I was talking with a friend about his watch a few years ago when I was fairly new to the hobby of watch collecting. It had been a gift from his wife for their wedding back in 2017 and he wore it every day. The original leather strap had become worn and a bit cracked in some places near the buckle. You could tell it got a lot of wrist time just by looking at it.
“I love the watch,” he told me, “but the strap is in such bad shape. I don’t know how much longer I can wear it.”
So, I asked him what other strap options he was considering for the watch. He looked at me with a slightly bewildered expression. “The strap comes … off?” As further conversations with other budding watch enthusiasts have revealed since then, he’s certainly not alone in this realization.
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Like any hobby, watches have a typical learning curve — the period one spends understanding the lingo, the specs, and one’s own preferences. But watches are tricky. For such a small and unassuming object, there is a surprising depth to the vocabulary that can cause confusion and even intimidation for newbies. Unfortunately, this can create a barrier for those interested in breaking into this niche.
However, knowing the terminology helps enthusiasts connect with other collectors and is an important part of horological culture. It allows enthusiasts to learn about their likes and dislikes and aids in finding the perfect watch and, by extension, watch strap.
Whether you’re in the camp of folks who didn’t know most watch straps can be removed or you’re a seasoned collector, learning more about this sometimes overlooked aspect of watches can be beneficial.
Swapping out straps is a great way to keep your watches feeling fresh and can stretch the versatility of a smaller collection by allowing the wearer to mix and match styles for their everyday looks. They open up many new possibilities in each watch, as every bracelet or strap will cause it to wear differently on the wrist.
This beginner’s guide provides an overview of the main types of watch straps a beginner should know, including the pros and cons of each choice. Though certainly not an expansive list of all things strap-related, this will get the budding collector started on the research journey.
Bracelets
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Leather Straps
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Rubber Straps
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Canvas Straps
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Nylon Watch Bands
NATO Straps
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