Leather watch bands for everyday wear

How to choose a leather watch band

Start with your watch. Measure the lug width, the space between the two lugs where the band attaches. The bands here come in 12 mm, 14 mm, 16 mm, 18 mm, 19 mm, 20 mm, 21 mm, 22 mm and 24 mm lug widths, so most traditional watches have a match. The Leather Strap covers the widest range, from 12 mm to 24 mm. The Ledger Leather Watch Band also spans 12 to 22 and 24 mm.

Next, pick the buckle. A steel pin buckle is the classic choice and it is easy to adjust. The Litchi Leather Band, The Leather Strap, The Perforated Calfskin, The Waxed Leather Band and The Ledger Leather Watch Band all use a steel pin buckle. The Drifter Oil Wax Leather Band uses a butterfly buckle, which folds under the band for a lower profile on the wrist.

Then think about the leather finish. Smooth leather suits office wear. A litchi pattern adds texture. Oil wax leather has a matte, lived-in look that ages with use. The Drifter Oil Wax Leather Band and The Waxed Leather Band both use oil wax leather, so they handle daily wear well.

Sizes and measuring

Measure your wrist with a soft tape or a strip of paper. Mark where the end meets and measure that length against a ruler. The Perforated Calfskin fits wrists 6.3 to 8.3 in (160 to 210 mm). The Waxed Leather Band fits wrists 6.7 to 8.7 in (170 to 220 mm). The Litchi Leather Band has a band length of 7.9 in (20 cm).

Check the lug width before you order. A 20 mm band will not fit a 22 mm watch case. If you are between sizes, a band with a pin buckle gives you room to adjust through the day. Quick release spring bars make swaps easy, and you will find them on The Drifter Oil Wax Leather Band and The Waxed Leather Band. The Litchi Leather Band, The Waxed Leather Band and The Ledger Leather Watch Band include spring bars.

Thickness matters too. The Perforated Calfskin is 0.12 in (3 mm) thick, which sits flat under a cuff. Thicker bands feel more substantial on larger watches.

Materials and finishes

The Litchi Leather Band uses leather with a litchi pattern and comes in black, black with white stitching, green, white, brown, brown with white stitching, light brown, blue and pink. The stitching adds a sporty touch on the black and brown versions.

The Drifter Oil Wax Leather Band uses oil wax leather in 18 mm, 20 mm or 22 mm lugs. It fits traditional watches with a matching lug width.

The Leather Strap is a simple leather band with a steel pin buckle. It comes in black, brown, blue, red, white and pink, and in 12 mm, 14 mm, 16 mm, 18 mm, 20 mm, 22 mm and 24 mm lug widths.

The Perforated Calfskin is made from genuine calfskin leather with a perforated finish. It comes in 18 mm, 20 mm or 22 mm lugs.

The Waxed Leather Band uses oil wax cowhide leather. It comes in 18 mm, 19 mm, 20 mm, 21 mm, 22 mm or 24 mm lugs and fits wrists 6.7 to 8.7 in (170 to 220 mm).

The Ledger Leather Watch Band uses cow leather in 12 to 22 and 24 mm lugs. It fits traditional watches and includes spring bars.

Care for leather bands

Leather likes a dry, cool spot. Keep your band away from direct sun and from water when you can. If the leather gets wet, wipe it with a soft cloth and let it air dry at room temperature. Do not use heat.

A little leather conditioner every few months keeps the surface supple. Apply a small amount with a cloth and buff off the extra. Oil wax leather already has a protective finish, so it needs less care. The Drifter Oil Wax Leather Band and The Waxed Leather Band fall into that group.

Rotate between two bands if you wear your watch daily. That gives each band time to rest and keeps the leather from stretching. Quick release spring bars make the swap fast, and you can change the look from brown to black in seconds.

Match the band to the watch

A brown leather watch band is a classic pairing for a dress watch with a warm tone case. Black leather suits steel cases and formal settings. Blue and green add color without going loud. The Litchi Leather Band gives you nine color options, and The Leather Strap gives you six.

For a field watch or a casual piece, oil wax leather in brown or black works well. For a slim dress watch, the 0.12 in (3 mm) Perforated Calfskin keeps the profile low. For a larger case, a 22 mm or 24 mm band fills the lugs and balances the watch head.

Check the lug width, the buckle type and the wrist range, then pick the color. That is the whole process, and it takes about a minute.