First of all I’d like to either confirm, deny or elucidate a few rumors and statements regarding the full-pavé-diamond Roland Iten Calibre R822 Predator.

1. There is absolutely no truth to the rumor that reflections from bright sunlight hitting the diamonds on the R822 Predator can be seen from space.

2. While $400,000 (give or take a bit of chump change) isn’t a sum that even the richest among us is likely to scoff at, it’s quite possible that a more expensive belt buckle exists that I don’t know about. However, it’s very unlikely that any buckle exists that comes even close to the high levels of sophistication and engineering found in the Roland Iten R822 Predator. The diamonds really are just the icing on the cake.

3. Roland Iten doesn’t create belt buckles, or so he keeps telling me.  But no matter how intricate and clever Iten’s creations are, if it buckles my belt together I’m calling it a belt buckle.

The Calibre R822 buckle from initial sketches to production drawings

A plate for the Calibre R822 buckle being fabricated on a CNC machine

Setting a diamond into a component of the Calibre R822 buckle

One of the small diamond-set components from the Calibre R822 buckle, from technical drawing to raw metal bar to finished piece

Meticulously setting diamonds into the full-pavé Calibre R822 Predator buckle

Just a few of the 167 components making up a Roland Iten Calibre R822 buckle

There are three principle operations or complications involved in other Roland Iten buckles:

* Attaching belt strap to buckle

* Closing buckle on strap by means of pins, also known as ardillons, into holes in the strap

* Tightening or loosening the belt by means of a simple operation of the buckle

The R822 adds a fourth complication, in that all operations have a security system preventing any operation from happening accidentally.

Full-pavé Calibre R822 Predator buckle by Roland Iten

Full-pavé Calibre R822 Predator buckle by Roland Iten

Roland Iten wearing his mechanical cufflinks and a Bugatti belt buckle while holding a full-pavé Calibre R822 Predator buckle; note the circular, adjustable clasp on the watch strap that Iten developed for F.P. Journe

Roland Iten looks pleased with the first Calibre R822 Predator buckle

For those of you thinking, “I do in fact need a new belt buckle, and the R822 Predator is just the thing I can see holding up my trousers, but a large part of half a million is likely to push the credit card just a tad too far,” then never fear as Roland Iten will be introducing a non-diamond-set R822 in the not-too-distant future, which will be (relatively) more affordable.

The full-pavé Calibre R822 Predator buckle by Roland Iten

The full-pavé Calibre R822 Predator buckle by Roland Iten

Adding hundreds of diamonds to a mechanical belt buckle doesn’t just add to its eye-candy appeal, they also contribute considerable scratch resistance . . . so you might consider them a technical feature.

For more, please see Rafael Nadal, The World’s No.1 Tennis Player; The Richard Mille RM 27-01, The World’s Most Expensive Sports Watch; And The Ion Tiriac Trophy, The World’s Most Complicated Tennis Trophy and A Tale Of Belt Buckles Starring Sylvester Stallone, Roland Iten . . . And Me.

Quick Facts
Materials: body in 18-karat white gold with red gold accents, chassis in titanium
Features: four complications
Gems: 387 TW VVs1+ baguette-cut and round-cut diamonds, total 14.15 ct
Limitation: three full-diamond-set pieces in white gold
Price: Approximately $400,000 (excluding tax)