Help with Stingray wallets
 

I last visited Thailand about 5-6 years ago and purchased a stingray skin (mens) wallet. I have since received many compliments on it and would like to bring about 10-12 back as gifts this trip. Any ideas on where to get good prices. I do not need a high end street or even a store. Last trip used Weekend Market in Bangkok and remembered paying about $10 but I could be off. Any help would be appreciated.
Lastly, I will probably stay in Bangkok but may be willing to venture out.

I used to export these as a business venture a few years back. Just like with anything else, there are varying qualities in both the actual preparation and dying of the skin and the actual assembly of the product, including the method of joinery. This will eventually affect the life of the product. If these issues are not your concerns and you just want 10-12, places like Chatuchak where you went before, the Night Bazaar Lumpini and Pratunam should suffice. Also, a lot of retailers get a wholesale sized order, then get stuck with these for a long time....if you see what you want in a regular retail store, they might offer you a good price just to rid of them. There is a big wholesaler in Chonburi, but you have to order at least 200 as a min. order (of one style) and the quality has to be controlled closely. The other places are best for your needs.

Thank you for your good information. I would love to purchase a quanity but have to work out some details - primarily dealing with US Customs. You have made me aware of possibilities I did not know existed. Thanks again.

Interesting thread.

Are we talking about natural stingray or polished with pearls? I'd love to get a custom stingray watch strap too.

I've never even thought of looking for these in BKK. Wonder if they do custom one-offs? ;)

I don't know a lot about the actual tanning process, but they are a by-product of the food industry and they are definitely polished before the final cleaning process. Watch bands are available, but you have to be sure to get the right mm size to fit your individual watch. You can get some idea of retail cost by doing a google search for the bands.....then when you shop you have some idea of price.....but remember not all ray skins are created equal (as to the finishing process) and the quality of the final product (sizing, stitching, lining, clasp) varies greatly.

Yeah, I know you can buy them online.

However, it'd be great if I could find a place that I could give a very specific custom order... for a cheap price! ;)

The best ones I saw were made in Europe of skins obtained in Thailand.....the clasp looked like a European item. I think the really high end stuff is finished and sold through Europe.

If you have a definite design and can provide drawings or a sample and the clasp you want to use, I would suggest shopping custom boot makers. They have the skin available and know how to do the sewing and finishing. This is the best I can do......

Thanks for the advice!

You could look in MBK; specifically Taywin, Udomaek (Udom Agg) (on floor 2) and all the little shops on floors 3, 5 & 6.

Also I saw these on eBay.

We have worked with stingray hides. The skin is covered in dermal denticles , dentine just like teeth. The hide has one "eye" which is raised and when sanded
down appears white. The hides are not easy to sew because of the abrasive nature of the dentine. For a watchband I would imagine a soft piece of leather would be glued on the inner side. The hides are a available in a variety of colors
and not too difficult to fabricate to whatever you want, bootmakers would have the industrial sewing machines needed.

By the way, is there any certain location in Bangkok for vendors of the raw hides such as stingray, crocodile, etc? Not finished goods but hides.