mkelty.com the best in alligator belts

M KE LTY C A T A L O G gold buckle

gold and silver catalina buckle gold silver catalina gold and silver buckle

1" B U C K L E S

1.00 Inch - 25.4 MM gold buckle

Bentley

Sterling BENTLEY Buckle ..$310.USDCustom keeper starts at $290.14K or 18K Yellow Gold..$ Call. USD

Sonoma

Sterling SONOMA with 14K yellow gold rotating domes..$ 1200.USD14K or 18K yellow gold SONOMA buckle set with platinum rotating domes .. $ Call. USD The SONOMA is a complex buckle to make. Over 60 steps and many hours go into the making of a single SONOMA buckle set. The SONOMA has a movable bale system. The tongue is connected to an axle that rotates the domes on the sides when the tongue is moved to engage the belt.

Check out the custom hammered Sonoma video.

MANHATTAN

MANHATTAN 'Special' 18K pink gold tongue, side pins, hallmark disc on reverse..$1900.USD Matching keeper..$965.USDSterling MANHATTAN..sterling tongue, 14K yellow gold side pins, sterling hallmark disc on the reverse of the buckle..$1025.USD Matching keeper..$850.USD18K MANHATTAN with matching keeper ..Platinum pins..$13,200.USD

BEL AIRE Sterling BEL AIRE buckle set..$525.USD14K or 18K..$ Call. USDThe small squares on the sides of the buckle move with the tongue.

BAJA Sterling BAJA buckle set with matching keeper..$475.USDWith matching tip..$525.USD14K or 18K yellow gold BAJA set ..$ Call. USD

Page 8 Sterling STYLE buckle..$325.USD14K or 18K yellow gold..$ Call. USD

1.00 Inch - 25.4 MM

Bentley

Sonoma

MANHATTAN

BEL AIRE

BAJA

1.125 INCHES--28.5 MM

CATALINA 1.125" - 28.5 MM

Catalina 1.125" - 28.5 MM

14K or 18K ..$Call.USDSterling CATALINA buckle..$450.USDSterling CATALINA with 18k yellow gold overlays on the side ovals. The ovals rotate when the tongue is engaged to lock the belt..$750.USD I consider the CATALINA buckle one of my classics.I've never been able to photograph it well. The photos don't do the buckle justice. It's one of my more complex buckles with a large number of surfaces and a movable bale system.I designed it to be a 1.125 inch buckle in 18K rose or yellow gold but it works well in sterling and one inch as well.

1.25" B U C K L E S

Buckles

Harness

Sterling HARNESS buckle set..$ 490.. USD14K or 18K yellow gold..$ Call. USD

T-2

Sterling T-2 set with rubies or sapphires..$650.USD14K gold..$6500..(spot price 9.1.10) 18K gold..$8500..(spot price 9.1.10)The T-2 was designed with business and professional wear in mind.Rather than the usual, flat, 'U' shaped buckle configuration, the T-2 is sculptural.The top surface is made up of compound curves joined to side plates that are drilled out, allowing the bale holding the belt to pass entirely through the plates on both sides.The T-2 is a deployment type buckle with no moving parts.I make a plain version with no stones, a version with rubies or sapphires mounted on the rod tops, and an overlay version with 14K or 18K gold sheet fused to the top plates of the buckle and keeper.The effect of this fusion makes the buckle and keeper, when viewed from the front, look as if they are made entirely of gold. The two tone effect also allows the set to be worn with either a gold or silver watch and or cufflinks.

Paladin

Sterling PALADIN buckle set...$735.USD14K or 18K..$Call.USD

Metro

Sterling METRO buckle set..$590.USDTu-Tone set..All sterling with 14K gold overlays on the two vertical bars of the buckle and the keeper..$1025.USD14K or 18K set..$Call.USDThe METRO buckle set is a deployment type buckle set with no moving parts. It has a pin in the back of the buckle that engages the belt.The buckle can be worn alone for business or formal events and the keeper added for a more casual look.

Buckles

Harness

T-2

Paladin

Metro

1.5" B U C K L E S The 1.5 inch / 38 MM HARNESS buckle set is the only set in this size I have for sale on this site, for the moment. I sell another style at my account in NYC. As soon as I get the time I'll photograph the new buckle set and put it up. Sterling Harness buckle set..$560.USD14K or 18K gold..$Call.USD

C U F F L I N K S

C U F F L I N K S
I'm not making enough cufflinks to offer them to the general public. I'm reserving the cufflinks I do make for my existing clients, but I'm very interested in those of you who wear single cuffs and if you have any preferences as to how links fit them. It's become a new kind of experimental area for me. I'm quite excited about it.If you email me and tell me what you like about cufflinks and your preference for single or double cuffs, I'll put you on my cufflink mailing list, let you know how things are going and show you what the latest is.

H O W T O O R D E R First time orders: Most of my business is transacted through Pay Pal. Other than an address, I don't see any personal information. Due to the increase of fraud, first time orders will need to be done via a wire transfer unless your being referred by an existing customer. If we use a transfer I'll credit your order $40. for the inconvience and expense. Once we decide on a buckle, I'll send you an invoice by email that will include a link for secure payment. When ordering from outside the United States, please check your country's regulations regarding the import of precious metal items. There are some countries that I cannot ship to.It is very difficult to meet the regulations for shipping exotic leather items out of the country. My overseas clients tend to travel and have arranged to pick up their belts, here, in the U.S.. Regulations allow you to wear them out of the country. If you have a friend in an Embassy here in the U.S., contact them for any other solutions. Regarding gold buckles: Gold buckles have become very expensive for me to produce. I require full payment upfront for an order. Cancellations, or a return will be charged a 40% restocking fee. .....................................

