Stingray shagreen: everything you need to know

A stingray skin

Shagreen is stingray skin, covered with small calcified beads packed tightly together. In the centre of the back, an area of larger beads forms the “eye”, prized for the middle of a strap.

A name from the court of Louis XV

The French name, galuchat, comes from Jean-Claude Galluchat, an 18th-century Parisian case maker who made the material fashionable for covering boxes, cases and scabbards. Art Deco designers later made it famous on furniture.

Sanded or unsanded

Raw shagreen keeps its raised beads and a grainy feel. Sanded, the beads are levelled and polished: the surface turns smooth and shows a pattern of small light cells. Both finishes can be dyed in any colour.

Why choose it for a watch

The calcified beads make shagreen highly scratch resistant and fairly insensitive to water. It is an excellent choice for an everyday watch, or for a diver you want to dress up without worrying about splashes.

Care

A soft cloth is enough. Avoid greasy balms, which are useless on this surface. Let it air-dry after rain, away from a radiator. More advice on our leather care page.

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