Johnson’s of Lichfield Bespoke Winder Safe, £12,000

Johnson’s of Lichfield are a luxury safe retailer specialising in designing robust custom watch and jewellery safes for your home. This elegant, modern safe from their Luxe range includes custom chrome bolt pockets and hardware, as well as reliable Rapport Watch Winders. These beautiful pieces of furniture are all made to order, letting the client choose their exact specification. A practical and great addition to any watch collector’s home. Additionally, they are insurance approved.

Available at Johnson’s of Lichfield.

Bernard Favre Black Rings Watch Winder, CHF 1,590 (approx. £1,425)

A watch winder is often as much a decorative object as it is a practical one, and the Bernard Favre planetary winders demonstrate that perfectly. With rotating rings like an armillary sphere, it makes for a spectacular view as it keeps your watch topped up on power. The double-axis motion also prevents one of the perceived issues of watch winders, the fact that a constant rotation on a single axis puts uneven strain on the movement, which can damage it.

Available at Bernard Favre.

Bennett Winch Triple Watch Roll, £685

Keeping your watches safe while you transport them is important and the Bennett Triple Watch Roll is ideal for keeping a trio of timepieces protected. It’s handmade in London with panels of Tuscan leather arranged around an ultra-durable yet flexible Kevlar core. Cushioning the watches on the inside is an Alcantara suede lining, providing a soft protective layer. When closed, the structure becomes rigid, preventing the watches from getting crushed or damaged. It’s available in brown or black, offering classic and refined appearances with a distinctive hexagonal shape.

Available at Bennett Winch.

Joseph Bonnie Wool and Leather Strap, €129 (approx. £110)

Joseph Bonnie is a French brand dedicated to the fashion of wristwatches, producing a range of watch accessories and straps, as well as selling vintage watches. Their latest collection is based on straps that combine vintage wool fabrics and leather. There’s a beige/brown/green houndstooth edition and a grey/cream white windowpane check one – both available at 18mm and 20mm lug widths. They’re incredibly distinctive, offering a texture and pattern not commonly seen on watch straps, making them feel very personal and unique, which is what collectors want from a strap.

Available at Joseph Bonnie.

ZEALANDE Universal Rubber Strap, £135

The ZEALANDE Universal rubber strap offers the perfect blend of watchmaking heritage and innovation. It’s a straight rubber strap compatible with any watch and available in two different widths; 20mm and 22mm. Their four vibrant colours: black, red, blue, and white are suitable for a wide range of sporty timepieces. Made from high-quality vulcanised FKM rubber, these straps offer the perfect symbiosis of sportiness, lightness and all-day comfort. From the ocean to the city, the Universal adds a contemporary touch and unique character to your watch.

Available at ZEALANDE.

Any solid adventure watch needs a strap that not only looks the part, but is more than ready to stand up to the elements and come out smiling on the other side. Sure, your watch might be a little bit worse for wear, but at least it’s still on your wrist. For a strap of those specs, we look to the military and, when it comes to military straps, there’s only one answer: the NATO.

Instantly recognizable for its over-and-under construction, looping around the spring bars rather than being directly secured to them, and for its extra, looping length of nylon, the NATO is a classic rugged strap. It’s so ubiquitously cool that it’s not uncommon to see grail-worthy pieces secured via what is essentially a £10 strip of melt-processed plastic. So where did it come from?

British MOD requirements for the G10 NATO strap

First, it’s worth discussing where the name NATO comes from. The obvious assumption is it was used by the troops of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the mutually protective group of European and North American countries. Conceptually that makes a lot of sense; NATO has its own military so of course they’re going to have their own type of strap. That’s not quite the case.

The NATO strap is actually a strictly British invention. Much like the Dirty Dozen during WWII, it came out of the British military’s incredibly strict requirements. They were looking for something that kept a watch on the wrist through hell and high water and didn’t rely on anything that could break or snap. It needed to, in short, be the most militaristic strap ever built.

Grey NATO strap, image credit: natostrap.uk

There really wasn’t much wiggle room in those criteria. It had to be 20mm in width and made from nylon; holes and buckles needed to be heat sealed into the nylon so that the material wouldn’t tear, and the strap had to have enough material so that it could be worn over uniforms. Oh, and it could only be one colour: admiralty grey. That’s right, none of the fun stripes of funky colours we have now, just dark grey, the height of military fashion.

The resulting design had a lot going for it. Not only was there more than enough material to go over fatigues, but the extra loop of material that went underneath the watch acted as a failsafe. If one of the springbars went for some reason – and there are many reasons active servicemen might snap a springbar – the watch would still stay on and in place. See? That fiddly double loop is for more than good looks.

British MOD personnel wearing the original G-1098 NATO straps

The not-so-shiny new mil-spec strap debuted in 1973 and in order to get hold of one of these sexy bad boys, servicemen had to do the one thing no military man wants to do: fill out a form. Specifically, the G-1098 – hence the NATO strap’s alternative nickname (amongst cool watch collectors at least), the G10.

So where does NATO as a name come from? Simply because the MoD used NATO Stocking Numbers (NSNs) for all their equipment. That’s all. Why it stuck on this particular breed of nylon strap and not everything else you could grab from a military quartermaster is anyone’s guess. Perhaps watch collectors just have a penchant for nicknames. While it’s hard to discover who made that initial run of grey NATO straps, it was Phoenix who took over in 1978 and these particular straps that are the most sought after today. And there you have it, the full history of the genuine G10, ‘NATO’ strap. Except of course, if we were to stretch the definition slightly.

James Bond’s watch with khaki-striped ‘NATO’ strap from Goldfinger and a modern khaki-striped NATO strap

It wasn’t long after the G10 was introduced that regiments across the British military started showcasing their regimental colours. While these weren’t technically G10 straps – you couldn’t request them from a quartermaster with the same form – they’re largely why the NATO-style strap is so popular today. That and James Bond, of course.

I’m sure you’re thinking now that this is a fact you know: the first Bond film with a NATO strap was Goldfinger. The three black, two khaki-striped strap is instantly recognizable as the Bond NATO after its appearance on Connery’s Submariner in 1964. But wait… that year doesn’t match up, does it? That’s nearly a decade before the MoD published their criteria for the mil-spec strap. That’s because Bond’s NATO isn’t a NATO at all, but a simple nylon two-piece. You can clearly see that it’s held on by the spring bars like a normal strap, not the over-and-under failsafe that defines a proper NATO. Is it still cool? Of course, and there’s a good reason you can now find a lot of proper NATO-style straps in that colour scheme.

