LuxuryWatchesThe joy of straps: How to give your watch a smart upgrade on a budgetOne of the great pleasures of watch ownership is how a simple strap change can transform the lookWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
LuxuryWatchesThe joy of straps: How to give your watch a smart upgrade on a budgetOne of the great pleasures of watch ownership is how a simple strap change can transform the lookWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
One of the great pleasures of watch ownership is how a simple strap change can transform the look
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
Buying thebest watchis one thing, but have you tried changing the strap? Seriously, give it a go. Swap out that stainless steel band for a fabric NATO number, or maybe even switch the three-link bracelet for a Milanese mesh-style strap, and you have a whole new watch.
Replacing the strap of any watch can completely transform it, changing the look, the character and the outfit it suits best. I’m probably quite late to the party here, but now I can’t get enough of shopping for new straps for my modest watch collection. It’s cheaper than buying new timepieces, of course, but has the potential to bring just as much joy.
(Image credit: Omega)
(Image credit: Omega)
But here’s the thing. Instead of paying a significant premium for a strap from the manufacturer itself, I paid £24 for my NATO fromWatchGecko. It arrived with its own lug bars and a soft case large enough to store the replacement bracelet and several others.
(Image credit: Christopher Ward)
(Image credit: Christopher Ward)
Other straps to shout about are the colourful leather numbers bundled withChristopher Ward’s C63 Sealander. I opted for the Lucerne green version (we all know it’s Tiffany Blue, really) which came with a stainless steel bracelet and green leather strap to match the dial. Thanks to quick-release lug bars, the watch transforms from a subtle, smart steel watch with a flashy dial, into a full-on summer watch with a look-at-me strap and dial combo. I love it. The green strap is a bit strong for my usual style, but when taken on a summer holiday it works perfectly.
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Next on my list is a burgundy leather strap with white stitching – only this time I need to actually buy the watch too, which being the ‘Mission to Pluto’ version ofSwatch MoonSwatch, is proving difficult. Should MoonSwatches ever get any easier to buy, I also quite fancy a striped fabric NATO strap, in black and grey, for the Mission to The Moon edition.
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