A great strap doesn’t just hold your watch on your wrist — it changes the entire personality of the timepiece. The right choice can make a diver feel dressy, a dress watch feel everyday-ready, and a familiar piece feel brand new.
Here’s a simple, collector-friendly guide to picking the perfect strap for your watch — in the right size, material, and style.
1. Start With the Fit: Lug Width Matters
Your strap has to match your watch’s lug width (the distance between the lugs). Most watches fall between 18mm–24mm.
How to measure:
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Use a ruler or caliper to measure the internal lug gap in millimeters.
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Or check your watch brand’s specs online/manual.
Pro tip: If your watch is 20mm, always buy a 20mm strap — not 19 or 21. Even 1mm off won’t fit cleanly.
WIS makes straps across common sizes so you can get a true, tailored fit every time.
2. Pick a Material That Matches Your Lifestyle
Different straps are made for different moments. Here’s the fast breakdown:
Italian Leather (Calf, Suede, Alligator Grain, Carbon Grain)
Best for: dress watches, everyday refinement, fall/winter style
Why collectors love it: warmth, texture, elevated feel
When to wear: office, dinners, events, daily luxury
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Brown leather = timeless, vintage warmth
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Black leather = sleek and formal
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Suede = soft, seasonal, relaxed refinement
If you want your watch to feel instantly more luxurious, leather is the move.
Sailcloth
Best for: sporty watches that still need elegance
Why collectors love it: waterproof + refined texture
When to wear: daily wear, travel, weekends, even formal settings
Sailcloth is the perfect “do-everything” strap — rugged enough for activity, clean enough for a dressy look.
Rubber (FKM / integrated rubber styles)
Best for: divers, sports watches, active lifestyles
Why collectors love it: comfort, durability, modern vibe
When to wear: gym, heat, water, travel, everyday sport luxury
A premium rubber strap turns your watch into an all-day companion without sacrificing style.
NATO
Best for: field watches, divers, casual daily wear
Why collectors love it: heritage, comfort, color variety
When to wear: weekend, outdoors, casual rotation days
NATOs are one of the easiest ways to make your watch feel fresh and more relaxed.
Elastic
Best for: comfort-first daily wear, lightweight tool watches
Why collectors love it: stretch fit + effortless feel
When to wear: daily wear, travel, sporty casual looks
Elastic straps are the definition of “wear and forget it” comfort.
3. Match the Strap to the Watch Style
A quick cheat sheet for pairing:
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Dive watches: rubber, sailcloth, NATO
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Dress watches: leather, suede, sailcloth
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Field/pilot watches: NATO, leather, elastic
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Chronographs: leather for classic / sailcloth or rubber for sport
Even iconic watches gain a new edge with the right pairing — a Cartier Tank on sailcloth becomes everyday-versatile, a Speedmaster on rubber feels modern and sporty, and a Submariner on a NATO leans into its military roots.
4. Choose a Color That Complements the Dial
You don’t need to match perfectly — you need balance.
Easy pairing rules:
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Black/white/grey dials: anything works — try seasonal pops
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Blue dial: navy, grey, tan, white, or contrast colors like orange
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Green dial: brown, black, beige, or matching olive tones
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Red/burgundy dial: beige, black, grey, or dark brown
Seasonal favorites:
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Fall/Winter: brown leather, grey NATO, forest green rubber, black sailcloth
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Spring/Summer: white rubber, navy sailcloth, bright NATO colors
5. Think About Comfort and Wrist Presence
Straps change how a watch wears, not just how it looks.
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Thicker straps add presence and balance larger cases.
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Tapered straps feel dressier and slimmer on wrist.
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Soft-lined straps reduce sweat and friction for all-day wear.
WIS straps are designed to sit comfortably from morning to night without feeling stiff or bulky.
6. Quick-Release = Instant Versatility
If you like rotating straps (and most collectors do), quick-release is a game changer.
Why it matters:
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Switch straps in seconds
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No tools required
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No risk of scratching your case
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Makes one watch feel like many
Most WIS straps feature quick-release built in, so your style stays flexible.