A watch isn’t complete without the right strap. Here are our top picks for the best leather watch bands.
If you’re in the market for a watch strap, you might be overwhelmed by the sheer number of options out there. The world of watches is a deep rabbit hole, and you can spend a lot of time (and money) on straps alone.
It’s understandable. You want to choose a strap that looks nice for the particular watch you’re wearing. So what do you do?
First, you can think about the material you want. While there are lots of different types of straps, many are made out of leather.
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Leather straps offer a nice balance of quality, longevity and affordability, which is why we’re focusing on them for this list. A good leather strap will last you many years of regular wear.
Deciding which strap works best for your needs can take a lot of searching, so we’ve selected 11 of our favorites, and we’ve got something for everyone.
Whether you want an eye-catching statement piece or a classic black leather strap, you’ve got options.
These are some of the best leather watch straps available today, so you really can’t go wrong with any of them.
We’ll start with the least expensive and work up to the most expensive. (Which means if you’re on a budget, you won’t have to scroll very far!)
Table of Contents
Quick Take
Need a quick list? Here are our top three picks for the best leather watch straps:
The Model 2 Premium by Worn & Wound is widely considered one of the best leather watch straps, and it’s easy to see why.
If you’re brand new to watches and just want a cheap strap that will serve you well, this is probably the one for you.
This strap won’t match every single watch, but when paired with the right timepiece, it looks absolutely stunning.
Read on to see the full list…
The Best Value Leather Watch Straps
Many companies make incredibly affordable watch straps that are surprisingly well-made for the price point. If you’re buying your first leather watch band––or if you just can’t drop $100+ on a strap––then take a look at these budget-friendly bands.
#1: Barton Espresso Leather
If you’re brand new to watches and just want a cheap strap that will serve you well, you should check out Barton’s line of affordable leather quick release bands.
All of these bands have quick release spring bars that make it easy to swap straps. What’s especially nice is that Barton offers two sizes: a standard length for wrists measuring 5” to 8” and a long length for wrists 7” to 9”. If you have smaller wrists, the standard length should fit you well.
Barton straps are made from hand-selected top grain leather, and they’re available in a variety of colors. (You can even choose the color of the buckle.) For just $25, you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck here.
#2: Hirsch Osiris
Hirsch is another popular brand that makes inexpensive leather watch bands. Like Barton, Hirsch offers excellent value for money, and that’s obvious when looking at their Osiris line.
You’re getting fine-grained calfskin leather with a softglove lining for just $32, which is a huge bargain.
You can also choose from tons of strap widths (from 12mm all the way up to 24mm) for a band that suits your style and wrist type.
On top of that, the Osiris is splash resistant, which makes it a great everyday band that you can throw on and forget about. (Of course, you’re probably making sure your watch doesn’t go anywhere near water, but still.)
The Osiris is definitely an entry-level product, but it’s one of the best leather watch straps you can buy on a tight budget.
#3: Crown & Buckle Brynn
Crown and Buckle is yet another company that produces a range of budget-friendly options, proving you can get high quality leather watch bands even when you’re pinching pennies.
While they have a range of appealing bands, the Brynn is one of their most versatile. The rich brown leather features unique “scarring” that adds tons of character.
At just $36, the Brynn is hard to beat. While you won’t be getting a luxury Italian leather band, you will be getting a daily driver that you can rely on. And it still looks great, so you’re not compromising on aesthetics. It’s currently available in 18mm, 22mm and 24mm.
If you want something with a bit more flair, try the two-toned Anchorage strap that features royal blue threading on light brown leather. All of their other bands are similarly priced to the Brynn, so you can even buy a few without breaking the bank.
#4: ColaReb Venezia
While ColaReb isn’t as well known as some of the heavy hitters on this list, this small Italian company makes a variety of appealing straps that are well made and reasonably priced.
One of their most popular straps is their Venezia. With its natural imperfections, this vintage strap is full of personality and charm.
The Venezia features calfskin leather, contrasting stitching and a satin-finished steel buckle. It’s a modest strap that exhibits classic Italian craftsmanship. To top it all off, it’s only about $42 USD, so all things considered, it’s a pretty affordable strap.
ColaReb also offers a short version of the Venezia that’s great for small wrists. It has the same look and feel as the regular Venezia, so you won’t be missing out on anything.
#5: Fluco Horween Shell Cordovan Leather Strap
German company Fluco makes some really cheap straps (they start at about $23), but they also offer some more midrange options that are quite nicely priced.
Like ColaReb, Fluco is quite an underrated brand. You won’t see them mentioned much, but Fluco has lots of dedicated fans who swear by their straps.
Fluco’s most expensive strap is this genuine Horween shell cordovan leather strap, and impressively, it’s only $68.
