Strap for Royal Oak Chronograph 41 Pink Gold / Brown / Alligator

The bracelet is integrated into the case with a proprietary Audemars Piguet attachment. A standard strap simply does not fit: there are no conventional spring bar lugs. I build each strap to measure directly on the watch, in the atelier, shaping every terminal by hand around the original case.

I work exclusively through <a href="/pages/casati-booking">Casati Milano</a>, by appointment only, at Via XX Settembre 15 in Milan. I take measurements from the actual case at the bench and build the terminals around it. It cannot be done remotely: the geometry of the integrated attachment requires the watch to be present.

I recommend Barenia. Pink gold has a warmth that speaks naturally to that pale, buttery leather, which develops a unique patina over time. I have seen more elaborate combinations, but this remains the most honest choice given the character of the watch.

A quality handmade strap, properly cared for, easily lasts eight to ten years of daily wear. The leather ages with you: it changes colour, takes the shape of your wrist, and tells the story of the time spent together. The only care I ask is to keep it away from water and to let it dry away from heat sources.

Gérald Genta drew the octagonal case with exposed screws in a single night, responding to an impossible brief. The tapisserie dial finish and the contrasts between satin and polished surfaces were a radical break at the time. I have seen many watches go out of fashion: this one has not. The graphic language is too precise to age.