A B O U T T H E W O R K I work in silver and gold. Each year, I produce only what I can, working by myself. I don't rush anything. I deliberate over designs for a very long time. Sometimes I keep a design in production for years, sometimes I make only one. I do bespoke work but there is a wait on it now that is sometimes frustrating for the client and it can be very costly. Except for diamonds, I only use lab grown sapphires and rubies. Natural stones are now subjected to so much trickery to enhance their value that I have abandoned them. The lab grown are cut pefectly, I can match them easily, and they are as beautiful as the natural. Another advantage is: there's no guilt associated with them. The silver and gold that I use are bought from one of the oldest refineries in the U.S., both are recycled. The belt straps are made by my friend Bill, and are the best available on the planet. I have been working as a professional for several decades. There is a good sized body of my work out in the world, some signed, some not. I like the idea of exclusivity. I like the idea that my work is functional and is being worn. I like the idea that I am helping to keep the ideal of the designer/maker alive. I appreciate my clients, without them, I could not be who I am.

A B O U T MK Does Mark Kelty have a philosophy? "Absolutely, I want to make things that last. They should be able to hold up over time and be repairable if needed. Most of all, I want the design to last. I try to make things that will go on for generations, classics that will never go out of style. I really dislike the idea of a throw away society."Why did you change the name of the business? "Clients have a hard time pronouncing my name. The silent i in Kielty seems to throw them off. It's awkward. I don't like to make people feel uncomfortable when we talk on the phone. If you can't pronounce it, you probably won't remember it either. After 40 years I think the time has come to change it.What about quality? "Quality objects are touchstones in an uncertain and changing world. I'm talking about handcrafted items, the real deal, not manufactured facsimiles. It's a distinction not widely understood. There is certainly a strong element of status involved but high quality is about validating what you believe to be true and substantial about the world. Whenever I start to get overloaded by life, I can go to the studio, start working and feel a sense of centeredness and tranquility. Handmade items have a power to transport you. It doesn't matter if it's shoes, a rod and reel or a painting. It's poetry. Isn't this what art is about?"So why belts? " I also make cufflinks, earrings, money clips, not just belts. I've been working fulltime at this since 1970. Buckles have been my specialty since 1995. I very much like the idea of utilitarian design and belts are totally utilitarian, so much so that most men are unaware of the idea of a belt being an accessory. Look in any magazine and find a photo of a man standing. 99.9% of the time he'll be wearing an inexpensive imported generic belt. Even in men's fashion magazines, expensive suits will be shown with very poor quality belts. Men are being taught that this is the right way to look. I set out to make a classic belt. It's hard for me to tell if I've succeded. I'm too close to it. I have to rely on the individulals who are willing to invest in the buckles to give me the validation that I've hit the mark. I feel gratified that so many have expressed their confidence in me by buying my work."Are you an artist or a designer? "I've made things since I was a child. My uncle was a coppersmith. My older brother taught industrial arts. We had a darkroom in the basement. There were lots of tools and materials around the house. It made the process seem very natural. Being a craftsman is an endangered occupation. I really am fortunate to be able to do what I do. I don't feel comfortable referring to myself as an artist, but, that's what I am. I'm not just designing something and then sending it off to have it made by someone else. I design and make the actual item. I have total control and responsibilty of the creative process from beginning to end. I make things that are beautiful. How lucky is that? It gives me a feeling of being one with the world. I feel like I'm doing what I was meant to do."

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C O N T A C T

S k y p e : m k l t. i n f o

E m a i l : kelty_ mkelty.com

C e l l : 360. 643. 1535

B E S T O F B E S T

Q u a l i t y E n d u r e s

MCMLXX

C A T A L O G

1" B U C K L E S

1.125 INCHES--28.5 MM

1.25" B U C K L E S

1.5" B U C K L E S

C U F F L I N K S

H O W T O O R D E R

A B O U T T H E W O R K

A B O U T MK

C O N T A C T

Page 1

Mark & Bill,

I have received the belt and it is absolutely divine: the leather and awesome and supple and the finishing is just fantastic. The buckle is truly a piece of art and a sight to behold -- wonder how I managed to survive buying "fine" belts without running into you guys earlier :-) Your craftsmanship is truly a gift and I wish both of you (individually and as a team) all the success in the world.

I will make sure I refer you to my friends who like fine, customized, accessories and am definitely looking forward to staying in touch with both of you and hopefully ordering more stuff from you.

Needless to say, if eaither of you is visiting Houston, please do ping me as I would love an opportunity to meet with you (dinner's on me :) Also, please keep me updated on your product offerings as well.

Best wishes and warmest regards,

RJ Houston

Page 2

Bill,

Just received the belts today. Absolutely amazing! I couldn't be happier.

The combination of Mark's buckles with your impeccably finished straps is better than anything I've seen for sale in a shop,

at any price, and that includes some pretty high-end places.

Thanks so much and I certainly hope to be ordering from you again in the future!

Best regards,

AK San Francisco

ALL DESIGNS AND SITE CONTENT © M KELTY

M Kelty hand makes uncompromised quality alligator belts with buckles made from solid gold, silver and bronze with straps made by the top makers of alligator belts in America. The designs are understated and complex, made for the individual wanting a look that is powerful but quietly demanding attention.My clients desire an aura of power that draws focus to themselves and not what they are wearing. In a world where luxury stores sell mass produced goods, I insist on maintianing a high level of craftmanship, ensuring the alligator belts I create will be exclusive ,rare and of lasting quality.
ABOUT THE BELTS B E S T O F T H E B E S T C O N T A C T H O M E P A G E A B O U T MK Sonoma page_copy2 R E S T O R A T I O N