I received this belt separately and bought it with a granite (matte silver) buckle. That is indeed a very smart idea. What I really like is that absolutely NO buckles protrude. It's completely flat. I like wearing certain shirts that don't tuck in and shirts that tuck in. I have never paid thirty-five dollars for a strap (i.e. buckle and strap). I think that's reasonable for what you get. It's good that you can order a separate colored belt only for fifteen, and a separate buckle for twenty. I did it. Now I have black, brown and gray with two separate buckles. Black and Silver. Get a belt. you will dig it!