m27: Red Over Navy, Copper and Turquoise Buckles
Red and navy English bridle leather, closed by two straps with turquoise and copper buckles.
Red over navy
UK English bridle leather in red across the top and navy below, lined in sand calf suede. The two front straps are red, and each holds a large buckle in copper and turquoise. The top handle is red.
Why the buckles
Straps and buckles are the front closure on this case. The copper and turquoise set against the red and navy is the part you notice first.
How the leather ages
English bridle leather starts as vegetable tanned leather and is then hot-stuffed with oils and waxes before it is dyed. Nick’s Boots, a bootmaker says that makes it stiffer and harder-wearing than other leathers, slower to break in and slower to patina. Expect the red and navy to hold their color for years.
One flaw
There is a black paint smudge under the flap on the lining. It is on the sample, and the listing says so.
Size
10 x 7 x 4 inches, hand saddle stitched, with an adjustable shoulder strap, 20 inch drop.
How it is made
The suede is real: see the suede lining page for why I use it instead of microsuede, and the care page for how to look after it.
The bridle leather is described on my leather page, and the journal explains it in What English Bridle Leather Actually Is, and Why Briefcases Are Cut From It.
The seams are hand stitched; see The Saddle Stitch Explained: Hand-Sewing Leather Step by Step for the method.
