I was looking for a better western quality belt with a simple design; nothing special or decorative. Some of the belts I've bought recently started to lose their shape and started to show signs of wear much sooner than expected. The leather on these belts was not of the highest quality and was a bit thin. This belt, on the other hand, is made of thick leather with beautiful stitching and edges. I've only had it a few days but judging by the build quality I expect it to last a long time. Apparently whoever made the belt also made western-style saddles. Another note: The buckle is kept simple and is fastened with screws. It goes with the rest of the design. But many cowboys will replace this buckle with another of their choice anyway, and the screws make changing easy. I am very happy with my purchase. The quality exceeded my expectations.