Review of the Beswick Novonappa Leather Strap by WatchGecko
The WatchGecko listing said: "The Novonappa calfskin comes from Tanneries Haas in France, which has been specializing in the highest quality skins since 1842. Many of their leathers are staples for the top French luxury brands." OK, fine, you win. I'm buying the strap sight unseen.
Nenad Pantelic • October 20, 2025
| Quality | |
| Comfort | |
| Design | |
| Durability |
The verdict: This might not suit all watches or tastes, but if you're after a premium strap made from the famous Haas leather, then this is definitely the one to get.
What we like?
- Comfortable strap
- Has very cool diamond pattern
- No break-in period required
- Very soft leather lining
- The edges are perfectly finished
What we don't like?
- Buckle can be better
- It's not compatible with many watch styles
Full review
Sometimes marketing copy just hits you at the right time and place. That is exactly what happened when I read this handcrafted strap was made from Novonappa leather. That is the stuff high-end fashion brands constantly use.
The price-to-prestige ratio was too good to pass up, so I hit "buy". I wanted to see if a strap could really deliver that luxury experience. Here is what I discovered.
Technical details
| Brand | WatchGecko |
| Width | 22mm |
| Tapering | 2mm |
| Construction | Fully stitched |
| Length | 120mm + 80mm |
| Material | Novonappa calf leather |
| Underside | Leather |
| Color | Brown |
| Finishing | Embossed diamond pattern |
| Buckle | Polished stainless steel |
If you don't like the embossed diamond pattern, you can also get this strap in a regular smooth finish.
Color-wise, you've got four choices: black, dark brown, regular medium brown, and the one I went with - medium brown with the diamond pattern.
My strap is in 22mm size, but WatchGecko offers it in 20mm as well.
Company and Ordering Experience
No red flags here. Watchgecko is a highly respected retailer and consistently provides excellent buying experience.
They stock just about everything, from leather and nylon to rubber and metal bracelets. What is really cool is that they never settle; they are constantly launching fresh designs and playing with new materials. It is a site you can trust, with an easy checkout process and helpful customer service. Pro tip: If it is your first time buying, sign up for their emails to get a 10% off code.
Design and Materials
At first look, this looks like a standard strap, but it comes with a twist. The texture is smooth, which we've seen many times before. But the finish has an embossed cross-hatch or diamond pattern. The scale of the pattern is spot-on, not too fine, but not overly chunky either. The overall design is refined and fresh.
This is a fully stitched, handcrafted leather strap. It has a top-quality calf leather top layer and a standard black leather lining. The star of the show here is the Novonappa leather. Novonappa is double-tanned to achieve a smooth feel and beautiful color.
As I mentioned in the introduction, this Novonappa calfskin comes from Tanneries Haas in France, which has specialized in premium hides since 1842. Their leathers are staples for top-tier French luxury houses.
I did a quick research and it looks like the brands like Chanel, Guibert Paris, Breitling, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and Omega all use this leather for their products.
The strap features two keepers: one fixed (sewn-in) and one floating. The version I purchased is 22mm at the lugs, tapering to 20mm at the buckle. The stitching is tonal, meaning it’s subtle and doesn't draw unnecessary attention. This was a smart design choice, as the stitching doesn't compete with the diamond pattern for your attention.
It’s worth mentioning that the strap does not include quick-release spring bars. For me, that isn't a con and it doesn't lower my score, but it's something to keep in mind if you swap straps frequently, or you are not comfortable using the spring bar tool.
Comfort and Durability
To keep it brief, and not waste your time: this is an excellent and incredibly comfortable strap. Because it isn't too thick, it is very flexible and easily follows the contour of the wrist. It requires zero break-in time. I don't say this lightly: it really is a remarkably comfortable strap.
Honestly, I haven’t worn it enough to give a final verdict on long-term durability. But what I can say is that so far there are no hot spots or areas where the leather has compressed or deformed from bending. There are no visible signs of wear, and the stitching still looks brand new.
Initial Usage Very comfortable from the first wear. No break-in period or softening up needed. I like how it looks, especially the diamond pattern.
Six Months of Occasional Use Still in near-mint condition. I haven't worn it constantly, but so far there are no signs of wear. It seems very durable and it looks like I will get several years of use out of this strap.
Where to Buy
Bad news: this strap is no longer in production. The good news is that WatchGecko is always refreshing its stock, so keep an eye out for a similar version coming soon.
You can click here to see what handmade leather options they currently have in stock.
Closing words
So, did my "sight unseen" gamble pay off? Absolutely. It is rare that a product actually lives up to the marketing hype, but this Novonappa leather wears beautifully.
It required zero break-in period and still looks brand new after six months of wear. That tells me everything I need to know about the quality of Tanneries Haas and WatchGecko.
If you ever see "Novonappa" or "Haas" pop up in a product description, don’t hesitate. If my experience is any indication, you are getting an awesome strap that is a massive over-performer in the sub $100 range.
