Ultimate Beginner's Guide 101: Watch Straps

Looking into getting a Watch for yourself or someone special but don’t know what kind of watch strap to get?

Find out what kind of Strap Material suits you best and your lifestyle!

A watch is just like any other wearable accessory. If you don’t style it properly, it can seem odd with your outfit, which may ruin your whole look.

Watch straps may suit different occasions and lifestyles. For example, your leather strap watch might give a more casual look than a stainless steel watch and leather straps are also a big no-no for sports. So today, we are going to talk about different types of watch straps, and how and when to style them.

Let’s get on to some basics on Watch Strap Materials!

1.Mesh Watch Strap

Perfect for Everyday Comfort

A mesh strap blends seamlessly with both formal and casual outfits. It’s a trendy counterpart of the Stainless Steel Metal bracelet. This is a low-maintenance strap that feels comfortable on the skin. While a mesh strap is not for everyone, it certainly suits most styles and occasions.

If you’re going for a casual jeans and shirt look, a mesh strap is the way to go. Not just that, you can wear it on a nice chill day in or a night out with friends or a business meeting, mesh watch straps are very versatile.

2.Stainless Steel Watch Strap

Perfect For Business & Night Outs

Have you ever looked in the mirror and wondered whether your stainless steel strap watch would go well with a ruched cocktail bodycon dress? The answer is YES! A stainless steel strap is a blessing that never stops giving. But there are some rules to follow here. The stainless steel watch strap will stand out unevenly if you wear it with your everyday jeans and top, unless of course, that’s what you’re going for!

For example, Olivia Burton watches for women will look marvelous with blazers, bodycon cocktail dresses, and a lot more from your party wear collection. Not only does it look stunning with business casual wear, but it’s also incredibly durable.

This classier cousin of the mesh strap is a good investment when it comes to all-around everyday wear. A stainless steel strap watch on the other hand will stand out, but it sure looks elegant when paired with the right dress.

Remember that a stainless steel strap may feel heavy and uncomfortable to wear in the beginning, but you will get used to it, it’s absolutely worth it!

3.Leather Watch Strap

Perfect for Everyday Comfort & Semi-formal to Formal Wear

Much like stainless steel straps, leather straps are extremely durable. A leather strap is best suited for daily wear because of its minimalistic look. It goes well with all types of clothes. However, it can seem a little underwhelming when worn with party-friendly clothing.

To make the best of your leather strap watch, you should pair it with casual wear. You can’t go wrong with a leather strap. They are strong and inspired by everything that spells adventure. They are rugged and go well with almost everything depending on whether you go for dress leather or casual leather.

Dress leather, as the name suggests, is perfect for medium-sized dials and chic clothing. Casual leather, on the other hand, will not go wrong with your everyday pant and shirt look. COACH Women’s Watch has an outstanding collection of Leather watches for women that will complete your outfit.

4.NATO Watch Strap

Perfect for Casual, Sports, Dive & Field Wear

NATO straps were originally designed to be worn by the British Ministry of Defence officers in the 1970s. They are made of nylon and sit comfortably on the wrist. A NATO strap is affordable, easy to maintain, and highly durable. You can pair a NATO strap with casual all-day wear.

However, remember that NATO straps are not a good match for fancy dresses. They will dull out your look if worn with a glamorous party dress. So, you must be mindful of what you’re wearing with a NATO strap. Unlike leather and metal straps, they don’t have many uses but are perfect if you want something for rough use.

For example, you can wear it while you’re out swimming, hiking, camping, playing basketball or other outdoor sports.

5.Rubber Watch Strap

Perfect for the Outdoor Junkie

Rubber straps were first created as a substitute for stainless steel diving watches. Typically, there are two types of rubber straps - tropic wristbands and waffle straps. These straps are better suited for business casual and other casual wear. You can wear them every day without worrying about ruining them. They are a great option if you want something for diving or other sports like swimming, hiking, etc.

6.Organic Material Watch Strap

Perfect For the Environment & Casual Wear

Organic material straps are straps that are made of organically sourced materials. They are usually referred to as straps made from wood, faux leather, apple skin, etc. For example, Jason Hyde’s ‘No Time To Waste’ collection features strap watches that are made from upcycled waste found in the ocean.

You can wear organic material straps with casual wear. Whether you want to run some errands or go out on a low-key date, you can pair this with your daily wear without thinking twice.

In a nutshell, styling watch straps often gets overlooked. If you want to learn more about how to style watches, here are some ideas from Vogue.

On that note, it’s important to know about different types of strap materials if you plan on switching them out often. You can style your watches according to your outfits every day if you know just the material that will go with them. If you’re looking into buying a gift for your partner, family, or friends, this is the Ultimate Beginners Guide to what kind of watch strap you should buy!