ECONYL® NATO strap

Indeed, you can find every colourway under the sun, whether they’re inspired by regimental colours or perfectly matched to the dial of a yellow Oyster Perpetual. And yet that practicality required by the MoD remains. NATO straps are hardwearing, secure and still have that springbar redundancy. They’re great for warm weather and have a distinctive sporty look and, while I wouldn’t pair one with my Jaeger-LeCoultre Futurematic, there are very, very few watches I don’t think they work on.

Like the Dirty Dozen before it, the original G10 just goes to show that British military sensibilities translate nicely to watchmaking icons.

Artem Straps PAM Style Strap, £114

Artem Straps are one of the most popular Australian watch strap brands on the international stage, specialising in sailcloth and fabric straps. Sailcloth is a type of tightly woven canvas developed to be weather resistant for use, as you might guess, in nautical settings. As such, it’s the perfect material with which to create dive watch straps as it can withstand submersion. These PAM Style straps are specially developed for Panerai watches, although they’ll technically work for any watch with a 24mm lug width. There are 14 colour and stitching options available.

Available at Artem.

Johnson’s of Lichfield Bespoke Winder Safe, £12,000

Johnson’s of Lichfield are a luxury safe retailer specialising in designing robust custom watch and jewellery safes for your home. This elegant, modern safe from their Luxe range includes custom chrome bolt pockets and hardware, as well as reliable Rapport Watch Winders. These beautiful pieces of furniture are all made to order letting the client choose their exact specification. A practical and great addition to any watch collector’s home. Additionally, they are insurance approved.

Available at Johnsons of Lichfield.

Tawbury Grove Watch Box, $159 (approx. £130)

The Tawbury Grove has a rustic feel to its design thanks to the matte finish of its dark brown Kassod wood exterior. Kassod is a tree from southern Asia with a distinct textured grain giving the piece a tactile feel. The Grove also doubles up as a watch display case with its transparent lid allowing you to view the six watches stored inside, even while closed. Protecting the watches from scratches is the micro-suede lined interior and soft pillows.

Available at Tawbury.

Modalo Ambiente Watch Winder, £1,529

Watch winders serve multiple functions in a collection. Most apparent is the fact they keep your automatic watches ready to wear at all times, meaning you don’t have to constantly reset them, something that is particularly important for high complications and calendar watches. At the same time, they also serve as great display cases, especially ones that are as dynamic as the Modalo Ambiente, which can hold up to nine watches at the same time. Sleek and modern with wooden styling, it’s as much an object of style as the watches it contains.

Available at Modalo.

Jonesintokyo Kudu Leather Strap, £92

JonesinTokyo is the project of Douglas Jones, a designer from the UK who moved to Japan in 2007 and who began to produce watch straps in 2014. Inspired by the rich leatherworking heritage of both the UK and Japan, he sought out renowned Japanese artisans to learn from and to become an expert in his own right. Take this beautifully crafted Kudu leather strap. Kudu leather is naturally very strong and develops a patina over time, meaning it will age gracefully with you and the watch it’s strapped to.

Available at Jonesintokyo.

2024 has been a landmark year for Oracle Time seeing the launch of our first collaboration wristwatch, the Christopher Ward x Oracle Time C65 Dune Shoreline. Now that the watch is out in the public, it’s great to see the interesting ways you’re using the watch to represent your personal styles. One of the easiest ways to personalise a watch is to give it an alternative strap. However, in our research we found that it’s surprisingly difficult to find appropriate straps as the conversation around straps focusses on style, pushing important practical elements such as lug width to the side. Hence, here’s a handy guide to some of the coolest alternative 20mm rubber straps to fit the Dune Shoreline, or any other 20mm lug daily beater.

Bonetto Cinturini 328 Premium Rubber One-Piece Watch Strap, £45

We’re starting with a duo of straps, the light grey and azure blue editions of the Bonetto Cinturini 328 Premium Rubber One-Piece Watch Strap. It’s effectively a rubber rendition of the traditional NATO strap design, which means it has a continuous loop that connects to the watch lugs and passes beneath the caseback.

This structure was originally designed so that in the instance of the strap breaking loose from one set of lugs, the body of the watch would still be attached to your wrist by the other lugs. Whereas on a standard strap, if the strap fails at any point, the whole strap and watch fall from your wrist.

In terms of colour, the grey edition works well with the steel of the case and grey dial while the blue emphasises the coloured hour markers and hands. Stylewise the strap has a fabric style texture that further emphasises the connection to traditional NATO design.

Available at Watch Obsession.

Hirsch JOHN Natural Rubber Performance Watch Strap, £81.95

The JOHN by Hirsch is part of their Performance range, meaning it’s dedicated to being practical and durable even in adverse conditions, making it the perfect sport and adventure strap for your timepiece. Or even to just give you piece of mind on the day to day for your daily wear tool or field watch.

In terms of sizing, it’s available for 20mm lugs and has a thickness of 5.9mm, which is fairly substantial for a strap. That’s because it has a large square grip on its inner surface that means your watch shouldn’t twist on your wrist while also allowing plenty of run-off areas for uncomfortable sweat.

Available at Watch Obsession.

TROPIC® Dive Watch Strap, £75

The Tropic strap is arguably one of the most iconic rubber straps of all time as it was popularised in the 1960s as a lightweight, inexpensive alternative to the streel bracelets on Rolex and Tudor dive watches. If it’s good enough for a Submariner, it’s good enough for your daily beater.

Characteristic elements of the design include the distinctive cross-hatched pattern on the outer layer of the strap and the off-set perforations along the strap’s length. Together, these allow the strap to wick away water quite quickly, hence its main use on dive watches.

As to colour, there are basically as many colours of Tropic rubber strap as you care to think of. For a daily wearer you might consider a more subtle colour like black or grey. Although if you have a dive watch like a Doxa with a brightly coloured dial, colour matching the strap to the dial is also a popular option.

Available at Watch Obsession.

Crafter Blue UX07 Turquoise FKM Rubber, £51.95

Crafter Blue’s UX07 Turquoise FKM Rubber is something of a hybrid. It’s made from the rugged rubber you’d typically see on a dive watch strap but is styled after a pilot’s watch strap. This gives it a blend of practicality and style, which is typically what people are looking for when searching for an alternative strap for their daily wearer.

Of course, we’ve complicated the matter further by pairing it with a field watch. But with the 20mm lug size, it still fits like a dream. Plus, the turquoise colour offers a satisfying parallel to the turquoise lume on the hands and hour markers.

I think the key take away from looking at these 20mm rubber straps is that once you know the size and parameters of the strap you need, there’s a huge variety of straps out there. Plus, when you put practicality first, you might discover some designs and styles you weren’t initially considering that could be the perfect match.

Available at Watch Obsession.

Aubliq Attention Watch Box, $557 (approx. £430)

The Attention Watch Box by Aubliq is as much about display as it is storage – that’s why it’s called Attention. It’s designed to draw the eye and stand out as both an intriguing object in its own right, as well as being a trove of treasures. It can hold up to six watches and is constructed from wood and aluminium. The design is inspired by Japanese hi-fi technology from the 1980s and ‘90s as well as the immaculate craftsmanship of grand pianos.

Available at Aubliq.

Artem Hydroflex Straps, £176

Artem are an Australian watch strap brand well known for their use of sailcloth and canvas in their products. With their latest collection, the HydroFlex strap, they have created a fusion that combines an FKM rubber base with a canvas style top. It’s the ultimate blend of style and comfort on the wrist. There are multiple colours available including black, grey, blue, khaki green, and sand beige. Ideal for any sports or tool watch.

Available at Artem Straps.

Johnson’s of Lichfield Bespoke Winder Safe, £12,000

Johnson’s of Lichfield are a luxury safe retailer specialising in designing robust custom watch and jewellery safes for your home. This elegant, modern safe from their Luxe range includes custom chrome bolt pockets and hardware, as well as reliable Rapport Watch Winders. These beautiful pieces of furniture are all made to order letting the client choose their exact specification. A practical and great addition to any watch collector’s home. Additionally, they are insurance approved.

Available at Johnson’s of Lichfield.

ZEALANDE Universal Rubber Strap, £135

The ZEALANDE Universal rubber strap offers the perfect blend of watchmaking heritage and innovation. It’s a straight rubber strap compatible with any watch and available in two different widths, 20mm and 22mm. There are four vibrant colours: black, red, blue, and white, suitable for a wide range of sporty timepieces. Made from high-quality vulcanised FKM rubber, these straps offer the perfect symbiosis of sportiness, lightness and all-day comfort. From the ocean to the city, the Universal adds a contemporary touch and unique character to your watch.

Available at ZEALANDE.

Modalo Ambiente Watch Winder, £1,529

Watch winders serve multiple functions in a collection. Most apparent is the fact they keep your automatic watches ready to wear at all times, meaning you don’t have to constantly reset them, something that is particularly important for high complications and calendar watches. At the same time, they also serve as great display cases, especially ones as dynamic as the Modalo Ambiente, which can hold up to nine watches at the same time. Sleek and modern with wooden styling, it’s as much an object of style as the watches it contains.

Available at Modalo.

Artem Hydroflex Straps, £176

Artem are an Australian watch strap brand well known for their use of sailcloth and canvas in their products. With their latest collection, the HydroFlex strap, they have created a fusion that combines an FKM rubber base with a canvas style top. It’s the ultimate blend of style and comfort on the wrist. There are multiple colours available including black, grey, blue, khaki green, and sand beige. Ideal for any sports or tool watch.

Available at Artem Straps.

Johnson’s of Lichfield Bespoke Winder Safe, £12,000

Johnson’s of Lichfield is a luxury safe retailer specialising in designing robust custom watch and jewellery safes for your home. This elegant, modern safe includes custom painted cabinetry, solid walnut interior jewellery drawers, soft suede linings and reliable Rapport Watch Winders. These beautiful pieces of furniture are all made to order letting the client choose their exact specification. A practical and great addition to any watch collectors home.

Available at Johnson’s of Lichfield.

ZEALANDE Watch Roll, £169

ZEALANDE’s watch roll is handcrafted and sewn with thread in the same colour as the outer leather for an elegant, understated look. Featuring an ingenious sliding pad system to protect your watches, the vertical dividers have two clever slots that allow you to position the pillows in two configurations. Placing them on the horizontal slots is perfect for stowage during transport or storage, but you can also position the pillows on the vertical slots to admire your watches in complete safety.

Available at ZEALANDE.

Condor Straps Conceria Walpier Buttero Leather Strap, £50

Condor Straps have been involved in the production of fine leather straps for wristwatches since 1939, making them a veteran of the industry. While they work with many materials such as silicone, metal and nylon, one of their most impressive ranges is leather. Condor use leather sourced from Italy made with traditional vegetable tanning techniques. This allows them to produce straps like the Conceria Walpier Buttero Leather Strap, the style of which is inspired by a vintage creased watch strap design. It’s available in black, brown, blue, and tan in lug sizes of 18mm, 20mm, and 22mm.

Available at Condor Straps.

Hirsch Stone, £153

If you’re looking for intriguing and captivating straps or bracelets for your watch, then Hirsch have got you covered. The surface of their Stone strap is made from razor-thin split shale, giving it an intense appearance akin to an ancient cliff that geologists would love to explore. Fortunately, with its caoutchouc core and rubber lining, it’s much more comfortable to wear than the rough stone texture may imply.

Available at Hirsch.

Summer is finally here and that means an uptick of vitamin D from the glorious British sunshine. At least, that’s the hope. Whether it actually pans out like that only time will tell, but it’s best to plan for it and in watch terms that means updating your wristwear with some seasonal colour and, just as importantly, a warm weather worthy rubber strap.

Rubber’s the perfect material for a summer watch. Heat means a need for water, and you wouldn’t want to swim in leather. Unless that’s your thing of course, no judgement. Even if you’re staying on dry land though, rubber’s water resistance translates nicely to sweat. Rubber straps also tend to embrace colour more than leather, so you can actually have some fun with them, pairing eye-catching finishing touches with your daily wearer of choice. So, now that you’ve come to the realisation that you’re in dire need of a shiny new rubber strap, let’s take a look at some of the best.

Hirsh NYAD Perforated Rubber Strap, €99 (approx. £85)

While they might be sweat resistant, a good number of rubber straps are solid and chunky enough that breathability isn’t part of the equation. The NYAD from Hirsch changes that equation. It’s still a satisfyingly solid number, but with perforations along its entire length, the NYAD gets some air on your wrist, while emulating a classic racing style in rubber rather than the usual chronograph-loving leather.

It’s a seriously cool twist on standard rubber straps. Just be careful if you forget to take your watch off while sunbathing; three rows of dots encircling your wrist might look a bit odd.

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Wristbuddys Blancpain X Swatch Straps, £59

While it didn’t strike quite the same chord as the original MoonSwatch, the Blancpain x Swatch Fifty Fathoms collab comes into its own in the summer, particularly with the brighter colours like the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean. Unfortunately for most of us they do have very specific straps, which is where Wristbuddys come in.

Their range of Blancpain x Swatch bands are made from premium rubber and available in matching colours to really brighten things up. It’s not just the strap either; as the Blancpain x Swatch has odd spring bars, Wristbuddys also send a tool to help you switch to your shiny new strap.