Horween has been around since 1905, and they’re the longest operating tannery in the US. Their leather is considered by many to be the standard for quality. (In fact, many of the bands on this list are made with Horween leather.) Suffice it to say you’ll be getting high quality materials.
This is one of the cheapest Horween straps you’ll find, so it’s worth considering if you want a better leather. It’s available in 18mm or 20mm, and you can choose a silver or gold buckle.
#6: Hadley Roma MS2042
Like most of the companies we’ve looked at so far, Hadley Roma makes a lot of inexpensive straps but also offers some higher-priced (and higher quality) straps that are a significant step up.
Their MS2042 is one such band. Retailing at $70, it’s made with Cordovan style oil-tanned calf leather and has a Panerai style polished steel buckle.
The copper-colored stiching pops against the dark brown, and the French finished painted edges ensure that the sides of the strap look just as good as the main band.
#7: Worn & Wound Model 2 Premium
The Model 2 Premium by Worn & Wound is widely considered one of the best leather watch straps, and it’s easy to see why. Its gracefully tapered design works well with almost any watch, and it’s made from Horween top leather with a vegetable tanned lining.
The leather varies in texture, so your band will be unique, and the hand-tied waxed cotton knots are the icing on the cake. The Model 2 Premium is absolutely premium, and for under $100, it’s a superb deal.
It’s available in a whopping 14 cool colors (such as coal, moss and peanut) and lug widths (18mm, 20mm and 22mm), so you can mix and match with almost any type of watch, from vintage divers to brand new field watches.
The Best High Quality Leather Watch Bands Over $100
For the second part of the list, we’re going to look at next level straps that are a bit more expensive but also much higher quality.
#8: NOMOS Horween Genuine Shell Cordovan
German-based NOMOS Glashütte draws inspiration from Bauhaus design, which emphasizes the connection of function and fashion. Take one look at their Genuine Shell Cordovan strap, and that influence is instantly apparent––this is a sleek, versatile band.
Made from Horween leather and tanned in Chicago, this strap is durable and long-lasting. It’s an excellent choice for watch lovers who want a robust strap that will go with almost any watch.
While this strap is only available in black or brown, it comes in 4 lug widths (17-20mm) and 5 lengths. All around, it’s a fantastic value.
#9: Bulang and Sons Olive Grey Nubuck Leather
Bulang and Sons is a luxury brand renowned for its top-of-the-line products. They describe their approach as “premium without being presumptuous,” and their watch straps embody that sentiment. All of their watch bands are understated yet classy, and they pair well with any watch.
One of our favorites is the Olive Grey Nubuck Leather strap. It’s a beautiful light olive band that’s handcrafted in Tuscany by Italian artisan Jean Paul Meniccuci.
Its soft, suede-like leather feels great on the wrist, and it’ll also hold up over time, developing unique patterns of wear. To ensure softness and durability, Bulang and Sons handpicks their leather and uses traditional vegetable tanning.
For roughly $130, you’re getting a long-lasting leather watch band that’s handmade by a master artisan. If it’s within your price range, this Bulang and Sons strap is hard to pass up.
#10: Bas and Lokes Everett
In terms of looks alone, the Bas and Lokes Everett might be the most dapper strap on this list.
Available in a handsome light grey, the Everett features a gently tapering strap and a slim buckle. It can be dressed up or down as you like, and it goes with just about any outfit thanks to its minimalist design.
The Everett is unique in that it’s a semi-bespoke band. You choose the lug and taper width, strap length and buckle finish. Bas and Lokes then handcrafts the strap in their Sydney workshop.
The result is a high quality leather watch band that’s perfectly suited to your wrist. So if you want a bit more control over the construction of your strap, the Bas and Lokes might be the one for you. At $160, it’s definitely an investment, but it’s worth it if you want a high quality, customizable band.
#11: HODINKEE Barrett
HODINKEE is another big player in the watch strap world. They make some of the best leather watch bands on the market, and you’ll see them getting recommended by many watch enthusiasts.
For this list, we’ve chosen their Barrett strap in burgundy.
The burgundy is a pleasing red velvet hue that pairs beautifully with the oak-tanned leather. This strap won’t match every single watch, but when paired with the right timepiece, it looks absolutely stunning.
No matter which color you choose, you’ll be getting an exceptional product. Each strap has one-of-a-kind grain patterns, which highlights the premium vegetable-tanned leather. And over time, the leather will develop a patina, so it will become more matte as you wear it.
Priced at $165, this is the most expensive strap on our list, but it’s a luxury band that’s immensely comfortable and looks amazing.
Got ideas for other bands that belong on this list of the best leather watch straps? Shout out your favorites in the comment section!
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