrich, bison, bridle, calf, stingray, elephant, horsehide and kangaroo) with the notable exception being shell cordovan.
In this review are pictures and details of the three that have survived my culls; my favourite three if you will.
Refreshingly, these are by no means the most expensive I have owned, but IMO they are certainly the best.
This one is the one I've had longest. It's in the style of a cricket ball and is made from the same leather - though don't ask me what that is. All I know is It's thick leather that has stood up remarkably well, in fact the thing feels indestructible, which if you take into account the demands that are made of an actual cricket ball is perhaps not altogether surprising. It has 6 card pockets in front of 2 utility pockets with one full length compartment for notes. The appeal of this wallet for me is that I am a huge cricket fan + I really do appreciate the depth and quality of this leather. It was a struggle to get good pictures that show it off, and in the end these are the best that I could do. This wallet was part of a run commissioned by an ex-player (or so I was told) and consequently it's no longer available. Note: a cheaper inferior variety is currently available, but this model is not.
This is the Siena wallet by Hugo Boss in brown kangaroo leather. The first picture is the true colour. Functionality wise this is the best I've ever come across. Without being baulky it comprises 10 card pockets in front of a further 4 utility pockets. Behind those there are two full length note compartments, and because of the way these have been fashioned this wallet is able to hold a thicker wad of notes than any other I've experienced. I think the design is first class and it's the only one here that can house £50 notes. I haven't used it so far but I gather that kangaroo is the strongest type of leather there is, which bodes well for it. In the flesh it is attractive in its current state, though how well this leather ages I am unable to report since I haven't yet used it. The cheapest place to get one is probably here:
http://www.johnlewis.com/242533/Product.aspx?s_pccid=pc_gs_400_70000&
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