When it comes to choosing a brand-new watch, people tend to generally go for aesthetics rather than practicality, focusing on the face of the watch, or even the brand rather than how the watch fits into your life. Depending on what type of lifestyle you have, or what hobbies you enjoy, different watches can have different compatibilities or incompatibilities with your life, and the type of strap that your watch has is often a big factor.

Which Is The Best Watch Strap?

Leather, rubber, nylon and metal are the most common watch strap materials, and here are the pros and cons of each type.

Leather watch straps

Leather is a good choice for those that want a more classical look, and it’s suitable for everyone as it doesn’t rub or irritate the skin. However, leather does wear with age and may need to be replaced more frequently than metal or rubber straps, and they tend to get sticky in humid places.

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Rubber watch straps

Rubber works great against the elements, tackling water and temperature well. They also dry easily and quickly, and don’t fade in the sun so are great for those who play sports or spend a lot of time outdoors.

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Nylon watch straps

Comfortable, adjustable and available in a variety of colours and styles, nylon watch straps are a great all-rounder as they work well when they get wet, they stay in place and they are often brightly coloured and pleasing to the eye.

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Metal watch straps

Sturdy, reliable and they go with everything, metal watch straps – or watch bracelets – often tend to be the most expensive type of strap. Depending on the metal used, these straps can be either weighty, or more lightweight which can be suited to your style, however they do tend to scratch quite easily, so may not be ideal for those who go mountain climbing, or use their hands a lot.

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How to Change a Watch Strap

We have a page about changing a watch strap, so click here for more information.

Zacro Watch Band Strap Link Pin Remover Repair Tool Kit for Watchmakers with Pack of 6 Extra Pins

(2090)

£8.99 £7.99

PROFESSIONAL WATCH BAND LINK REMOVER - Watch link remover kit comes with a metal watch band link remover, 3+3 pcs spare pins and a piece of cleaning cloth. It is great for watch link removal, watch sizing and watch repair EASY TO USE - The watch link... read more

(as of July 29, 2022 23:32 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

ARCHER Watch Straps Spring Bar Tool

(328)

£10.99

MULTI FUNCTION TOOL - Use the forked end to remove spring bars from the inside of a watch lug, buckle, or clasp, and the pin end to remove spring bars accessible from the outside of the lug, buckle, or clasp. HANDY RULER - Use the 5cm ruler to measur... read more

(as of July 29, 2022 23:32 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

AKORD 16 pcs Deluxe watch opener tool kit repair pin Remover

(6838)

£9.95

16 Piece Watch Repair Tool Kit Set Pin Strap Remover Handle batteries with the fine-nosed tweezers Everything you need for basic watch opening, battery replacement and repairs These make the job of shortening or increasing the length of metal wristba... read more

(as of July 29, 2022 23:32 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

BISONSTRAP Watch Strap, Vintage Leather Replacement Bracelet, Band Width-14mm 15mm 16mm 17mm 18mm 19mm 20mm 21mm 22mm 23mm 24mm

(1702)

£13.99

SIZE SELECTION: Available in 14mm 15mm 16mm 17mm 18mm 19mm 20mm 21mm 22mm 23mm and 24mm, please accurately measure your watch lug width and choose the right size WATCH BAND MATERIAL: Vintage Crazy-horse leather and lined with soft genuine leather, co... read more

(as of July 29, 2022 13:52 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)