How to choose a leather strap for a watch?

If both sides of the watch band feel excessively smooth, it's likely a fake, as real leather will have some texture. 2 - Take Note of the Watch Band's Hardware. ... 3 - Evaluate the Quality of Stitching. ... 4 - Consider the Watch Band's Fit and Comfort. Oct 4, 2023

How to make a leather strap last longer?

It is best to keep leather straps away from moisture and to not wear them in areas such as the shower or swimming pool, or whilst exercising . Excessive heat - When leather is exposed to dry, arid conditions and direct sunlight it will lose its natural oils and dry out, which will lead to cracking.

How do you match a leather watch strap?

For a perfect match with your watch, the leather should be the same color with the dial, and the thread should be the same color with the markers and/or hands . In case the colors of your dial & markers or hands are too contrasting, it will probably be too much to do that.

Which way should my watch strap go?

Generally, the short end of the strap with the buckle is attached to the 12 o'clock (top) side of the watch case, and the long end is attached to the 6 o'clock (bottom) side of the watch case . This positions the buckle in a comfortable spot on the wrist and makes putting on and taking off the watch easier.

How do I protect my leather watch strap from sweat?

At the very least, allow it to breathe every night by taking it off before bed . Wipe it down every few days with a dry cloth and more frequently in summer months and remember to clean and condition it a few times a year so your strap will keep looking its best.

What is a leather watch strap?

Watch straps are produced from a wide range of animal skins . Leathers used in watchmaking often include those from cows, pigs, goats, horses (shell cordovan), deer, alligators, ostriches, lizards and crocodiles. Leather types can be split into the cross-section of the hide that is used to produce the leather.

What color watches go with everything?

So we can say that a watch with a white or black dial is a safe choice for all occasions: they are (more or less) watches that go with everything. Of course, it's hard to go wrong when wearing something classic, such as black or white - it's a rule that also applies to clothing.

Should leather watch strap be tight?

Your watch strap should be tight enough that it remains in place, with the watch face on top of your wrist, but loose enough that it it is comfortable and doesn't cut off your circulation or irritate your skin.

Can I wear a leather strap watch every day?

Leather naturally has a fresh, rich, earthy smell — but it does not smell bad. However, if you wear a leather watch strap daily, the pores in the leather can trap odors over time . This means that occasionally you'll need to clean it.

How do I know which watch strap I need?

To determine which size watch strap you should get, you need to measure the strap length and lug width on your watch . You can measure the lug width with a standard ruler, a set of digital callipers, or a specific watch strap ruler. To determine strap length, you need to measure the circumference of your wrist.

What is the best thickness for a leather watch strap?

On average, leather watch straps tend to be about 3 to 4 millimetres in thickness. The thickness of a strap can vary based on the width and style, for example, padded watch straps tend to have less padding the narrower the size, whilst flat watch straps have consistent thickness throughout regardless of their width.

The right gestures to adopt for your leather watch straps (2024)

The right gestures to adopt for your leather watch straps (1)

How to preserve the beauty of your leather watch straps

Most of you will have leather in your strap collection. Excellent choice.

Now that you’re feeling satisfied and happy about matching the perfect strap to your watch, let’s talk about making that feeling last…

This means treating your leather strap with love and respect so that its quality can be preserved, and gradually allow the development of a precious patina that we love so much.

Here’s how…

Tip #1: Change it often

Just like leather shoes or even socks, leather watch straps have direct contact with your skin. Instead of throwing your strap in the washer and dryer as you would do with used socks, leather straps obviously can’t be dealt with in the same way. One of the easiest ways to preserve the condition of your strap is to not wear it 365 days of the year. Logical right?

We won’t go so far as to say get yourself 365 straps (although…). Just give your strap the occasional break to breathe without being wrapped around your skin.

Tip #2: Keep it away from humidity

Leather is a natural material, hence “alive.” It ages, changes, grows patina. Humidity and therefore sweat is a crucial element to take into consideration. As mentioned before, you can’t just wash your leather strap like dirty socks, so change your strap regularly to avoid wearing it continuously during warm/hot summer months, when we all sweat significantly more.

It also goes without saying: never swim with it on, and protect it from the rain if possible.

Tip #3: Remember to nourish it (and not just with love)

Leather needs to be nourished and moisturised regularly like skin. It is skin. What happens to you hands when you don’t put lotion on them? It gets dry, and sometimes so dry that they crack, am I right? It’s the same with leather straps. To avoid them drying out and crackling we suggest hydrating them with a cream for leather like Universal Cream.

It’s a cinch and it smells good. After you swipe away the dust, take some cream and very gently massage it into your strap in small circular motions until its smooth and matt. Trust me, your leather will be thankful for it.

Tip #4: Handle it with care

What’s worse than swimming with your leather strap? Yanking and folding it violently each morning while fastening it on, and the same each night when you take it off. Each time your strap takes a beating, and will quickly deteriorate and show particularly unattractive markings at the place of assault (usually the fold). The leather and edge dye will suffer the consequences. You wouldn’t hurt your beautiful leather strap consciously… so let us all stop doing it unconsciously.

When fastening on your leather strap, remind yourself it’s a noble material and relatively fragile so be kind and respectful in your movement and everything will be fine.