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Comparison Men’s luxury boots

John Lobb Lawry Boot vs R.M. Williams Craftsman Boot: which one should you buy?

Quick answer

Buy the John Lobb Lawry Boot if you want the finest. Buy the R.M. Williams Craftsman Boot instead if you want a lifetime Chelsea boot.

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John Lobb Lawry Boot
Buy

John Lobb Lawry Boot

Best for Peak Chelsea

Typically $2,100–$2,400

Check Price on Amazon Paid link
R.M. Williams Craftsman Boot
Buy

R.M. Williams Craftsman Boot

Best for Chelsea icon

Typically $650–$750

Check Price on Amazon Paid link

Quick comparison

FeatureJohn Lobb Lawry BootR.M. Williams Craftsman Boot
VerdictBuyBuy
Typical price$2,100–$2,400$650–$750
Best forPeak ChelseaChelsea icon
Key featureChelsea from John LobbOne-piece leather Chelsea, resoleable
MaterialCalf leatherYearling leather
SoleLeather, Goodyear weltedLeather, Goodyear welted
FitTrue to sizeWide
Made inEnglandAustralia
Where to buyCheck Price Paid linkCheck Price Paid link

Main differences

Material

John Lobb Lawry Boot: Calf leather; R.M. Williams Craftsman Boot: Yearling leather.

Sole

John Lobb Lawry Boot: Leather, Goodyear welted; R.M. Williams Craftsman Boot: Leather, Goodyear welted.

Fit

John Lobb Lawry Boot: True to size; R.M. Williams Craftsman Boot: Wide.

Made in

John Lobb Lawry Boot: England; R.M. Williams Craftsman Boot: Australia.

Why buy it

John Lobb Lawry Boot: chelsea from John Lobb; R.M. Williams Craftsman Boot: one-piece leather Chelsea, resoleable.

Made for

John Lobb Lawry Boot: peak Chelsea; R.M. Williams Craftsman Boot: chelsea icon.

Usual price

John Lobb Lawry Boot: $2,100–$2,400; R.M. Williams Craftsman Boot: $650–$750.

Which should you choose?

Choose the John Lobb Lawry Boot if you

  • you want the finest
  • value superb
Check Price Paid link

Choose the R.M. Williams Craftsman Boot if you

  • you want a lifetime Chelsea boot
  • value durable
Check Price Paid link

If neither feels right

Neither is the only answer. See every piece we would buy (and the ones we would skip) in our list of the best men’s luxury boots.

Not sure about either? Consider these

John Lobb Romsey

John Lobb · Men’s luxury boots

John Lobb Romsey

Buy it if you want finest.

Verdict
Buy
Best for
Chelsea
Typical price
$2,300–$2,600

Pros

  • Superb

Cons

  • Pricey
Crockett & Jones Chertsey

Crockett & Jones · Men’s luxury boots

Crockett & Jones Chertsey

Buy it if you want value welted.

Verdict
Buy
Best for
Value Chelsea
Typical price
$750–$850

Pros

  • Excellent value
  • Resoleable

Cons

  • Plain

Frequently asked questions

John Lobb Lawry Boot or R.M. Williams Craftsman Boot: which should I buy?

Buy the John Lobb Lawry Boot if you want the finest. Buy the R.M. Williams Craftsman Boot instead if you want a lifetime Chelsea boot.

Is the price difference worth it?

The John Lobb Lawry Boot usually costs $2,100–$2,400 and the R.M. Williams Craftsman Boot $650–$750. Pay more only if the differences above matter to you.

Opulique Editorial Team

Part of the Opulique research team. We compare specifications, documentation and real-world trade-offs so you can decide faster.

John Lobb Lawry Boot or R.M. Williams Craftsman Boot: the full reasoning

John Lobb Lawry Boot or R.M. Williams Craftsman Boot? Both are strong men’s luxury boots, which is exactly why the choice is hard. The short version first: buy the John Lobb Lawry Boot if you want the finest, and buy the R.M. Williams Craftsman Boot if you want a lifetime Chelsea boot. The rest of this page explains why, with usual US prices.

Where they differ

The John Lobb Lawry Boot wins on chelsea from John Lobb. The R.M. Williams Craftsman Boot answers with one-piece leather Chelsea, resoleable. Material: Calf leather on the John Lobb Lawry Boot, Yearling leather on the R.M. Williams Craftsman Boot. Sole: Leather, Goodyear welted on the John Lobb Lawry Boot, Leather, Goodyear welted on the R.M. Williams Craftsman Boot. Fit: True to size on the John Lobb Lawry Boot, Wide on the R.M. Williams Craftsman Boot. Made in: England on the John Lobb Lawry Boot, Australia on the R.M. Williams Craftsman Boot.

Reasons to buy the John Lobb Lawry Boot

Superb. What to accept: expensive. Usual price: $2,100–$2,400. Our verdict: buy. Read the full John Lobb Lawry Boot review.

Reasons to buy the R.M. Williams Craftsman Boot

Durable, Resoleable, Classic. What to accept: runs wide. Usual price: $650–$750. Our verdict: buy. Read the full R.M. Williams Craftsman Boot review.

Neither one?

Our list of the best men’s luxury boots has every other piece with its own call. Construction: welted boots can be resoled and handle wet weather better than cemented ones.

Also consider the John Lobb Romsey ($2,300–$2,600): romsey. Buy it if you want finest.

Also consider the Crockett & Jones Chertsey ($750–$850): classic Chelsea in suede or calf. Buy it if you want value welted.

Buyer tip

Boots see big end-of-season markdowns in January; buy welted classics from British makers when the pound is weak against the dollar or euro.

Buying in Europe: Italian and French sizes are used on most designer shoes, and they differ from US sizes by brand. Check the house’s own size chart, and remember that many Italian brands run about half a size small.

Luxury prices move in a different rhythm from everyday shopping. The great houses (Chanel, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Rolex) raise prices once or twice a year, often in January and in spring, and almost never discount their icons. Seasonal pieces, colors and many shoes, coats and knitwear drop 30–50% in the end-of-season sales in January and from late June. Watches from brands such as Omega, TAG Heuer, Longines and Breitling, and most fragrance, see the best prices around Prime Day and Black Friday. Judge any deal against the usual price we show.