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Tropic Waterproof Strap, $79 (approx. £63)

Tropic Straps were some of the only straps in history we’d ever call iconic, and synonymous with the early days of serious diving watch in the Cousteau era. So, it’s great to see them back and as dive-perfect as ever. It has the same retro 1960s design with its checkerboard finish and waffle underside, but softer and more durable than any vintage versions you might turn up.

It’s available in a number of colours, but this is one instance where we’d go for the conservative darker shades. You already have that recognisable finish, you don’t need to opt for an eye-catching colour, too. Put this on your Doxa or Fifty Fathoms and you’ll be ready to dive in like the red-hatted underwater documentarian himself.

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ZEALANDE Universal Rubber Strap, £135

Although they have a vast range of watch specific straps, ZEALANDE’s Universal takes a much more general approach, fitting anything with a 20mm or 22mm lug width. Honestly, that’s a smart move because there’s not much that the sporty FKM rubber strap won’t suit, particularly if you opt for the bright red version or even the summer-ready white rather than the more conservative colours.

To make sure it fits your watch completely, you can also choose the colour and finish of the buckle. Pop this on a blacked-out dive watch with a matching black buckle and you’re onto a winner.

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Jean Rousseau Atlantis Watch Strap, £210

Sure, rubber’s intensely practical, but that doesn’t mean you necessarily want that equally intense chunky look on your wrist. Jean Rousseau have you covered. The Parisian strap maker is best known for their incredible bespoke leather numbers, but here they’ve channelled that classical style with textured rubber in a gorgeous buttercup yellow. It’s slim, streamlined and suited to more elegant sports watches, the kind of pieces that epitomise the whole ‘boardroom to bar’ vibe. Or, as it’s completely water resistant, ‘boardroom to boat’.

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Artem Hydroflex Hybrid FKM Watch Strap, £176

A slightly more ‘constructed’ take on the rubber strap, Artem’s HydroFlex is unique in that it’s made from a layer of durable, comfortable FKM rubber underneath, with an embossed upper on top. It means that you have that distinctive textured look, but the hot weather-ready feel of rubber underneath. That underneath is actually designed by an award-winning artist, which is good to know even if you might not ever see it.

If anything, it just goes to show the attention-to-detail Artem have lavished on their strap opus, which is what you want in something that is very much a premium version. It’s available in a good number of colours, but the light grey is perhaps one of the most versatile without being as dull as black.

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Some of the most controversial wristwatches to have been launched in the last few years are without question the Swatch collaborations with Omega via the MoonSwatch and Blancpain with the Scuba Fifty Fathoms. As the marmite of the watch collecting world you either love their fun, accessible takes on iconic designs or hate their supposed disingenuous mass market appeal. One thing’s for sure though, they have been a wild success. And with success comes cool accessories and alternative Blancpain x Swatch straps from brands like Wristbuddys to help customise your watch and make it feel more personal.

Wristbuddys Premium Rubber Strap for Blancpain x Swatch – Black, £65

This first Wristbuddys band for the Blancpain x Swatch is classy in black, well suited to several of the Scuba Fifty Fathoms colourways. As a reminder, the collaboration watches are inspired by the world’s oceans and the colours are designed to represent the environment and ecology of the area. The black strap here with its fabric style texture pairs well with the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean models and the Ocean of Storms edition that was released at the start of this year.

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Wristbuddys Premium Rubber Strap for Blancpain x Swatch – Navy Blue, £65

The navy blue Blancpain x Swatch is designed for the Atlantic Ocean edition, which has a matching blue case and dial. Of note, all the Wristbuddys straps are custom moulded specially for the Scuba Fifty Fathoms, right down to the fact that the Scuba Fifty Fathoms doesn’t have standard lugs. As such they also provide a free strap changing tool with each of their Blancpain x Swatch bands as a normal tool won’t work.

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Wristbuddys Premium Rubber Strap for Blancpain x Swatch – Black & Green Stitches, £65

Adding an extra flair of colour to the design are the straps with coloured stitching. This Black & Green Stitches edition perfectly matches the intense colours of the Indian Ocean model, working the green into the design of the strap while also keeping the majority dark and broody black like the depths. Plus, as with all their straps it’s available with 1-4 day delivery.

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Wristbuddys Premium Rubber Strap for Blancpain x Swatch – Antarctic Grey, £65

One of the most unique of the Scuba Fifty Fathoms is the Antarctic Ocean model with its grey and white colourway, inspired by the icy ocean at the bottom of the world. However, while this strap bears the name Antarctic Grey, it works just as well on the Ocean of Storms model too. That’s because the Ocean of Storms is not an ocean on Earth, instead being a crater on the moon, following the same naming convention as the more famous Sea of Tranquillity.

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More details at Wristbuddys.

Johnson’s of Lichfield Bespoke Winder Safe, £12,000

Johnson’s of Lichfield is a luxury safe retailer specialising in designing robust custom watch and jewellery safes for your home. This elegant, modern safe includes custom painted cabinetry, solid walnut interior jewellery drawers, soft suede linings and reliable Rapport Watch Winders. These beautiful pieces of furniture are all made to order letting the client choose their exact specification. A practical and great addition to any watch collectors home. Starting from

Available at Johnson’s of Lichfield.

ZEALANDE Rubber Strap for Rolex Submariner 41mm, £168

If Rolex’s releases this year weren’t quite as interesting as you were hoping for, never fear, you can still grab yourself a cool steel sports number (if your authorised retailer  likes you) and accessorise with an eye- catching strap. The latest from strap specialist ZEALANDE is specifically designed to give your Submariner 41 a sporty twist worthy of a deep diver with rugged vulcanised FKM rubber in a choice of black, blue or eye-catching red. Comfortable, practical and a flash of personality that goes above and beyond what the Crown normally offers, this might be the perfect Rolex strap for summer.

Available at ZEALANDE.

Modalo Clasico Premium 4 Watch Winder, £1,879

A winder can and should be more than a practical way to avoid re-setting a perpetual calendar. Take this beautiful piece of classically-styled tech from winder specialist Modalo, the Clasico. A mix of deep, black piano lacquer and lustrous mother-of-pearl, it’s one of the most traditionally luxurious options in Modalo’s already impressive catalogue. Not that what’s inside is traditional; the intelligent winding programmes, energy- efficient motors, and a speed winding function all provide a  forward thinking approach to keeping your grail watches wound and ready to wear.

Available at Modalo.

Rapport London Brompton Three Watch Roll, £300

Featuring three screwdrivers, a Rapport London has been producing horological goods for over 100 years with products ranging from watch winders and boxes to mechanical pocket watches. This is the Brompton Three Watch Roll, a protective case designed for transporting up to three watches. It features a crocodile-effect leather exterior while a soft suede interior keeps the watches safe during transit. There are also many colours to choose from including red, green,  blue, brown and black.

