At StrapHabit, I receive many messages asking for strap recommendations for a specific watch. While I love the opportunity to interact with customers and hear about their favorite watches, I thought it would be useful to provide an in-depth guide. This article will address the topics below by section. Feel free to read the entire thing, or click the topics below to jump to a section. Or if you already have an idea what you're looking for, you can view our favorite straps at the links below
-All Straps
-Best Sellers
-What's New
-Rubber Straps
-Accessories
If you need help cleaning your watch strap, please see our StrapHabit Guide to Cleaning Watch Straps.
- Removing your old strap
- Determining the correct size
- Choosing the material
- Choosing the best strap for your watch
- Other considerations
- Tools required
- Useful accessories
1. Removing your old strap
The majority of watches use straight spring bars to attach the strap or bracelet to the watch case. Spring bars are small metal tubes with springs inside.
To remove the old strap/bracelet from the case, it is easiest to use a spring bar tool like this one that we sell to compress the end of the spring bar. This should give enough clearance to remove the strap or bracelet.
Some watches also have holes in the case sides, making it much easier to remove spring bars. In those cases, insert a pin into the side of the case (like the one on the other end of our spring bar tool), and pop the case or bracelet out.
The easiest types of straps to remove are those with quick-release spring bars. These have small tabs that allow you to remove the strap in seconds without tools. Some original-equipment straps have these, as do most of our straps.
Once you've removed the old strap, installation is easy. Insert one end of the spring bar into a lug hole. Then compress the other end, either with the pin tip of a tool or with the quick-release tab. If you've never done this before, it's a good idea to cover your lugs with tape to avoid scratches.
Many Seiko Prospex and Citizen divers feature larger-than-standard lug holes and thicker spring bars. While all StrapHabit straps are compatible with it, many other straps aren't. Some people also don't prefer the slight bit of play that is present when installing one of our straps. That's where StrapHabit's Thin Spring Bars for Seiko Fat Lug Holes come in. These can be installed in some StrapHabit straps as well as most straps with standard spring bars. They have 1.1mm tips, but are 1.8mm thick at the center, fitting Seiko divers perfectly.
Note: If your watch does not appear to use standard spring bars or has a strap that integrates with the case, we might not sell a compatible strap.
2. Determining the correct size
Once you've removed the old strap, measure the width of your watch case between the lugs. Watch straps are sold in mm widths. Our spring bar tool has a handy scale for measuring. If you're doing this frequently, another easy way is to purchase a cheap set of digital calipers.
Modern watches typically have strap sizes between 18mm and 24mm, although there are plenty of exceptions. 20mm and 22mm are the most commonly found lug widths, but we also have straps for odd sizes like 19mm, 21mm, and 23mm.
Some watches are best with a strap designed for them (such as the Q Timex), but most are compatible with any strap of the correct width.
After you have the correct strap size, we've organized our shop so that you can shop by width. Please select the correct option below (or from the menu at the top of the site).
3. Choosing the material
You'll likely consider the strap's material next. Watch straps come in a variety of materials, each with its own benefits and properties.
Rubber straps are some of our most popular straps for good reason. All our rubber straps are made from high-quality FKM rubber. FKM Rubber is the most versatile material for watch straps. It is exceptionally durable and very resistant to temperature, chemicals, wear, and discoloration.
These are the best straps for abuse and frequent water use, such as swimming, showering, playing sports, or working out.
Sailcloth Straps are still sporty but give a watch a more sophisticated look than rubber straps, and they look appropriate with nicer clothing.
These straps are great for wearing in a variety of situations, from casual to office to semi-formal. They also have mild water-resistance.
Hybrid Straps combine the best properties of the previous two straps. They are slightly more expensive, but have the good looks of a sailcloth strap with the durability and sweat-resistance of FKM Rubber.
These straps are also great for sports, everyday use, and office wear.
Leather Straps help dress up a watch and give it a distinctive look. They can quickly form to the shape of your wrist, and are comfortable against skin.
They work well on dress watches, and also help to make a tool watch or dive watch look less casual.
Elastic Straps are our most comfortable straps as they expand and contract with your wrist. They also provide a popular military appearance similar to a NATO strap and are available in a variety of colors.
These look great on a casual watch and a tool watch, and they're great for long days and travel because they never feel tight or constricting.
Canvas straps offer a more distinctive look, especially when pre-distressed.
These look great on tool watches when they are brand new or well-worn.
Stainless Steel Bracelets look especially great on vintage and dress watches. They give the watch a brighter, classy look.
Luminous Straps look normal during the day, but are very fun to wear at night. These are also a great option for those IG lume shots!
Pass-through straps offer excellent security and functional style.
4. Choosing the best strap for your watch
When choosing a strap, I usually start by choosing the material based on when I plan to wear the watch. I might want a material that is more durable, water-resistant, or something that looks classier.
Next, I consider the color. I often gravitate towards bright colors and usually try to match the strap color to the dial, or a highlight color such as the second hand or brand logo.
If you're new here, check out the best sellers section. If you've visited StrapHabit before, you might check out what's new.
Black is always a sure bet and sells the best for most of our straps, but we also have blue, red, orange, green, light blue/teal, gray, white, brown/khaki, yellow, pink, purple, gold, and multi-color/camo.
5. Other considerations
If your wrists are small, you might need a strap that fits small wrists. If you have a larger strap, you can find longer straps here. Or if your wrist is really large, check out our extra-long watch straps.
If you're not sure where you sit, check out this article about average wrist sizes.
Because these straps are so easy to swap, consider if a strap is compatible with multiple watches that you own.
Additionally, I consider the type of watch and its intended look. Can I choose something that fits its "vibe" well (or enhances it)?
And if you are looking to do more than just accessorize, check out our straps that support charities.
6. Tools required
If your existing watch strap has quick-release spring bars, you won't need any tools to install any of our quick-release straps.
Otherwise, a spring bar tool will be required to remove your old strap and install a few of our straps.
If you've chosen a stainless steel bracelet, you'll need a bracelet sizing tool to remove links.
Additionally, a set of small screwdrivers can be handy if you have a bracelet with screwed links, or would like to install one of our spring-loaded deployants.
7. Useful accessories
Speaking of our spring-loaded deployants, they are the perfect accessory for several StrapHabit or other straps. Strong leaf springs keep the buckle secure while it's on your wrist, but make it easy to open and close without fiddling with buttons that can be difficult to close or pop open by accident.
We also have single-fold deployant buckles.
And tool-less, quick-adjust bracelet clasps.
A lume charging UV flashlight is the perfect accessory for the watch collector who has everything. Quickly charge up the lume on your watch for photos and Instagram posts, or to check out lume at watch meets.
Apple Watch adaptors let you install our standard straps on your Apple Watch.
Final Thoughts
You've selected the perfect watch, now you'd like the perfect strap to enhance it. At StrapHabit, our goal is to help you do that. We want you to enjoy your favorite watch(es) as much as possible!
