Strap for Royal Oak 26168 Pride of China Black

The bracelet is integrated directly into the case: a standard strap has no way of attaching. The lug system is proprietary, conceived by Genta as an inseparable part of the structure. That is why I only work on this watch in the atelier, building the strap to measure directly on the case.

I work through <a href="/pages/casati-booking">Casati Milano</a>, by appointment only, at Via XX Settembre 15 in Milan. I take the measurements directly from the case at the bench — there are no reliable templates for an integrated lug. Every element is shaped by hand to ensure visual and structural continuity with the original.

I recommend Barenia d'écurie. The bi-metal character of this watch — warm rose gold and cool steel — finds a natural balance in Barenia: it is a leather with substance, not one that tries to impress. Over time it develops a patina that sits well alongside Genta's bold geometry without overshadowing it.

A strap built with quality leather and finished by hand will comfortably last five to seven years of regular wear. Care is straightforward: keep it away from prolonged water exposure and let it breathe. Barenia in particular ages honestly — the patina it develops tells the story of use rather than concealing it.

Genta built the Royal Oak as an exercise in geometric tension: the octagonal case, the visible hexagonal screws, the bracelet as an architectural element. The bi-metal is not a decorative addition — it is a way of reading that geometry through two different chromatic temperatures. I have seen many bi-metal watches over the years; very few manage to make the two materials speak to each other rather than simply coexist.