Fratello’s 2022 review of two handmade Godana straps covers a black Novonappa and a brown Nemesi, both in 20/18 mm sizing. The Novonappa was described as soft and understated; the Nemesi as a rich brown option suited to a vintage-looking watch. The reported prices—190,000 KRW and 180,000 KRW respectively—are historical, not current quotes.
What the Godana review covers
Balazs Ferenczi’s Fratello review, published May 25, 2022, examines two handmade leather straps from Godana, a South Korean one-person brand. The review describes founder Haesun Kim as handling the work across product making and the business’s practical tasks, from photography and orders to packaging and shipping. Godana’s official homepage also presents it as a one-person designer brand.
The impressions below are Ferenczi’s observations of the two samples he reviewed. They are not controlled durability tests, and they do not establish how every strap will feel or age.
How the two straps compare
| Detail | Black Novonappa | Brown Nemesi |
|---|---|---|
| Leather and tannery | Novonappa, also called Barenia in the review; attributed to French tannery Haas | Nemesi leather from Italian tannery Carlo Badalassi; described as vegetable-tanned, lightly milled, and medium-temper |
| Color and stitching | Black leather with matching black stitching | Brown leather with lighter stitching |
| Dimensions reported | 20/18 mm; 2.9 mm thick | 20/18 mm; thickness not stated in the review |
| Lining and edge finish | Zermatt leather lining from France’s Degermann tannery; smooth painted edges | Painted edges; lining details not stated in the review |
| Reviewer’s impression and pairing | Soft and comfortable without a break-in period; an understated look on a 42 mm Omega Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday Ultraman | Rich brown appearance that complemented the aged look of a vintage Speedmaster |
| Price reported in 2022 | 190,000 KRW | 180,000 KRW |
Black Novonappa: understated, soft, and lined in Zermatt
Ferenczi describes the Novonappa as soft and comfortable from the outset, without a break-in period. The strap’s black stitching keeps the finish visually restrained, while the smooth painted edges and Zermatt lining add details that are easy to miss in a product photo. He paired it with a 42 mm Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday Ultraman and found that the black strap gave the watch an understated look.
#1 Best Overall
- SIZE SELECTION: Available in 14mm 15mm 16mm 17mm 18mm 19mm 20mm 21mm 22mm 23mm and 24mm, please accurately measure your watch lug width and choose the right size
- WATCH BAND MATERIAL: Vintage Crazy Horse Leather lined with soft genuine leather, comfortable on your wrist, polished solid stainless steel buckle
- RETRO LOOKING: Natural crack appears when the leather is bent (NOTE: the black strap no crack), elegant and stylish. It's a loud little piece that express your style and personality
- BAND LENGTH: This strap is a regular length, suitable for wrists of 6" to 8", please refer to figure 6 for details
- BISONSTRAP SERVICE：If there are any question about the strap, please email us. REFUND or FREE REPLACEMENT, we will try our best to satisfy every customer
The 20/18 mm measurement refers to a strap tapering from a 20 mm lug end to an 18 mm buckle end. The review gives this strap a thickness of 2.9 mm.
Brown Nemesi: a vintage-friendly alternative
The Nemesi uses lightly milled, vegetable-tanned leather from Carlo Badalassi, described in the review as medium-temper. Its lighter stitching contrasts with the brown leather, and Ferenczi found the color a natural fit for a vintage Speedmaster’s aged appearance. That pairing is a styling impression from the sample, not a claim that the strap will match every vintage watch.
Rank #2
- 【Italian Tuscany leather】 — The leather is made of vegetable tanned cowhide leather from the famous Italian leather factory BADALASSI CARLO. This leather is tanned with natural vegetable tanning agents, avoiding the use of harmful chemicals. It is natural and harmless to the skin.
- 【Natural Full-Grain Leather】 — Each strap retains the original pores and natural grain, giving it a unique character and authentic feel. Over time, Italian vegetable-tanned leather softens and develops a rich patina and luster, reflecting timeless elegance and sophistication. A premium material trusted by luxury brands, it makes your watch truly stand out.
- 【Unique Features of Un‑Sandered Full‑Grain Leather】 — Our watch strap is made of high‑quality full‑grain leather. This natural leather has not been sanded, so its original surface pores remain clearly visible. Since each hide is distinct, there will be natural variations in grain patterns, particle size and color tone. Please understand that slight differences between your delivered strap and our main images are expected and are not manufacturing flaws. Every single strap is truly one‑of‑a‑kind.
- 【ISO9001 Certified】— Raw leather materials are sourced from Tuscany, Italy and shipped to China by sea for processing. All items are manufactured in strict accordance with the ISO9001 quality management system to deliver consistent premium quality.
