The Rarest Leather in Our Atelier: Our Shark Skin Story | Materials Series

There are leathers you source from a catalogue. And then there are leathers that find their way to you through patience, paperwork, and what feels like pure fate.

Our shark skin is the latter.

Nearly two decades ago — around 2006, when we were still building the foundations of what would become Jason & Sherron Handmade — we placed a special order for genuine shark skin from a supplier in Mexico. What followed was a lesson in just how rare and regulated this material truly is.

We waited almost a year for the shipment to be prepared and dispatched. Shark skin is not something you simply add to a cart. It is sourced carefully, prepared meticulously, and moves through international channels with significant legal scrutiny. The hides had to transit through the United States, where they were held at customs for a further two months. Two months of uncertainty, of not knowing if the order would ever arrive.

It did arrive. And we have treated every square centimetre of it as the precious material it is.

Why Shark Skin?

For watch straps, shark skin occupies a unique category. The texture is unlike anything else — tight, natural granules with a subtle directional quality that catches light differently depending on how you hold the strap. It has a quiet authority. There is no need for embossing or artificial patterning. The surface speaks entirely for itself.

It is also genuinely durable. Shark skin has a dense fibre structure that resists abrasion and holds its form exceptionally well over years of daily wear. For a watch strap, these are exactly the qualities that matter.

A Material We Cannot Replace

We are honest with our clients: this shark skin stock is finite. Once it is gone, it is gone. We have not been able to find another supplier who meets our standards for quality and provenance. The regulatory landscape for exotic marine leathers has changed considerably over the years, and sourcing responsibly — which is the only way we source — makes this material increasingly rare in the craft.

We will not rush through it. Every piece cut from this leather is done with full intention. If you have ever seen shark skin on a strap, or held one, you understand why.

Bespoke to Your Watch

If you are interested in a shark skin watch strap, we work entirely to order. We can fit most watch lug widths and tailor the strap profile, stitching, and lining to your exact preferences. Given the limited stock, we encourage you to reach out early.

This is not a material for everyone. But for those who understand what they are holding — the story behind it, the rarity of it, the craft that goes into it — it becomes one of the most meaningful straps in a collection.

Interested in a shark skin strap? Contact us directly or visit our atelier at Far East Plaza, #05-106, Singapore. We make every strap by hand.