Bosphorus Leather is a Turkish brand well known for its handmade watch straps and accessories. Today, I have an example of the Ephesus watch case, designed to safely store your watches at home and transport them when you travel. That is, by far, the least interesting thing about it. I have dozens of watch pouches, rolls, cases, and boxes that can all accomplish the same task. What makes this case special is that you won’t want to stuff it in a closet. Rather, the case itself is worthy of display, regardless of whether you have a watch inside it.
Boshporus’s storage accessories run from a $149 single-watch pouch to a $11,999 five-drawer cabinet for 94 watches. For this review, I selected an Ephestus 2-watch case in red Parchment Patina leather that sells for $399. I figured that this was the kind of product a Time Bum reader might treat themselves to, perhaps as a sample of the artisan’s work before splurging on a pricier item. The good folks at Bosphorus Leather allowed me to keep the sample, so I also chose an item I was likely to use myself.
The Ephestus line includes one, two, and three watch cases with prices dependent on size and leather selection. This two-watch model is approximately 6.5″ wide, 4.5″ long, and 3″ deep. It arrived in a soft cotton bag inside a cardboard box. If I were taking it on the road, I’d probably tuck it into the bag. I have leather goods that were designed for abuse and which wear the scuffs and dents of daily wear like badges of honor, but this case is far too nice for that. It would be a crime to abuse it like that.
The Parchment leather is decorated with a debossed Bosphorus Leather seal and the words of an antique document. It appears to be French and is written in the sort of meticulous longhand script that was more common before typewriters homogenized the written word. As I was a terrible student, I have no idea what it says, and I don’t care because it looks lovely. In fact, I’d rather not know. Better to enjoy the mystery than discover it was someone’s grocery list.
Dark patination on the edges and corners contrasts against the deep cherry red at the center, giving the surface pleasant depth and character. Bosphorus also offers it in blue, green, olive, and brown Parchment Patina, as well as Togo and Nubuck leather.
It is apparent that the Ephestus was made with great care. Every piece has been expertly cut, stitched, and finished right down to the tab for the heavy zipper that secures the lid.
Inside, you will find soft suede covering a hard yet lightweight insert with recesses for the watch pillows. Notches in the sides of each allow you to reach in and pinch the pillows’ firm sides to compress them for easier removal and replacement. I did not attempt to remove the insert, but in my poking around, it felt as if it was held by more than simple pressure and clearly was not intended to be pulled out.
You needn’t worry about your watches; they will be well protected in their padded compartments, far from anything hard or abrasive. I would imagine that the case would absorb a table-to-floor impact without transmitting that shock to its contents, but I wasn’t about to test that theory.
If you are heading out for a long weekend and want to transport your watches safely, the Bosphorus Leather Ephestus Parchment Patina will certainly do the trick; however, I doubt that is the reason you will choose it. No, if you are packing a Bosphorus case, it is because you want your watches to travel in style. Me? I’m putting my Ephestus case on my bookcase displayed alongside some of my other prized watch and clock-related possessions, where I can see and enjoy it every day until it’s time to take it on the road.
If you appreciate fine leather goods in general and fine watch accessories in particular, then you must check out Bosphorus Leather’s products. I was mightily impressed with the Ephestus Parchment Patina case, and I have since spent an unhealthy amount of time browsing the amazing selection of straps, shoes, small accessories, briefcases, and travel bags on their site. They even offer a bespoke program for the leather creation of your dreams.
I recommend you head over to bosphorusleather.com and treat yourself. You and your watch collection deserve it.
