Luxurious strap materials can make a big difference in the impression that a watch makes on you.  Alligator, ostrich, and satin are some of the more prevalent options seen.  One of the more unusual and interesting is galuchat, which you can see here on this Zenith Baby Star Sea Open Elite watch.  Galuchat is the elegant term for leather made from stingray skin, and it is sometimes also referred to as “same” or shagreen. 

Immediately recognizable for its pebbled texture and unique feel, rayskin is extremely durable and tough, which is one reason that the Samurai utilized it in components of their armor, as well as the tsuka (handle) of their swords.  In the case of this Zenith watch, whose design elements are inspired by the ocean, the rayskin strap contributes another aspect of fine detail that keeps the theme consistent.  And, as a point of note, the farm-raised leather is obtained from a species of stingray which is listed as non-threatened by CITES (The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna).