A Guide to: Watch Straps

A luxury watch strap needs to be comfortable and secure, but it also needs to be a suitable match for the timepiece and for you!

Here’s our quick guide to choosing and looking after watch straps:

Building a Collection of Watch Straps

If you’re passionate about watches but are not able to afford a huge selection, building a collection of straps is a great way to get more out of the watches you do own. High-quality watch straps aren’t difficult to find in specialist shops and online, and they are less of an investment than a whole new watch. A different strap can transform a watch’s appearance to the point that onlookers would think that it’s a completely new timepiece.

Watch Strap Styles

Growing a diverse collection of straps is easy when there are so many styles to choose from. Most fall into the following categories:

NATO Straps

Crafted from nylon, NATO straps are simple and lightweight, yet hardwearing. These utilitarian straps were used originally by the British military in the Second World War, and were fastened with fixed bars that were less likely to break. If you want to add a NATO-style strap to your collection, you’ll be pleased to know that there are a variety of contemporary colours and designs available today.

Metal Bracelets

Many watch strap styles fit within this category, with materials varying from classic stainless steel to revolutionary titanium. If you’re looking for the ultimate luxury, you could choose a gold bracelet. Popular metal bracelet styles include:

• Milanese: An Italian invention, this intricate mesh style is more than 500 years old.
• Oyster: The iconic Rolex bracelet featuring a three-piece link design.
• Engineer: A thick, weighty bracelet making the perfect companion for a dive watch.
• President: First seen on the Rolex Day-Date, this bracelet is the Oyster’s formal counterpart.

Leather Straps

No watch strap collection is complete without some fine leather. If you have a vintage watch that needs a makeover, a handmade leather strap will do the trick. Like many other watch strap styles, leather is a diverse material and there are lots of options available, from military styles to sophisticated Italian leather.

Cleaning Watch Straps

Even if you do not wear all of your watch straps often, don’t leave them to gather dust on your bedside table. Regular cleaning will keep them as good a new.

• Stainless Steel Bracelets: This material is designed not to scratch easily, so you don’t have to worry too much about wear and tear. However, regular wear will cause dirt to build up on the surface that touches the skin. This build up can be removed with a soft cloth or toothbrush and a little soap and water.
• Leather Watch Straps: Try not wearing your leather strap all the time – remove your watch before bed to allow the leather to breathe. Don’t clean the strap with a wet cloth as water can cause permanent damage. Instead, use a tiny amount of moisturising hand soap to remove dirt before wiping clean with a mildly damp cloth.  
• NATO Watch Straps: Nylon straps can be cleaned by hand with soap and water, or you could place the strap in a pillow case before machine washing on a gentle cycle.

If you’d like more information on choosing the right watch strap, the team here at Cuttings are happy to help!