Available at Rapport.

Tempomat Madrid FKM Rubber Strap for Richard Mille, €220

Given just how integrated their rubber straps normally are, finding a decent alternative to whatever Richard Mille pop on their watch can be a pain. Unless you head over to Tempomat Madrid, that is, who have an eye-popping selection of solid FKM vulcanised rubber straps that will fit any RM11 or RM35 model. Available in light or dark blue, red, yellow and white, they’ll add that flash of colour your wrist candy’s been craving – and you can even get a matching crown protector (€20) to boot. Or contrasting; Richard Mille aren’t the only ones that can have fun with colour.

Available at Tempomat.

French Maison Jean Rousseau are celebrating their 70^th anniversary this year, marking 70 years since they set out on their journey to become one of the most prominent names in bespoke leatherwork and watch straps in the world. Their history starts near the city of Besançon on the Swiss-French border and leads us today to the Atlantic ocean – kind of. That’s because their most recent series of watch straps is the Atlantique Collection, a bright, vibrant and water-repellent collection ready for summer.

The growth and confidence of Jean Rousseau is plain to see. What started as a small workshop with 20 employees is today a powerhouse of innovation with around 400 employees and a four-time recipient of the Living Heritage Company Label. That innovation can be witnessed in the Atlantique Collection through straps like the Classic 5.0 Watch Strap Navy Nubuck Alligator (also available in red). It’s an exotic alligator strap with a nubuck finish, giving it a velvety texture to the touch and water-repellent qualities rarely seen in exotic leather. Although if you want true water resistance you might want to look at their premium rubber options.

Plus, the Nubuck Alligator demonstrates something that Jean Rousseau has long been celebrated for, which is their use of colour. They have developed their own dyes and finishes in order to create rich and unique shades of leather – in alligator alone they can offer more than 300 different colours available through their bespoke service.

Classic 3.5 Watch Strap Plain Calf in White, £130

Classic 5.0 Watch Strap Nubuck Alligator in Red, £335

That extends to more traditional leathers as well such as their plain calf, presented in the Atlantique collection with a pure white colouration and navy stitching in the Classic 3.5 Watch Strap White Calf. That combination of colours makes for a rich ocean theme, like water lapping at white sand beaches and the ocean environments that many of Jean Rousseau’s aquatic leathers come from.

Of course, protecting the environments and animals they work with is vitally important to Jean Rousseau too, which is why they strictly observe the terms set out by CITES (Washington Convention) and the REACH regulations. The hides and skins used by Maison Jean Rousseau, including alligator, are sourced from ICFA-certified breeding farms approved by the federal agency US Fish & Wildlife Service. Furthering this, they aim to join the CTC (French Leather Technical Centre) allowing it to be possible to trace the origins of all their goat and cow leather right down to individual animals, breeders and conditions they were raised in.

Classic 5.0 Watch Strap Nubuck Alligator in Navy, £335

Jean Rousseau has not remained the same in their 70 years of existence and the Atlantique Collection is a fabulous expression of everything they’ve learned. From new materials and colours to wider products including wallets and watch rolls and the importance of sustainability. Jean Rousseau is ready for the summer, and the summer after that and every summer for the next 70 years.

More details at Jean Rousseau.

Jean Rousseau Vintage Brown Calf, £130

The Vintage Brown Calf from Jean Rousseau is a stylish, dark brown leather strap that suits a wide array of watches. Completing the look of the piece is the vintage texture that makes it look aged. It also has white stitching across the top and tip in the style of vintage straps. That vintage aesthetic pairs beautifully with watches that match the retro vibe. It’s also nice to remember that while Jean Rousseau are known for exotic material and outlandish and striking colours, they can do the classics incredibly well at the same time.

Available at Jean Rousseau.

Rapport London Brompton Three Watch Roll, £300

Rapport London have been producing horological goods for over 100 years with products ranging from watch winders and boxes to mechanical pocket watches. This is the Brompton Three Watch Roll, a protective case designed for transporting up to three watches. It features a crocodile-effect leather exterior, while a soft suede interior keeps the watches safe during transit. There are also many colours to choose from including red, green, blue, brown, and black.

Available at Rapport.

ZEALANDE Vulcanised FKM Rubber Strap, €189 (approx. £160)

Discover the ultimate fusion of style and performance with the ZEALANDE rubber strap, specially designed for the Omega Seamaster Diver 300m range. Available in a palette of nine vibrant colours, including black, orange, red, blue, Miami blue, white, green, brown, and khaki, this strap transforms your watch into a bold personality statement. Made from high-quality vulcanised FKM rubber, it offers an exceptional wearing experience by combining sportiness, lightness and lasting comfort.

Available at ZEALANDE.

The Premium Time Company

The Premium Time Company are a luxury wristwatch competition brand that runs weekly online events to win highly sought after and difficult to obtain watches. They specialise in Rolexes with previous competitions including GMT-Master IIs, Submariners, Datejusts, and more. Crucially, each competition has a strict ticket limit, typically between 600 and 800, giving you a high chance of winning. As the competitions are on rotation, you’ll need to check their website to discover the latest timepiece to be won. Example competition – Rolex Submariner, Ticket Price – £39.99, Ticket allocation – 650.

Available at The Premium Time Company.

Chrome Calibre Retro Bot Watch Winder, €2,500 (approx. £2,150)

On a functional level watch winders are a great way to make sure your automatic collection is always ready to wear at a moment’s notice. But just as equally, watch winders can make for the ideal display cases, as shown by the Chrome Calibre Retro Bot which is shaped like a tin robot from the mid-1900s. The technology inside is provided by SwissKubik with Bluetooth connectivity that allows the rotation to be customised based on number of rotations per day and direction.

Available at Chrome Calibre.

ZEALANDE Vulcanised FKM Rubber Strap, €189 (approx. £160)

Discover the ultimate fusion of style and performance with the ZEALANDE rubber strap, specially designed for the Omega Seamaster Diver 300m range. Available in a palette of nine vibrant colours, including black, orange, red, blue, Miami blue, white, green, brown, and khaki, this strap transforms your watch into a bold personality statement. Made from high-quality vulcanised FKM rubber, it offers an exceptional wearing experience by combining sportiness, lightness and lasting comfort.

Available at ZEALANDE.

Aubliq Watch Stand, $118 (approx. £90)

Aubliq are all about keeping your watches safe in an understated, classy way with minimalist design and quality materials. The wide base, thin arm and holding pad put all of the emphasis on the watch that it’s holding, allowing the timepiece to shine in the way it’s supposed to. Plus, they’re of such reliable quality that even Grand Seiko have collaborated with them in the past, showing their high quality and craftsmanship.

Available at Aubliq.

