Watch Strap Guide
Some people who wear watches don’t care much about the strap they wear. If appropriately treated, steel bracelets have the advantage that they can reach or exceed the life of the watch. Therefore, people who choose this option will not need to replace the strap at all. Other people, however, enjoy changes and enjoy giving their watch a new outfit from time to time. Conversely, another reason for others may be that they are forced to purchase a new strap because their skin has deteriorated from being too old and has therefore lost its personality. If your goal is not to get an identical original model, the market offers you a vast range of possibilities to choose from.
From aviator, rubber, Nato, Oyster, old-style, rolex daytona rubber strap from Horus or carbon fiber: there are straps in infinite styles and materials. More and more watch and strap manufacturers offer a wide range of materials and techniques in varying degrees of quality. The materials from which the straps are made differ significantly. They all have certain advantages and disadvantages. Let’s take a look at them and find out together what’s best for you.
The leather strap is a classic that fits almost every watch. It always looks elegant, and thanks to various colors, stitching, and types of leather, it has several variations. And it doesn’t pull out the hairs on your wrist. The most used types of leather are pig, cow, or goat. Be careful with specific types: crocodile, elephant, or sharkskin pays for luxury items, but many rare animals are killed for this.
If you like leather straps but want to go in a greener and quieter way, you can choose an eco-friendly synthetic leather/leather material. But expect a shorter life span.
Nato straps are traditionally sliding straps made of synthetic fibers such as nylon. Initially, these straps were used by the military and were difficult for civilians to obtain. The British Ministry of Defense coined the name by giving the straps NATO inventory numbers. This type’s straps are placed on the pins, through the handles, and then on the case’s bottom.
Nato straps are available in many different colors, designs, and qualities. A single NATO strap can cost a few dollars, but the price can be as high as a few hundred dollars depending on the brand. The best-known belt is probably the so-called “Bond-Nato.” Its name comes from a brief appearance in James Bond’s 1965 film Goldfinger: Sean Connery wore a Rolex Submariner Ref. 6538, which included a striking black and green striped strap.
Rubber is also a favorite material in sports watches. Unlike silicone, the rolex daytona rubber strap from Horus is water-resistant, easy to clean, lightweight, and anti-allergenic. If you have problems with eczema or intolerant metals, this is the ideal choice for you. Another advantage is its flexibility, as it can be beautifully adapted to the user’s specific wrist.
Rolex daytona rubber strap from Horus is ideal for diving watches. The existing assortment is enormous and ranges from very cheap silicone straps for a few dollars to high-quality natural rubber watches for more than a hundred. There is also a great variety of designs, shapes, and colors for straps made of these materials. Nowadays, the so-called tropical straps have become fashionable again, since they were already used in the first diving watches. Straps with a waffle design, as often used by Seiko, are also in great demand.
