Save Your Bracelet: Leather, Rubber, and Nylon Watch Straps

In a market dominated by stainless steel and precious metal sports watches, bracelets have become the default. Buy the watch, size the bracelet, and boom – you’re done. Besides looking good, bracelets have a lot to offer: durability, weight (distribution on the wrist), security, etc.

However, there are plenty of great alternatives to the bracelet. Assuming your watch is non-integrated, you can install any number of straps. Today, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of the most popular strap materials: leather, rubber, and nylon. 

Leather Watch Straps

Curved-End Leather Strap For Rolex Submariner Ceramic

Depending on the grain, color, and style, leather can take on different personalities. Traditionally, leather straps are thought to be somewhat fancy, primarily appearing on dress watches. This can definitely be true – brown/black leather, alligator leather, and smooth (glossy) leather come to mind as dressier materials.

However, leather can just as easily be casual. Split-grain (suede) leather straps lean more casual, particularly in colors like gray and blue. Perforated racing leather is also very casual, taking on a sportier look. In my opinion, everyone should have a good leather strap in their collection. It’s a classic, comfortable, durable material that often looks better the more you wear it. Just don’t get it wet – nice leather isn’t waterproof. If you need a waterproof strap, rubber or nylon will be your best bet.

If you’re looking for a leather strap, particularly for your Rolex, Tudor, or Panerai, Everest has you covered. Our Curved End Leather Straps are tailor-fit to specific references: seamlessly hugging the case and lugs. If you don’t have any of those watches, don’t worry – Everest offers universal leather straps for any watch with 20mm/22mm lug width. Made from high quality Italian leather and a hypoallergenic lining, Everest leather straps are made to look good, feel good, and last a long time.

Rubber Watch Straps

Rubber straps are nothing new; Rolex and Tudor have offered them since the 1950’s. Traditionally used on dive watches, rubber excels as a strong, lightweight, waterproof strap material (just make sure your watch is waterproof too). Rubber isn’t just practical – assuming you go for a high-quality vulcanized rubber – it’s one of the most comfortable materials for a watch strap. If you like the sporty look, or just wear a sporty watch, rubber is a great everyday option.

While rubber should be one of the most comfortable strap materials, some rubber straps lack breathability, as they can suffocate the skin. Everest solved this issue years ago; all of our rubber straps feature airflow channels on the underside, providing exceptional breathability. Like the leather straps previously mentioned, our curved-end rubber Straps fit specific Rolex, Tudor, and Panerai references. We also offer universal rubber straps for any watch with 20mm lug width. 

Nylon Watch Straps

Image Source: @rolexdiver on Instagram

The nylon strap is a staple among watch enthusiasts: a classic look with rich history. They often feature extremely rugged all-in-one constructions. Nylon straps typically slide under your watch’s spring bars, held in place by a short flap on the underside. Because they’re all one piece, nylon straps protect your watch from the very rare case of a faulty springbar. If one breaks, your watch will stay on the strap, potentially saving you a fortune in repairs. This 50-year-old strap design still holds up as one of the best.

Because they’re made of nylon, these straps are waterproof, lightweight, ridiculously strong, and relatively cheap. All of my non-dress watches live 99% of their lives on single-pass nylon straps. Everest offers a wide variety of nylon straps: both nylon and single-pass in a number of colors.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, you should wear what you like. In order to know what you like, you need to try everything you can. Going swimming? Try a rubber strap. Going to a nice dinner? Try leather. Doing anything at all? Try nylon. Every material has its pros and cons, but you won’t know what you like until you try it. The common denominator with all of these straps? They give your bracelet a much-needed vacation.