The leather is sturdy, but not bulky. It is smooth and flawless and nicely stitched, dyed, and finished. The width is perfect with my L.L.Bean corduroys. The brass buckle has a rich-looking, subdued patina. The overall advantage to pairing this belt with jeans, cords, or casual slacks is that it adds a nice finishing touch without being overwhelming. Definitely a good choice for a basic belt!
Previous reviews have mentioned three things I also noticed, but, this belt is worth it despite these things:
The sizing, I did find that if you want to wear this belt at the hips you will probably be wearing it on the first hole, (largest setting), even if properly sized. I have had no trouble with the width of the belt, but I also have only used it on Bean pants.
The smell, I did find a distinct chemical odor to the belt which does not seem to be diminishing yet, despite a week or two of wear. However, it is not so strong that I notice it all the time, usually when manipulating the belt itself.
The color of the buckle on the black belt is called brass. some have called it silver, I disagree. It is brass, though light, and matte finished, it is not shiny, nor is it inappropriate for the color.
Nice quality belt, soft leather, and comfortable from the start. I am on average a size 2-4 pant but ordered both brown and black belts in small (6-8) to wear with low waisted jeans and the fit is perfect. The antique brass buckle is ok for everyday casual wear but would have preferred a silver finish so the look could be a little more dressy if desired.
