Best Watch Straps For Every Budget

In every watch enthusiast's journey, there comes a day when you notice a piece that you used to wear constantly has suddenly lost some of its sparkle, and the watch that was once a constant companion has now been displaced into storage. That initial charm has been dulled by routine, and it doesn’t spark the same feeling of joy that it once had. But, before you accept that the piece has now been replaced by a shiny new favorite, there is one way to ignite the passion you once felt: try putting it on a new, fresh strap or bracelet. Here I will share with you some of the best watch strap brands out there to help shake things up.

I will admit that this is quite a mundane suggestion, but we mortals crave novelty. A simple switch to a different strap can make an old, reliable piece feel suddenly new in our eyes. It can open up new ideas for what or when to wear it with, and, especially for more classic pieces, it can be an avenue to experiment with more boldness, more play with color and texture. So, today, instead of rounding up a list of watches that you might add to your collection or wish list, I’m going to break down some of the most steadfast watch strap makers on the market in an effort to help you breathe new life into a piece you already have that isn’t getting as much wrist time. We’re going to be running the gamut in terms of style, material, and design, and, hopefully, you’ll walk away from this humble article with renewed ideas on how to shake up your collection. And, with that, away we go. 

[toc-section heading="Delugs"] 

I’m going to start with a personal favorite in terms of versatility, craftsmanship, and just sheer variety with Delugs. If you’re algorithm on various social media platforms is even slightly biased towards watches, I’m sure you’ve probably already heard of it, despite the brand being relatively new to the game since it officially launched the strap wing of its business in 2018, after starting with more general leather goods in 2016. In that time, Delugs has managed to amass quite a loyal following, and for good reason. Mainly, the brand is really plugged into what the enthusiast audience actually wants and makes products that reflect that. A big hit for the brand was with its launch of rubber straps compatible with the Tissot PRX back in 2022 – something that even Tissot didn’t offer itself at the time.

As a consumer, the user experience of their website is also super helpful, particularly the ability to toggle between different strap options based on what watch you have. I mean, obviously, this doesn’t encompass every watch in existence, but they have the hits, so you can visually get an idea before you buy. The brand has expanded well past its initial leather-only offerings to include rubber, sailcloth, and “delcro” fabric straps, and the brand’s rubber straps feature a deployant clasp with a microadjustment in two directions on each side. At least for its leather straps, each strap is made by hand, from the cutting to the stitching and finishing, and the brand also lets you choose the hardware on the buckles and clasps to personalize it to your liking. Prices are typically in the $100-$200 range, with the brand offering options of just about any color and material you could dream up.delugs.com

[toc-section heading="Genteel Handmade"]

This is an option for those who really want to go the extra mile with personalization for a new strap. You can either start from a specific material you’re interested in, or if you happen to be in search of a new pairing for an Omega watch, you can start from their various options with Omega-style deployant clasps. Then, you can select your preferred thread stitching style and color, along with other personalization options, from the dimensions to the lining color and embossing to which type of spring bars you’d like. Each strap is handmade to order, estimated to take about three weeks to ship from the time you place your order. Of course, the brand does have ready-to-ship options, but that isn’t nearly as fun as making one that’s completely your own. A personal favorite of mine from the brand’s catalog is this limited edition blue waxed leather strap, as I’m currently being drawn to colorful vegetable-tanned leather at the moment. genteel-handmade.com

[toc-section heading="Everest"]

This pick is for my owners of Rolex, Tudor, or Panerai watches that need a new strap remix. Everest was specifically founded in an effort to make the perfect bracelet alternative for Rolex watches. The brand has since expanded into Tudor and Panerai territory, and also makes universal straps compatible with just about everything else. Everest primarily wheels and deals in rubber straps, though it does offer a selection of leather straps as well. everestbands.com

[toc-section heading="Combat Straps"]

This is the bespoke watch strap company to end all bespoke strap companies. If you happen to live outside of Montreal, then you will have to reach out to its founder, Aaron Pimentel, directly, either by email or phone. This guy works with a range of quite exotic leathers, including, shockingly, shark, stingray, and lizard options. To be honest, I didn’t know those types of leathers were even a possibility before stumbling upon this guy’s website. Each strap is fully customizable to your liking, and you can even have your strap hand-painted with any design you dream up, if you so desire. combat-straps.com

[toc-section heading="The Strap Smith"]

