Provenance & Documentation
Exotic Leathers — Sourced Legally,
Documented Fully
Lombard Bespoke is one of the very few strap makers in the world that can supply genuine crocodile and ostrich leather straps with full legal documentation. This matters — for your peace of mind, for customs compliance, and for the long-term value of your timepiece.
From Source to Strap
Leather with a traceable origin
South Africa is one of the world's foremost sources of luxury exotic leather. The tanneries here have been supplying international luxury houses for decades — not as a secondary market, but as a primary source.
When you commission a crocodile or ostrich strap from Lombard Bespoke, the leather travelled from a South African farm, to a South African tannery, to Jacques Lombard's hands — and then to you. No import. No redistribution. That is as close to the source as it is possible to get.
Every hide arrives with full documentation — CITES certificates for crocodile, tannery letters for ostrich. Provenance on paper, not just in prose.
The exotic leather industry begins here. So does this strap.
01 — Ostrich
South African Ostrich Leather,
Traceable to the Tannery
Lombard Bespoke sources ostrich leather from a certified South African tannery — one that also supplies to international bespoke luxury brands. The supply chain is identical: farmed ostrich, processed at source, purchased directly. No additional middlemen between the tannery and your strap.
Ostrich is not subject to CITES restrictions, but provenance still matters. Every ostrich strap ships with an official tannery letter confirming the leather's species, South African origin, and production details. This is standard practice for responsible sourcing and useful documentation for any buyer.
Included with every ostrich strap
Official tannery letter — confirming leather species, South African origin, and tannery details.
02 — Crocodile
Genuine African Nile-Crocodile Leather,
with a CITES Certificate
Every crocodile strap from Lombard Bespoke is made from genuine African Nile-Crocodile leather, farmed and processed at a certified South African tannery. That same tannery supplies leather to international bespoke luxury brands. When you commission a crocodile strap from Lombard Bespoke, you are receiving leather of the same origin and standard as those luxury houses — purchased directly from the tannery, with no intermediary in the supply chain.
Every crocodile strap ships with a CITES certificate — the document issued under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. In plain language: CITES is the internationally recognised legal permit that proves the leather was sourced ethically and lawfully. It is not a marketing claim. It is an official document that accompanies the hide from the farm through the tannery and all the way to you.
Most strap makers worldwide cannot provide this. Either they source their leather through channels that do not generate CITES documentation, or they do not deal in genuine exotic skins at all. Lombard Bespoke sources directly from the tannery, so every crocodile strap ships with its certificate as a matter of course.
Included with every crocodile strap
Original CITES certificate — confirming species, origin, and legal export clearance.
03 — International Buyers
Importing Exotic Leather — What You Need to Know
The EU, USA, and many other countries regulate the import of crocodile leather under CITES rules. Without the correct paperwork, a parcel containing genuine exotic leather can be stopped at customs — or confiscated.
When you order a crocodile strap from Lombard Bespoke, the CITES certificate ships with your strap. That is the document customs authorities require. You do not need to arrange any additional paperwork on your end.
Ostrich straps ship with the tannery letter. Ostrich is not a CITES-listed species, so no import permit is required — but having the tannery letter means you always have clear documentation of what you own and where it came from.
Lombard Bespoke ships internationally. All exotic leather orders are packed and documented to meet the import requirements of the destination country.
Ready to commission your exotic leather strap?
Begin your custom order and specify your choice of crocodile or ostrich leather — your CITES certificate or tannery letter will be included as standard.
Commission Your Exotic Leather Strap →