Are you wondering what strap to buy for a certain occasion? Check out this article for some helpful advice on what to choose...
Picking a watch strap for certain occasions can be tricky when you’re unsure of the different varieties out there and what they can offer in each situation. It’s all very well picking a strap that you like the look of, and by all means, continue to go with things you love, but many strap types have different advantages and disadvantages.
Maybe you have a fancy dinner coming up, or you’re going camping for the weekend, you might be concerned that you can’t wear your favourite watch because of the strap choice and possibly may not be getting the best from it. However, with a simple strap change, you can revamp a firm favourite or make it more practical for your situation.
Let’s sit down and chat about the types of straps that we think would best suit a variety of occasions and hopefully help you find the perfect one.
Physical work and exercise
Now, if you’re the adventurous type or you have an occasion where you’ll be exploring the outdoors, we have a huge range of straps that you can wear. You might be going on a hike, spending a few days camping or perhaps taking a dip in lakes, pools or oceans or maybe you need something for your fitness sessions. For any of these situations there are a few key factors we need to look for in a watch strap to make an ideal option:
First of all, NATO’s. We are all familiar with the classic NATO and for good reason. They offer durability, practicality and functionality, particularly when you’re out and about in nature. ZULUDIVER one-piece nylon NATOS offer quick-drying tough material that will be happy to get caught in a downpour or go swimming with you, as they dry quickly whilst staying comfortable on the wrist. Having heavy-duty hardwear and a second supporting piece of nylon on one continuous strap means it can handle the most tenacious endeavour and if one of your spring-bars fail whilst you’re out and about, our NATO’s will be there to save your watch. We offer a large selection of NATO varieties and I’m sure you will come across one that suits your style preferences. However, I’d recommend that you steer clear of our leather NATO’s because although they look great and continue to be durable, they aren’t the most waterproof…
Within the single continuous strap family, PERLON weave straps which similarly offer lasting endurance like the NATO but in a different lightweight and breathable form. This type of strap can be traced back to use in the British armed forces in the 1960’s, so it must be a good’un right?
Additionally, having this braided nylon provides almost infinite adjustability as you can thread the buckle tongue through any part of the weave (great for temperature changes). This supple and resilient strap will bend and flex as you do, making it favourable when you might be constantly changing activities in the gym or outside. There are different weave options and it comes in a variety of colours so I’m confident you will find one to compliment your gym gear.
Let’s move on to the world of Dive Straps. These straps are built with diving in mind, all being completely water-resistant and ready for taking on watery depths. I’d like to draw attention to ZULUDIVER rubber straps which not only come in all kinds of colours and designs but have been built to resist freshwater, saltwater and UVA (oh, and they are also non-allergenic). They are flexible, resilient and have great weathering properties which makes them very long lasting.
When choosing a dive strap it’s important to not only note their weather and water resistant properties but also to consider the exact materials that they are made from because some may be more resilient than others and also may attract more dust. We recommend purchasing a strap from ourselves as we can guarantee we only use the highest quality rubbers with equally durable hardware. You will never see a silicone strap on our website…
It’s worth noting that, obviously, you must ensure your watch is water resistant and ready to take on adventures of course…
Fancy dinner, party and social events
You could argue that social events are completely your own preference and you don’t necessarily need a strap that will be ‘practical’. For the most part, we agree with this and you should certainly pick something that suits you and your personality.
However, we do have a few favourites here so let me explain why…
Firstly, Leather is always a firm favourite amongst watch wearers because of it’s comfort and versatility. Historically, leather straps have always been the ‘go to’ for smarter occasions as well. You can go from a gorgeous animal leather or animal print leather to a rugged Italian leather that weathers as you wear it. Whatever the event, there’s sure to be a leather strap that suits. A good leather look for a social occasion might be a sleek and smart Italian Exotic Dress strap which, as the name suggests, is wickedly complimentary against a dress watch. Within this range there is a choice of embossed animal print such as crocodile or ostrich; these will definitely spark a conversation.
Another option would be our genuine Horween leather strap collection that offers a simple and refined look with quality assurance. In contrast, you might be after a softer, slightly more casual finish.
Of course, leather isn’t the only choice. Metal straps are also a good choice for a social occasion such as weddings, parties and dinners. There’s a huge amount of options when it comes to these straps so let’s look at a few of them. Mesh straps are a great addition to outfits for men and women and you can pick from finer meshes or thicker meshes depending on your preference. Mesh is a thick or thin weave of metal that’s silky smooth, breathable and beautifully forms to your wrist shape (think Perlon but metal!) There is also the option to have an adjustable buckle, without the use of tools, which adds extra assurance of comfort whilst you’re wearing it. This is my personal favourite as I think it looks elegant on my smaller wrist size.
Next in the metal strap group is a classic solid link strap which has bigger more defined links within the bracelet. The links themselves can have a variety of edge finishes such as ‘chamfered‘ which has a more squared, angular appearance or the edge can be a smooth curved style for a more fluid looking strap. Combine these features with a polished or satin finish, you’re sure to have a talking point. Metal straps can also make a vintage watch look even more time honoured and make a perfect pairing with something like a classic Speedmaster. With the range of metal colours and styles, you could match your strap with any other accessories or outfit embellishments to really pull a look together and add a further splash of luxury.
Everyday wear
Everyday wear is such a broad term, especially when you are trying to cover an ‘every day’ for each watch wearer; it’s not really possible. Much like the social event section, this one is mostly down to personal preference. Here in the office, there are a few firm favourites for everyday wear and they vary a lot between staff. It doesn’t really matter what you do as long as you find one that is comfortable to wear throughout the day- comfort is key.
If you’re based in an office with minimal temperature changes, leather is a great option. It is durable, stylish and sits comfortably on the wrist throughout the day. Leather wears and ages well, so the more you wear the strap the more character you will give it.
Another favourite for day to day might be a metal strap, a solid link piece or maybe a mesh depending on your tastes. Mesh straps are smooth, supple and mould around the wrist well, so this is a good choice in terms of comfort. The only issue with metal straps is that they can pick up scratches and scuffs quite easily (such as marks from working at a desk), especially if you wear them all the time so if your day is particularly active this might not be the right choice for you.
For more active days, we would suggest a NATO or rubber strap for durability, resistance to water and generally being a good hard-wearing piece. As I mentioned in the ‘Physical work and exercise‘ section these two types of straps are perfect for temperature changes, exposure to water and scuffs and scrapes whilst remaining comfortable on the wrist and looking good at the same time.
So, there are a few of our suggestions for the best watch straps to wear for different occasions. There is something for everyone out there and it’s a fine balance between what suits you and your watch and looking at the specs to see if it will withstand your occasion. It’s important to do some research to establish details about resistances, materials and sizing because you want to make the most of your watch.
https://www.watchgecko.com/best-watch-straps-different-occasions
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