- 【Structure & Size Selection】— Please measure your watch lug width before purchasing. The strap comes in a length of 120mm + 75mm, fitting most wrist sizes. The buckle‑side thickness is 4.5 mm, while the tail‑end thickness is 3.2 mm. Designed with quick‑release spring bars for effortless installation and replacement. For construction: The top layer is full‑grain cowhide, the bottom lining is top‑grain cowhide, and the middle layer is filled with cowhide and foam for shaping and reinforcement.
Its reported width is also 20/18 mm. The review does not give a thickness measurement for the Nemesi, so there is no supported basis for directly comparing its bulk with the Novonappa.
What the review says about Godana’s approach
In the 2022 article, founder Haesun Kim described choosing projects from areas of personal interest and experience: “I launch a new product out of the field I am interested in most every year. This year, I am working on a new project for film camera users. My principle is to make the type of things that I’m familiar with and have experienced before because I believe the quality is closely related to the level of understanding of the product.” This is Kim’s description of the brand’s approach at that time; the film-camera project is not evidence of a current product offering.
Rank #3
- 【Italian Tuscany leather】 — The leather is made of vegetable tanned cowhide leather from the famous Italian leather factory BADALASSI CARLO. This leather is tanned with natural vegetable tanning agents, avoiding the use of harmful chemicals. It is natural and harmless to the skin.
- 【Natural Full-Grain Leather】 — Each strap retains the original pores and natural grain, giving it a unique character and authentic feel. Over time, Italian vegetable-tanned leather softens and develops a rich patina and luster, reflecting timeless elegance and sophistication. A premium material trusted by luxury brands, it makes your watch truly stand out.
- 【Unique Features of Un‑Sandered Full‑Grain Leather】 — Our watch strap is made of high‑quality full‑grain leather. This natural leather has not been sanded, so its original surface pores remain clearly visible.
- 【ISO9001 Certified】— Raw leather materials are sourced from Tuscany, Italy and shipped to China by sea for processing. All items are manufactured in strict accordance with the ISO9001 quality management system to deliver consistent premium quality.
- 【Structure & Size Selection】— Please measure your watch lug width before purchasing. The strap comes in a length of 120mm + 75mm, fitting most wrist sizes. The buckle‑side thickness is 4.5 mm, while the tail‑end thickness is 3.2 mm. Designed with quick‑release spring bars for effortless installation and replacement.
Are the straps available now?
The prices in the Fratello article—180,000 KRW for Nemesi and 190,000 KRW for Novonappa—are figures reported on May 25, 2022, not verified current prices. Godana’s official site is active, but it does not establish whether either reviewed strap is currently in stock, what it costs now, whether it ships internationally, or what terms apply to orders outside Korea. Check directly with Godana for current availability and ordering details rather than relying on the old prices.
Godana also lists past collaborations and invites collaboration inquiries on its collaboration page. That page does not establish an affiliate or referral program.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- The strap is made of waxed style cowhide, which becomes lighter in color after bending, giving it a high-end vintage feel. The waxed leather strap becomes more shiny, softer, and more comfortable to wear over time.
- The stainless steel folding clasp is more convenient to use, saving you time when putting on and taking off the watch. The quick-release design eliminates the need for tools when changing the strap, making it faster to switch straps.
- 125mm+75mm in length, with 9 adjustment holes, to meet the needs of larger wrist sizes [5.9 inches-8.1 inches/150-205 mm], flat design, each part is 3.0mm thick.
- Available in 18 19 20 21 22mm widths, suitable for Timex, for Seiko, for Citizen and other watches. Please confirm the width of your watch strap interface before placing an order.
- 24-hour after-sales service, if you have any questions about the product, please contact us and we will give you a satisfactory result.
Rank #4
- Watch Strap Material: Made of top grain leather in distressed workmanship and the lower layer that touches the wrist is comfortable suede calfskin lining, with classic tone to tone stitch and solid stainless steel buckle. These bands strike the perfect balance between durability and style, making them suitable for both casual and formal occasions
- Quick Installation: No tools required, the integrated quick release stainless steel spring bar allows you to change watch bands in seconds by simply sliding the knob with fingers
- Band Width (Size): 16 18 19 20 22 24 millimeter. In order to get a suitable strap, please measure inner distance in millimeter between two horns on your watch. Thickness around 3.5-4.5mm
- Strap Length: 125mm+75mm. Suitable for wrist around 5.9 to 8 inch (150mm to 205mm), but watch dial also impacts fit. Compatible with most traditional watches and smart watches which lug width is standard 18 mm, 20 mm, 22 mm
- Use and Maintenance: Please avoid soaking your leather strap in the water repeatedly and continued sunlight exposure. It is not recommended to wear it to shower or swim
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