The Premium Time Company

The Premium Time Company are a luxury wristwatch competition brand that runs weekly online events to win highly sought after and difficult to obtain watches. They specialise in Rolexes with previous competitions including GMT-Master IIs, Submariners, Datejusts, and more. Crucially, each competition has a strict ticket limit, typically between 600 and 800, giving you a high chance of winning. As the competitions are on rotation, you’ll need to check their website to discover the latest timepiece to be won. Example competition – Rolex Submariner, Ticket Price £39.99, Ticket allocation 650

Available at The Premium Time Company.

Hirsch Bologna Watch Strap, £112

The Hirsch Bologna strap is an embossed calf leather piece with a gorgeous texture and classic stitching. It’s inspired by the Italian town of Bologna as the leather used is Italian, making for an extremely suave and traditional strap. It’s available in three variants, which are taupe, black and golden brown. Whether you’re pairing it with a vintage timepiece or modern classic, it’s versatile and beautiful.

Available at Hirsch Straps.

Condor Straps Conceria Walpier Buttero Leather Strap, £50

Condor Straps have been involved in the production of fine leather straps for wristwatches since 1939, making them a veteran of the industry. While they work with many materials like silicone, metal and nylon, one of their most impressive ranges is leather. Condor use leather sourced from Italy made with traditional vegetable tanning techniques. This allows them to produce straps like the Conceria Walpier Buttero Leather Strap, which is inspired by a vintage creased watch strap design. It’s available in black, brown, blue and tan in lug sizes of 18mm, 20mm, and 22mm.

Available at Condor Straps.

It’s understandable that a vintage strap will eventually give out; time’s not kind to many materials. But sometimes even the strap that comes with a shiny new watch just isn’t enough. Whether that’s colourful enough, solid enough, or comfortable enough it doesn’t matter – the bottom line is that you need a new strap.

Whatever your personal reasoning behind just why your everyday beater would look better in bright orange leather, there are some seriously cool makers out there worth looking at. Case in point, Delugs watch straps.

It’s hard to pin down precisely what makes Delugs one of the premier strapmakers around today. They encompass a huge number of styles and more colours than a rainbow-set bezel, across leathers, rubbers, fabrics, you name it. There is a certain classicism to Delugs, but it’s more in their approach to the craft more than the style. Elements like classical saddle stitching, overcutting and their entire artisanal approach to the finer details are a marked cut above the norm.

That all said, Delugs does have a Signature Strap that’s come to define what they do, at least in part. It’s similar to the stock strap on most watches, fully stitched along the perimeter with tapered padding, a full lining and painted edges. It strikes that delicate balance between sturdy and wearable, and is one of the most versatile types of leather strap around. Provided you’re not putting it on an ultra-thin Piaget Altiplano, it’ll suit almost anything. All you need to do is pick the leather.

That leather is a hallmark of Delugs quality. You won’t find any blemishes here. Some might say a mark here or there adds character, but those people are in denial. Not only do marks lead to frustratingly imperfect straps, but they also show that the animals the leather came from might not have been treated all that well. The cuts and scrapes come from somewhere. Hence Delugs only going for leathers with the bare minimal of blemishes on them. And let’s be honest, there’s no point making straps out of the material if the end result isn’t going to live up to whatever watch it ends up on.

That’s as true of your standard calfskin as it is more exotic fare. Obviously, the latter is a lot trickier to work with – alligator needs to be thinned to make it actually wearable, for example – but those same standards apply across the board. That even applies to their leather of the month, a new custom material introduced, you guessed it, every month.

Rather than wax lyrical too much about Delugs straps – the proof after all is in the wearing – let’s have a look at a trio of their straps to suit three very different watches.

Bordeaux Chevre Slim Strap, £68.75

Have a Cartier Tank or Reverso in need of a not-quite-facelift? You could do well than a flash of flair Francoise with a splash of Bordeaux. This Chevre Slim Strap is made from gorgeous chevre leather with the kind of exceptional, pebbled grain that’s shorthand for old- school quality. It’s slightly shiny, very dressy and eminently suited to a sharp suit and even sharper watch.

Baby Blue Vacheron Constantin Overseas CTS Rubber Strap, £235.19

Finding a new strap for a watch normally on an integrated bracelet is easier said than done, especially when it has a proprietary quick-change system a la Vacheron Constantin’s superlative Overseas. And yet that’s precisely what Delugs have built here from light blue CTS rubber; supple and lightly embossed. It does come in other colours, but for our money this particular flash of baby blue is absolutely perfect.

Brown Buttero Chunky Strap, £68.75

Your classic mil-spec pilot or field watch would just look strange on anything too delicate, and if you’re after that vintage tool watch look then rubber is out of the question. This Buttero leather number will patina as elegantly as your bronze Panerai, a strap designed to embrace wear and tear like nothing else. Marks will fade as the leather darkens, making this one of the few straps that will gain more personality as it ages, rather than just falling apart.

Of course, if none of these straps strike your fancy, Delugs also offer a full custom service. We won’t dwell too much on what that means; you can probably guess. Pick your size, pick your style and pick your leather. If you’re particular about every little detail, this is the route for you. Either way, custom or off-the-shelf, the quality is the same. That is to say, exceptional.

More details at Delugs.

ZEALANDE Vulcanised FKM Rubber Strap, €189 (approx. £160)

ZEALANDE are a wristwatch strap brand that make high quality rubber straps for prestige watch brands. They have an extensive range of colours and styles made specially for Rolex, Omega, Tag Heuer and more, having recently added full ranges for Breitling and Tudor to their repertoire. They specialise in vulcanised FKM rubber, a material that is highly tear resistant, completely waterproof and very comfortable to wear, making it ideal for sport and tool watches or just the comfort of daily wear.

More details at ZEALANDE.

Modalo Optimus, from €119 (approx. £100)

In addition to their high-end watch winders, Modalo also produce a range of other watch accessories. The watch roll OPTIMUS impresses with its stylish design, which is accentuated by the striking decorative stitching in the shape of the Modalo M. It is aimed at watch lovers who appreciate first-class materials and high- quality workmanship. Available in  two timeless colours and four sizes, up to six watches are always protected and tastefully on the go.

More details at Modalo.

The Polerouter, £225

Timed perfectly with the news that Universal Genève is being revived back to its former glory by Breitling, we have the new The Polerouter book. The publication takes an in depth look at the history, design and variety of the iconic timepiece, one that will hopefully be back on the shelves in a major way in the not too distant future. It was written by Willis & Mazzucchi, who collaborated with Universal Genève’s archive as well as collectors around the world to create what is surely the most comprehensive guide to the watch ever produced.

More details at The Polerouter.