For this next pick, I’m going with the brand that, charmingly, feels the most like a mom-and-pop shop with The Strap Smith. Based in Whitefish, Montana, the Strap Smith is best know for its vintage, Americana-inspired watch straps, and offers high levels of customization if you want to collaborate with them to make something more personal and bespoke. Each watch strap is made completely by hand, custom-made to your own measurements. Some of the more unique designs in The Strap Smith’s catalog include baseball glove watch straps, straps made of vintage ammo pouch leather, and vintage canvas backpack straps. thestrapsmith.com

[toc-section heading="Bonetto Cinturini"]

This next pick is what I’d like to call the Ferrari of rubber straps. I think rubber straps can kind of get a bad wrap, because there are plenty of cheap ones circulating out there. But Bonetto Cinturini has made an art out of the humble rubber strap, offering high personalization to both its catalog and an option to create your own strap completely from scratch. This brand has some of the most interesting rubber straps available on the market, and utilizes 3-D printing technology to even make your desired textural pattern and other design ideas come to life. After the product has been thoroughly molded and stamped, the brand’s team of craftsmen (and collaborators, when necessary) finish each strap by hand. bonettocinturini.com

[toc-section heading="Jean Rousseau"]

This next pick has over 70 years of experience under its belt, and still remains a tried-and-tested destination for leather watch strap lovers. Every single watch strap is hand-made by artisans in France, and handles all means of production from processing its own raw leather hides, all the way to the dying, cutting, and stitching together of each strap. Additionally, if the ethics of leather is a concern to you, the maison has also developed options of “100% Non-Leather Goods.” Jean Rousseau has expanded its offerings into other materials, like rubber and technical fabrics. jean-rousseau.com

[toc-section heading="Rubber B"]

If you’ve already made a deep investment in a luxury watch, you don’t want to swap out your strap with a new one that doesn’t live up to your watch’s caliber, even in the case of the more sporty, rubber strap options. Enter Rubber B, a brand that specializes in making high-quality, vulcanized rubber straps compatible with Rolex, Audemars Piguet, and Vacheron Constantin watches, among others. The brand’s signature, aside from its premium vulcanized rubber, is its “blocked integration” with particular watch designs, making for a seamless, gap-free mount between the case and bracelet. They also have a SwimSkin line that captures the look and feel of classic leather straps, but is made completely of rubber, and, like the name suggests, is safe for swimming. rubberb.com

[toc-section heading="Weltmann Munich"]

We’re headed all the way over to Germany for this next pick with Weltmann Munich. In addition to producing the more typical leather straps, what I think is most compelling about Weltmann is its focus on interesting fabric options, often working with the Höffer Jacquard weaving mill to source its materials, from herringbone to solid Royal blue to other plays with patterns. They also have an upcycled line that utilizes denim and vintage Swiss military jackets, and have made their own historically accurate recreation of the watch strap used on the Apollo moon landing mission.

If you are an unabashed Apple Watch wearer, this brand also offers a range of straps that are just as sophisticated to pair with it. The brand has even made a mulberry silk line geared towards a female audience, some even tying and flowing around the wrist like a scarf. Not sure if that’s exactly my cup of tea, but it is certainly something I haven’t seen before – Apple Watch or otherwise.weltmann-munich.com

[toc-section heading="Camille Fournet"]

Now we’re taking a look at one of the most well-established names in the watch strap game with Camille Fournet. Originally founded in France in 1945, all these years later, the brand is still operating solely in France, from the designers to its team of artisans that craft each piece by hand. This is another pick that’s really known for its skill working with leather, and I would say this is the pick that has some of the most compelling options for women’s watch straps. In their catalog, you’ll find a lot of daring play with colors and textures alongside the more traditional faire, with prices typically ranging from $140-$300. Not the most entry-level choice, but they make really stunning products that are sure to hold their beauty over time. camillefournet.com

[toc-section heading="Horus Watch Straps"]

Moving onto the more affordable end of the price spectrum, Horus Watch Straps makes high-quality, rubber watch straps compatible with just about every big watch brand under the sun. I think they’ve found quite an interesting niche in the Moonswatch and Swatch x Fifty Fathoms lane, offering much better quality straps than those watches are paired with in coordinating palettes that perfectly complement each color option. I would say if you’re looking to make your Moonswatch feel a whole lot more premium, this is a great place to start. horusstraps.com