The gentleman who appreciates the craftsmanship and immense attention to detail of an IWC watch looks for this level of quality in other areas of his life. This week, we take you behind the scenes of the Leather Workshop at Alfred Dunhill®*, the storied menswear brand established in London in 1893. Founded a mere 25 years apart, Alfred Dunhill and IWC share a rich heritage that focuses on delivering the finest products and exacting service to their customers.

Alfred Dunhill define their leather goods as “designed to keep up with the demands and style of the modern, intelligent traveler”. Accordingly, items are made to last, and to be handed down through the generations. As a father passes his IWC watch on to his son, he entrusts him with his Alfred Dunhill leather pieces as well.

With highly skilled artisans crafting each item, and the use of exotic skins, dunhill leather goods are in a class of their own— and built exactly with the above- legacy, quality and endurance, in mind. At the East London workshop, vegetable and tanned leather is carefully selected, inspected for any imperfection, and cut on site, in a a manner consistent with production practices from the 1800s.

Preparing the leather by hand

At the workshop, customers get a choice of skin, finish, hardware and functionalities- all based on their needs and intended usage. Size, shape, color, lining and all other details are customized, creating a truly unique product to suit the most exacting taste.

Hand stitching to ensure the finest quality

Once selections are made, the craftsman hand edge dyes, brands, stitches, and creases every piece. It is a point of pride at the workshop that the same individual starts and finishes each item, with that person’s name inserted on a card into the finished product.

Placing the hardware selected by the customer

As noted in this video by Tomasz, Alfred Dunhill’s bespoke leather expert, it is the workmanship which Alfred Dunhill is truly proud of.

The finished product: the work of a single craftsman

Once the leather piece is finished and inspected, it may be retrieved at an Albert Dunhill Home, an exclusive retail destination that is similary steeped in tradition and history. In London, the brand’s home is Bourdon House, the former London residence of the Duke of Westminster. In Shanghai, the brand is found in a 1920’s villa in the city’s French Concession neighborhood.

In the end, a man can come to expect an unrivaled experience when he selects an Alfred Dunhill leather product, and can rest safe in the knowledge that over 115 years of experience has gone into its creation.

*  This trademark is not owned by IWC