Aubliq Watch Stand, $118 (approx. £90)

Aubliq are all about keeping your watches safe in an understated, classy way with minimalist design and quality materials. The wide base, thin arm and holding pad put all of the emphasis on the watch that it’s holding, allowing the timepiece to shine in the way it’s supposed to. Plus, they’re of such reliable quality that even Grand Seiko have collaborated with them in the past, showing their high quality and craftsmanship.

More details at Aubliq.

The Premium Time Company

The Premium Time Company are a luxury wristwatch competition brand that runs weekly online events to win highly sought after and difficult to obtain watches. They specialise in Rolexes with previous competitions including GMT-Master IIs, Submariners, Datejusts, and more. Crucially, each competition has a strict ticket limit, typically between 600 and 800, giving you a high chance of winning. As the competitions are on rotation, you’ll need to check their website to discover the latest timepiece to be won. Example competition – Rolex Submariner, Ticket Price £39.99, Ticket allocation 650

More details at The Premium Time Company.

French Maison Jean Rousseau are one of the premier brands operating in the sphere of custom, bespoke watch straps and they have boutiques around the world, including London’s Piccadilly Arcade. In Paris, near the Louvre and Pont-Neuf, they also have a boutique in the Samaritaine department store, where they have just opened a new mini-atelier.

If you’re unfamiliar with Samaritaine, it’s a pretty cool building with gorgeous Art Nouveau architecture. Unfortunately, the building was closed in 2005 due to safety issues but it was re-opened in 2021 after a comprehensive refurbishment. In homage to the famous slogan “You can find everything at Samaritaine” there’s a wide variety of shops and an entire area dedicated to the art of watchmaking. It’s this area where you’ll find the new Jean Rousseau mini-atelier.

The term “mini-atelier” essentially means that when you go into the boutique and order a custom watch strap, they’ll make it on site. It gives you the full experience of what Jean Rousseau is capable of, allowing you to see the entire process from start to finish and create a bond to your strap that goes beyond clicking a button online. Of course, if you have very demanding request, the strap may be outsourced to one of Jean Rousseau’s primary ateliers, located in Paris or the Franche-Comté region.

Whether you’re interested in buying a new strap, want to learn more about the processes involved in making straps or are visiting the Samaritaine as part of a larger trip, make sure to swing by the Jean Rousseau boutique and mini-atelier. Although you might want to have a browse of their extensive range of materials, styles and colours online first otherwise it will be your partner waiting impatiently for you to make up your mind for once instead of the other way around.

More details at Jean Rousseau.

Jean Rousseau Soft Watch Roll Burgundy, £358

Keeping your watches safe as you travel is a perennial problem, fortunately the Jean Rousseau Soft Watch Roll makes it easy. It features five large compartments for storing your watches and their accessories with a soft finish to keep everything safe. A classy pin buckle fastener keeps everything wrapped up and secure. There are plenty of colours to choose from, but the burgundy feels appropriate for the holiday season.

Available at Jean Rousseau.

Haveston M 1937 Watch Stowage Pouch, $32.95 (approx. £25)

Haveston bring a vintage military aesthetic to all their watch straps and accessories and the M 1937 Watch Stowage Pouch is the perfect example of that. Based on the appearance of World War II US Military ammunition pouches, it’s a convenient and safe way to transport your wristwatches. Each pouch is hand-made from canvas with a stud fastening system and the Haveston triangle H logo on the flap, which is reminiscent of a military warning symbol.

Available at Haveston.

Chrome Calibre Retro Bot Watch Winder, €2,500 (approx. £2,150)

On a functional level watch winders are a great way to make sure your automatic collection is always ready to wear at a moment’s notice. But just as equally, watch winders can make for the ideal display cases, as shown by the Chrome Calibre Retro Bot which is shaped like a tin robot from the mid-1900s. The technology inside is provided by SwissKubik with Bluetooth connectivity that allows the rotation to be customised based on number of rotations per day and direction.

Available at Chrome Calibre.

Aubliq Watch Stand, $122 (approx. £96)

Aubliq are all about keeping your watches safe in an understated, classy way with minimalist design and quality materials. The wide base, thin arm and holding pad put all of the emphasis on the watch it’s holding, allowing the timepiece to shine the way it’s supposed to. Plus, they’re of such reliable quality that even Grand Seiko have collaborated with them in the past, showing their high quality and craftsmanship.

Available at Aubliq.

Forstner Bands Bullet Bracelet, $155 (approx. £122)

While Forstner are perhaps best known for the Komfit bracelet, that’s not the only celebrated strap they’ve created in their extensive history. The Bullet Bracelet is a popular heritage bracelet from the 1960s and now it’s back. It’s a five-link bracelet with a unique composition of rounded and angled links with flat ends that gives it a notable quality of depth and brilliance. It was originally designed for the Bulova Accutron Astronaut, but now it’s available for most watches – there’s even a fitted end link version for the lugs of the Speedmaster or Black Bay.

Available at Forstner Bands.

Rounding out our series looking at the diverse world of straps from classic leather numbers to sporty rubber are our favourite NATO and Zulu straps. Typically made from woven nylon, these are some of the most hard-wearing and durable straps around, ideal for tough daily beaters and tool watches. They also have a strong tradition in military fields as they were originally developed for the British military due to their robust qualities and inbuilt fail-safes such as the fact that one set of lugs can become unattached without the watch falling off your wrist as it will still be secured by the others.

Zuludiver 1973 British Military Watch Strap, £18

There are, unsurprisingly, a great many accessible NATO strap options out there, nylon isn’t a hard material to come by after all. Bringing great value alongside a broad suite of colours is Zuludiver, a brand founded by the same minds behind the Geckota group.

The 1973 British Military Watch Strap is inspired by retro military gear and features the so-called Bond colourway of grey and black. It comes with a choice of satin brushed, polished or IP black hardware. For NATO novices, hardware is the term used to refer to the buckles and metallic loops.

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Artem Straps Bond Nylon Watch Strap, £51

Artem Straps is an Australian strap brand that has rapidly grown in the last few years. I remember back in 2021 that it was big news they had released new stitching colours for their black sailcloth straps and today their collection is a riot of colours and styles.

Colour is particularly important for their Nylon Watch Strap range, which ranges from the sleek black and grey Bond to the vibrant Summer Blue and intriguing Commander. Thickness is a particularly important statistic for a NATO style strap as it can dramatically affect how comfortably it sits on the wrist. Artem’s is 1.4 – 1.5mm thick, which is definitely on the thicker side of things.

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Zulu Alpha OTAN Watch Strap, £125

Plenty of manufacturers make NATO or Zulu-style military straps, but if you want a team that really knows what they’re doing, you’ll want to go for guys that know precisely what the military demands. Alongside their civilian offerings, Zulu Alpha make things for the MoD, and as military men themselves, they understand what’s needed to keep a watch on your wrist.

