This is my first "ratchet" belt.  It was extremely eays to figure out how to attach the buckle, and since I've been dropping weight over the past year I am delighted at the ease of adjusting it as my waist "wastes" away.  The belt itself seems very durable, with a thick leather strap nicely finished on both sides, and the buckle seems heavy and durable as well.  Overall, I'm very pleased with this purchse.

Update:  While the funcionality of the belt is still fantastic, I am finding that there are spots on the edgest that are starting to wear (i.e. delaminate).  I've been using it about a month and a half, so I don't know how long the strap itself will be good enough to wear as a dress belt, before it is relegated to casual status.

Further update:  Marino read my review and, without prompting, sent me another belt!  That was unexpected (and frankly, not really necessary, since it was such a minor issue) but shows that this seller is definitely concerned with quality control and customer satisfaction.