CW |WRIST ACTION


are excellent, the Louisiana alligator straps are available as an upgrade on many of CW’s models for £125. “The right strap or bracelet is as important for a watch as good shoes are for completing the look of a fine suit or outfit,” says Chris Ward. “We spent a long time researching the right alligator straps for Christopher Ward Watches. There is simply not a more luxurious strap available anywhere in the world.” Alligator is an anglicised form of el lagarto, the Spanish term for lizard, which early Spanish explorers in the New World called the alligator. Nature has made the alligator skin look good and the expert work of CW’s specialist tanneries ensures it performs exceptionally well. Among the tests each skin must pass are those for water


resistance, resistance of colours to ultraviolet light, dry and wet abrasion, sweat discoloration, and water drop discoloration. Such a checklist is typical of Christopher Ward’s attention to detail. It is very important to the company that its alligator skins are ethically sourced from managed farms that have conservation and sustainability as their first priority. This big lizard has been protected by US law since 1967 and alligator


populations in Louisiana increased consistently from 1970 to 1999. They have remained stable or slightly increased since then and remain at high levels. The commercial trade in American alligators is regulated through CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), an agreement between 175 countries to adhere to guidelines concerning international trade of certain wild animals and plants so as to not threaten their survival. But the American alligator is only mentioned in CITES because of the closeness of its appearance to other crocodilian species that are endangered. The American alligator is, in fact, thriving. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries manages the species as a commercial renewable natural resource and its programme is one of the world’s most celebrated examples of a wildlife success story. (For more details, see www.wlf.louisiana.gov.) Christopher Ward is proud to say that all the leather for its alligator straps is sourced from approved and traceable farms. These are beautiful pieces of practical design in their own right and a worthy complement to any Christopher Ward timepiece.


“We spent a long time researching the right alligator straps for Christopher Ward Watches. There is simply not a more luxurious strap available anywhere in the world”


36 www.christopherward.co.uk


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