Hence their signature OTAN strap which is, as they put it, ‘made famous by an ex-member of the Royal Navy. Now made by an ex-member of the Royal Navy.’ If that weren’t enough, its nostalgia-laced military style and superlative construction should be. It’s the special forces of Zulu straps.

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Bark and Jack Light Sand Tubular NATO Strap, £26

Looking for a NATO in a solid colour, Bark & Jack produce a wide range of nylon NATO straps in a variety of colours. This Light Sand edition has a light brown colour that pairs well with the khaki tones of desert camo and military fatigues.

It features a tubular construction, giving it a ribbed texture that is particularly tough despite being thinner than ‘seatbelt’ woven nylon at 1.2mm. If you want something a little more colourful, they also produce patterned versions in the classic Bond and Guld colourways.

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Phenome Straps NTTD Bond Nylon Strap, $40 (approx. £32)

Phenome Straps is a fabric strap specialist that started life in the same manner as many watch microbrands. A collector was looking for a specific type of product and couldn’t find anything on the market to match and so set out to create it themselves.

Specifically, they wanted to create an accessible version of Omega’s OEM strap, which is widely regarded as one of the best NATO straps in the industry and has a correspondingly hefty £170 price tag. Phenome Straps are handmade to order with a thickness of 1.2mm in numerous colours and patterns.

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It’s easy to forget about a watch strap. Provided it does what it’s meant to do – and that keeps a watch on your wrist – it doesn’t really scream for attention. It’s a practical necessity, nothing more, nothing less. You know, if you have the imagination of a brick. There are plenty of watch strap makers you should know about out there creating amazing products. Especially when it comes to made to order or custom and bespoke straps in the many materials straps can be made in from leather to rubber to fabric and more.

Jean Rousseau

They may be Parisian by name, but if you want to see what Jean Rousseau are all about take a look in their particularly British store over in the Piccadilly Arcade. They offer one of the most comprehensive bespoke leather strap services out there, with leather of all colours and textures. Their lizard is particularly cool, though be aware that you will need to look after it incredibly well otherwise won’t last long, as I know all too well from experience.

There are more than enough colours to match your collection, ranging from subtle elegance to their signature electric blue. It’s a veritable rainbow of straps, all with the kind of quality you’d expect from un atelier Française. Plus, they offer wallets, phone cases and belts in the exact same leathers, if you just have to match. You probably shouldn’t, but it’s nice to know that the option’s there.

More details at Jean Rousseau.

Bonetto Cinturini

Given Italy’s heritage with diving watches – Panerai, we’re looking at you – it’s no surprise they know their way around a rubber strap. These aren’t the usual cheap bits of rubber that you find on £50 quartz divers’ either; after 35 years of research, Bonetto Cinturini is about as good as it gets. Giving rubber the full attention we normally associate with other materials including hand-finishing and more.

Their endless array of colours is just the start; every model has a different design, from subtle textures and woven styles to striking moulded embellishments. If that’s still not enough, you can get your own made – for a little bit of a premium of course – with your own wording across its length. Just because you’re forced to wear a serious diving watch on a rubber strap doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun with it.

More details at Bonetto Cinturini.

The Strap Smith

A custom strap maker here but one for whom Americana is a way of life. Sure, they do the usual array of exotic leathers in various colours, but they also offer some more off-kilter choices. Why bother with ostrich when you can have a strap made from an old baseball glove? Or an American football if that’s more your game? Swap that old military canvas strap for some denim or the chunky leather from an old bandolier.

These aren’t bespoke to the same degree as Jean Rousseau etc. as customisations typically extend to thread colour and other small details. Meaning what you see is almost always what you get, but they are made to order. Given the nature of the materials, that means you’ll always get something unique.

More details at The Strap Smith.

Combat Straps

Don’t let the name put you off; if you’re expecting nothing but solid bits of leather more suited to bandoliers than watches then think again. The Montreal-based atelier specialises in strange and unusual leathers to the point where you can probably name an animal (non-endangered of course) and they’ll have it to hand. Sure, that includes ostrich and alligator, but also stingray, shark and toad. That’s right: toad. Sexy or what?

Don’t worry vegans, it’s not all leathers. They also do WWII canvas straps – fitting, given their name – and have artists on hand to paint whatever kind of crazy design your imagination can come up with. I personally love their vintage-style pin-ups, though I think I’d need a vintage IWC to make it really work.

More details at Combat Straps.

The Strap Tailor

Bringing artisanal and independent strap making to the UK is The Strap Tailor. They’re a relatively young brand in the grand scheme of things, and as a business they have a focus on youth as well, aiming to develop and find young artisans interested in learning and protecting the traditional crafts of leather work in the UK.

They specialise in ostrich, French calf, Epsom calf, goat skin, suede and the unusual pick of pig leather. Although admittedly pig isn’t quite so radical as toad. All options are available in a variety of colours and a custom selection of size, stitching, padding and buckle.

More details at The Strap Tailor.

Visconti Milano

Visconti Milano offer 100% hand-made watch straps from Italy with a range of high quality strap both pre-made and custom ordered. Like Jean Rousseau they offer a complete bespoke service that lets you choose the material, stitching, lining, measurements, profile, lug shape, tip shape, holes and buckle. That’s a pretty comprehensive list of things you might want to customise. And that’s before you consider that with materials alone you have 42 different leather and vegan options.

The possibilities are functionally endless with a simply immense number of combinations. You can be pretty sure that your strap will be genuinely unique. Plus it has all the quality and artistry of Visconti Milano’s Italian heritage.

More details at Visconti Milano.

Genteel Handmade

Genteel approach strap making with a philosophy that places the customer are the centre of the experience and invites them to become the designer. Every decision regarding the strap is left in your hands, making every strap unique and personal to the purchaser.

Although if all that decision making is a little daunting, they also have a small collection of ready to wear straps and limited editions. Some of these limited editions are the most interesting straps they produce, including waxed leather designed to age beautifully and straps inspired by specific artists such as Mark Rothko.

More details at Genteel Handmade.

Toshi Straps

Toshi Straps are perhaps the single most dedicated brand when it comes to producing custom watch straps. Which another way of saying that they’re a one man band with the designer, Rich, in charge of making the straps, sourcing the leather, operating the website and in short, everything. Every single strap is hand-made using completely manual technology (no machines whatsoever) giving you complete confidence in their artisanal and traditional quality.

Toshi have over 100 leathers available each with an interesting colour, texture and aesthetic. There are conventional choices such as dark blue oceanic themed leather as well as more extroverted options like the bright green Kiwi.

More details at Toshi Straps.