6 Most Common Watch Strap Materials
In recent years watch enthusiasts have shown interest in different watch strap materials. Primarily because watch straps play an important role in the aesthetics and the feel of your watch. They also prevent your watch from falling off your wrist. But besides the conventional benefits of holding your watch in one place, different strap materials have environmental and health benefits.
In this blog post, we will explore how wood straps protect the environment, and different watch materials can affect your style.
Different Types of Watch Strap Materials
Each watch strap material has unique properties that change your experience with a timepiece. Knowing the advantages of a strap material over the other will help you choose the perfect wristwatch.
1. Leather
Leather is the most durable and common watch strap material. It's resistant to flame and has a distinct aroma. It's considered a premium material in some parts of the world – where leather is rare. But people who care about animals don't prefer wearing a leather strap. Products made from leather are not just durable but carefree. You'll find three types of leather for straps.
- Faux Leather
Those who care about animals and don't want to cause them unnecessary harm prefer faux leather because it's made from a plastic base. However, faux leather isn't as durable as original leather.
- Genuine Leather
Genuine leather is much more durable than faux leather because it's made from animal skin. It's a premium quality material with an affordable price tag. Hence it attracts many watch enthusiasts.
- Full Grain Leather
Full-grain leather is of the highest quality ranking on top of all types of leather. It's more durable than faux and genuine leather because it is made from cattle skin. Exotic full-grain leather is obtained from other animals like Alligator, Kangaroo, and Ostriche.
- Vegan Leather
Also called cruelty-free leather differs from its kind, and it's actually much more durable than genuine leather. It's made from Polyurethane which is a form of plastic material obtained from different sources. Vegan leather is fireproof, and it's also called synthetic leather. It has a soft feel, but it's quite sturdy. Usually found on high-quality premium wristwatches, this leather is an excellent choice for people who don't prefer wrapping animal skin on their wrists.
2. Wooden Watch Straps
In recent years wood has become a popular source of building material. From construction to flooring and now wristwatches – wooden straps are durable and carefree. The most premium quality of wooden straps is that they age gracefully. Scratches and damages to your wooden strap make your watch more appealing.
Moreover, wooden straps change color as they age. You'll notice a darker tint after a month or sometimes years (depending on the type of wood). Wood also has natural healing and mood-altering properties.
Wearing wooden straps has several health and psychological benefits, including elevating your mood. Plus, wood is an eco-friendly material because its production produces more energy than utilized.
3. Stainless Steel Straps
One of the most popular choices for watch straps is stainless steel wood. After all, its versatile properties make it best for different kinds of watches. The metal is made from steel, and it goes through a rough process that makes it shiny and attractive.
It's less costly than titanium, silver, gold, and platinum, plus it can be used with other materials to make a unique watch. Stainless steel isn't as environment-friendly as other options mentioned above, but it's the most popular choice among watch enthusiasts.
4. Stainless Steel Wood Straps
Made from the finest quality steel and wood, this watch strap is an excellent addition to already impressive watches. It has dual properties of both materials and ages gracefully. Since wooden straps can't be worn in water, when combined with steel, they become water friendly. Moreover, wooden straps tend to become warm under the sun due to wood's natural properties. Paired with stainless steel, this negative effect is removed, making this material the best choice for wristwatches.
5. Nylon Strap
Nylon might not be the first choice of watch strap material, but it's considerably better in most cases when paired against the ones mentioned above. This is because Nylon is soft, durably, and water-resistant. In addition, Nylon is more breathable than other materials making it the best strap for warm weather conditions.
6. Silicon or Rubber Straps
Silicon as a watch strap is the best thing you can ask for. It's durable, breathable, elastic, and comfortable to wear. Plus, silicon comes in unique colors, which can spruce up your watch style. This type of watch strap is commonly found n digital or smartwatches because this material doesn't go with the analog design. In addition to its breathable and soft design, silicon is also water-resistant, meaning you can go deep-sea diving or take it with you in the shower.
Cleaning a silicon watch is easy, and you don't have to take it to a professional. However, silicon doesn't have good tensile quality.
So don't test it by stretching it out, or else it will snap. All in all, it's a great material, but it doesn't have much life. Nevertheless, it's an affordable and abundant material, so you can always find a replacement.
Final Thoughts
A watch strap defines your personality from being eco-friendly to an animal lover. Straps like leather, Nylon, and silicon are great, but they have their drawbacks. On the other hand, metal straps like stainless steel, titanium, and gold aren't breathable to much extent.
The middle ground between straps is stainless steel wood. It's durable, water-resistant, and unique. If you are looking for a watch with stainless steel wood strap, you can check out Stuniii.
Stuniii is one of the leading makers of stainless steel wood watches. We use premium quality material in designing our products. If you are interested in buying a unique watch that leaves a lasting impression, browse our collection of some of the finest stainless steel wood watches online.