CITES Regulations for Watch Straps

ThomasM · 2008-11-23T07:25:10Z

Understand CITES regulations for watch straps made from exotic leathers. Learn about permits, travel rules, and customs enforcement.

ThomasM initiates a critical discussion on the serious implications of CITES regulations for watch collectors, particularly concerning watch straps made from exotic leathers. Through a stark visual example of confiscated straps, the post underscores the necessity of understanding and adhering to these international wildlife protection laws. The ensuing conversation delves into the complexities of CITES, personal experiences, and the varying interpretations of rules across jurisdictions.

Key Points from the Discussion

CITES regulations apply to OEM straps and any other products made from animals on the endangered species list, and ignorance of these rules is not a valid defense.
CITES permits generally cannot be applied for retrospectively, making it crucial to obtain proper documentation before travel or shipment to avoid confiscation.
One collector shared a past experience where a shipment of luxury watches with alligator/croco straps was held by U.S. Fish & Wildlife due to missing CITES permits, requiring the straps to be removed on-site.
There is a discrepancy in CITES regulations: individuals can often carry up to four new items in personal luggage without certification, but a single item sent via post requires full paperwork.
Despite most reptile skins for watch straps coming from regulated farms, customs officials often have a detached view of CITES regulations, partly due to the diversion of legal CITES tags for illegal trafficking.
Both the exporter and importer must possess appropriate CITES paperwork, and the interpretation of rules can vary significantly between different jurisdictions.

The Discussion

Dr No

Nov 23, 2008

Obviously, this is the same government that diverted a plane with . . .

. . . Cat Stevens on board, forcibly returning him to the UK . . . unbelievable. Resignedly, Art

ThomasM

Nov 23, 2008

yep. "We are doing this to protect the animals." "Yes, mam, but you do realize

that we have to kill more animals to replace those straps you just had us destroy, right? Which did have papers and are legal but were wrong on a technicality..." oy-vay. TM

DonCorson

Nov 23, 2008

Please...

tell us what that technicality was Thomas, so it won't happen to any one else. That is really savage behavior. Don

DRMW

Nov 23, 2008

Man, that hurts!

Very painful to look at. =(

G99

Nov 23, 2008

i've bought a lot of genuine reptile/snake etc straps & never seen a cites certificate

i did have a company in US who shipped my expensive brand new watch on a calfskin croc grain instead of the real thing because of cites regs, but i thought that was just an excuse to avoid sending an expensive strap. how does it stand for OEM straps? i've never had a problem so do the company/brand have a blanket agreement when they are attached to their watches? interesting subject that not enough of us(me anyway) know much about although we should. Graham

AndrewD

Nov 23, 2008

It applies to OEM as well…

Hi Graham, It does apply to OEM straps and any other products made from animals on the endangered species list. I suspect that you have just been ‘lucky’, but there could be an issue. www.cites.org It may be that bands attached to watches of higher declared value might arouse the suspicion of Customs Officials and I wouldn’t take the risk. I think the seller of the watch you mentioned was being sensibly cautious. Alternatively they could have sorted out the export CITES paperwork and informed yo

Key Points from the Discussion

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