The problem with any braided leather belt is that where the buckle rubs against the leather, the leather wears out quicker than normal leather belts, partly because the buckle doesn't hit the same every time, lying on the belt when worn, and partly because the thin strips of leather that the belt rubs against show leather wearing quickly. Most belts I've had take 3 to 9 months to show this wear depending on the thickness of the leather strips and whether the leather is deeper colored and/or on the sides/back of the leather strips. However, this belt has unusually thin stripes with minimal coloring. It only took three wears (three!) to show the fraying and puckering of the leather strips. Low quality!