Watch straps

Until the 20th century, wrist watches were considered to be purely feminine jewelry and a variety of bracelets. Until the last century, men used only pocket watches, considering the watches on their hands to be exclusively women's privilege.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the military noted the convenience of wearing watches on hand in extreme conditions. They made homemade leather belts for attaching special covers to the wrists, where pocket chronometers were placed. This new trend prompted a number of leading manufacturers to release men's watches. Accordingly, for their comfortable wearing a variety of straps for watches began to be made.

For a long time, wristwatches were used for their intended purpose, although the hour mark and performance of this device always reflected the social position of its owner. But the straps for watches, regardless of the manufacturer's brand, largely reflected the nature of their owners. The temperament and other characteristics of the carrier can be judged by the quality of the material of the time belt, the methods of its fastening on the wrist, the surface decorations.

For wearing watches on the wrist are used as straps and metal bracelets. But even the most high-status characters, or those who wish to appear so, are increasingly using natural leather straps as an accessory that emphasizes the image.

These belts are solid or braided, less often - combined. They also have both matte and varnish surfaces.

The release of this accessory is designed to be worn by women, children and men.

For women's pens, thin leather straps and bracelets are preferable. with various ornaments and multi-colored weaving, sometimes decorated with rhinestones and patterns. For leather bracelets, volumetric weaving with alternating leather, metal and fabric components is often used.

To give pretentiousness and respectability to the rich outfits applicable products from the skin of exotic animals and reptiles (python, crocodile, ostrich). For more relaxed natures, bright colors will give a special charm.

Leading an active lifestyle for permanent wear, fabric and nylon bracelets are suitable, which, both in jogging and in the fitness center, will be perfectly combined with electronic wrist watches, which include all sorts of diagnostic functions of the body.

For men strong hands fit as usual and wide straps for watches. At business and social events, a watch with a simple dial, a black or dark brown strap with a plain surface and a simple metal buckle to match the watch tone is preferred on the wrist.

For everyday wear thick leather or polymer belts are often used. Recently, vintage belts styled as energetic 60-70s have also become fashionable. These leather products with signs of artificial aging in the form of scuffed, stitched along the threads, often look like traditional wristbands of that time.

For wristband characteristic is the presence of the watch case on the extended part of the product, while the entire belt is usually combined from three parts and has a standard metal fastener. Performed in sports and military styles.

For children's colorful watch used materials that meet the following requirements: safety, durability, beauty.

Accordingly, the paints and materials should be environmentally friendly, durable and carry bright colors and saturation. For children and adolescents, it is preferable to use fabric and silicone straps painted in bright colors and patterns.

As diverse as the wristwatches are in their properties and functionality, so are the straps for these wristwatches. Their types are divided into the following parameters:

• Material, from which the accessory is made;
• Type of fastener;
• The functional purpose of the device for which the belt is intended.

The most practical people for whom the use of wrist watches is a good old habit, rather than the pursuit of prestige, often combine metal bracelets or straps of polymers with inexpensive and comfortable mechanisms.

Nylon and rubber straps are durable and resistant to aggressive environments. Therefore, they are most often used by the military and athletes.

Classic leather belts are part of the image that fits seamlessly into different social strata. They are practical and convenient. They can equally be used by people of different professions and age groups.

When choosing a watch strap, you should take seriously the definition of color. We must remember that leather accessories used, as a rule, in classic styles of clothing should be in harmony with each other.

Both leather and other types of this accessory are applicable various design solutions that give individuality to the image. For example, hard contrasts look original: white color combined with black or red. But brown is better to dilute the pattern of the same color, but in a different key.

When purchasing a strap, you need to take into account the length of the wrist and the width of the watch mounts (side ears).

Standards of manufactured products in length: standard - 19 cm, L - 20-21 cm, XL - 21-23 cm. But if the length of the measured wrist is longer, then standard XXL is provided, providing for a length of more than 23 cm.

The width of the belts is usually indicated as follows: 22 X 18, where the first digit is the width of the side ears of the clock mechanism - 22 mm, and the second digit is the width of the strap on the fastener side - 18 mm. This is a wide belt. Narrow belts are considered up to 14 mm.

Consider some of the most popular materials used for making watch straps that are not inferior to traditional leather products:

• Silicone belts very flexible and pleasant with their softness and zero gravity in operation. They are inexpensive, relatively durable and resistant to moisture penetration.
• Rubber strap also pleasant to wear, due to its lightness and elasticity. It is the most moisture-resistant and inert to the effects of such aggressive liquids as alcohol, paint solvents and acetone, which makes it indispensable for representatives of many professions.
• Rubber bracelets For watches, they have a tighter rubber base in the form of rubber, but their feature is their combination with other materials, such as metal, textiles, ceramics and wood. The very meaning of this accessory is that it does not have traditional fasteners, stretching to the width of the palm.

• Textile strap no less popular than leather. Fabric products are made from both natural and synthetic materials. Often such a product has an impregnation that increases its moisture and durability. They are decorated with original ornaments and painted in a variety of colors. Air satin straps or colored handkerchiefs give individuality to the female image at any social event.
• Nylon straps strong, reliable, durable.Due to its flexibility and moisture resistance, these products are also popular among athletes. To give reliability they are often applied plastic coating.
• Metal bracelets as traditional as leather. They are strong and unpretentious in operation. Depending on the metal from which the bracelet is made, they can be divided into two categories: status, which are made of precious materials and steel, intended for the average consumer.

Gold or platinum bracelet is a sign of prestige and is used, as a rule, together with the watch from the same material.

The watch belt market currently offers a variety of products from well-known and not-so-famous manufacturers. The most popular brands in the field are Aviator, Calvin Klein, Certina, Brave, Breitling, Casio, Diesel, Fossil, Guess, Hilfiger, Hublot, Montblanc, Orient, Nika, Skagen, Swatch, SwatchTissot, Tissot. , Ulysse Nardin. These brands guarantee quality, but the cost of their products is very high. Therefore, an uncountable set of cheap and low-quality fakes has appeared.

Many emphasize their uniqueness using self-made straps. Such handicrafts sometimes look like real works of art. They can be ordered or made independently.

Starting from inexpensive, but very original bracelets, woven from multicolored rubber bands with weaving such as pavement or mesh and ending with complex products from natural leather in the form of wristbands with rivets can be performed at home.

Classic trends never age, but some design decisions emphasize some details that are typical of one or another period of time. In fashion for men's watch belts almost nothing has changed, except for an easy care in the direction of vintage.

The female audience is currently trending with extravagant products that complement large watch dials. They combine fur with traditional leather and metal. Also, the use of silk fabrics in the form of multi-colored ribbons and handkerchiefs, repeatedly encircling the wrist, emphasize the freedom of the image from clichés. These accessories are complemented by a variety of pendants in the form of figures.

Before you choose a strap, you need to decide with which watch and why you plan to use it. For example, classic watches include the use of a metal bracelet or leather strap. For sports purposes, fabric or nylon products are optimal.

We must remember that the use of this accessory provides for the comfort of its use, which consists of both physical and moral perception of the subject.

• How to determine size?

The length of the strap is selected based on the conditions in which you plan to use the product. If long straps are used for divers taking into account the placement of watches over a wetsuit, then for everyday wear between the strap and the body should barely pass the little finger. To correctly determine the length of the belt, the wrist is first measured, and then the watch case is measured. The length of the case is subtracted from the length of the wrist and the distance to the fourth hole from the beginning of the strap is summed (the length of the fastener is not taken into account).

It is also necessary to choose the right strap width. For this, the place of its attachment to the clock must coincide with the side ears of the clock in width.

• How to distinguish the original from a fake?

If the fake quality, then it can only be distinguished by an expert.It must be remembered that in the original everything is immaculate: even stitches, correctly filled edges and perfect geometric lines, as well as even inscriptions.

Care for the watchband is required to be carried out regularly. When using this accessory, you must adhere to certain rules:

• Leather straps are the most demanding of regular prophylaxis, as water gets under them, which is most harmful for the skin. Care is to wipe the belt with special solutions for skin care. If there was no such tool at hand, the strap is wiped with a mild soap solution, dried and then rubbed with paraffin. We must remember that the skin is destructive sources of heat, moisture and direct sunlight.
• In order for the metal bracelet to retain its original appearance, it must be cleaned periodically, as dirt accumulates between the links from the constant interaction of sweat and dust. You can clean the bracelet with a toothbrush, pre-moistened in a soapy solution, where it is desirable to add a few drops of ammonia.

Adjusting the bracelet to the wrist can be done either by shifting the studs in the lock or by manipulating the links.

It is necessary to look at the bracelet on the back side, where the arrows indicate the direction of extraction of the needle connecting fasteners. With a thin sewed squeeze pin. If the stud on the spring, then push the needle part into and gently pry with a screwdriver.

Reassemble in the reverse order.

Replacing the strap and bracelet is similar. This procedure is simple, but requires accuracy. You can change or attach the detached belt as follows:

• Put the watch face down on a soft cloth lying on a flat surface;
• Carefully loosen the end of the stud from the body slot with a thin screwdriver;
• From the other end, perform the same procedure.

Reassemble in the reverse order.

After analyzing the real consumer reviews, it can be concluded that, despite the relatively high price, the preference in purchasing watch straps is given to well-known brands that guarantee high quality, comfortable wearing and aesthetic pleasure.

How to make a leather watchband with your own hands, see the next video.