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Basic Bands Watch Strap Fashion

BASIC BANDS 2017 WATCH STRAP AND BAND GIFT GUIDE

December 20, 2017 by Basic Bands

Clockwork Synergy Two-Piece NATO Strap

It’s the holidays, and that means gift ideas! Welcome to the Basic Bands 2017 Watch Strap and Band Gift Guide.

So you’re looking for a strap? Maybe the person you’re shopping for already has a nice watch and you’d love to match it with a nice strap. Or maybe you’re buying a watch and you’re looking for strap ideas to complement the stock band. Or maybe you just got a new watch and you’d like to spice it up with a new leather or NATO strap. Well, you’ve come to the right place. We’re Basic Bands, and we loooove watch straps.

So what should you get that perfect someone? Here are our recommendations:

Go Bespoke
There are a lot of watch bands out there. But it’s pretty awesome to have a watch band made just for you. A custom watch strap makes a great gift because it’s customized to your watch or the person you’re making it for. You can get watch straps tapered to just the right fit, made to the exact length of your wrists, or monogramed with a special message.

You can even get them customized from material you send in yourself. Got an old army bag from a grandparent or loved one? A baseball glove, a canvas duffle? Pretty much any leather keepsake can be made into a watch strap, never losing its memories.

Below are some of the custom watch strap makers we’ve featured this year on our blog. Check out their work and contact them to get your bespoke watch strap made. Prices range from $30 on the low end to above $150 for exotic leathers.

Green Leather Watch Strap by Toshi Straps
Green Leather Watch Strap by Toshi Straps
Vintage Ammo Watch Strap by the StrapSmith
Vintage Ammo Watch Strap by the StrapSmith
Maverick Custom Straps Baseball Glove Watch Strap
Maverick Custom Straps Baseball Glove Watch Strap
Martu Leather Brown Leather Strap
Martu Leather Brown Leather Strap
Burgundy Butter Watch Strap by Toshi Straps
Burgundy Butter Watch Strap by Toshi Straps
Burgundy Leather Watch Strap by the StrapSmith
Burgundy Leather Watch Strap by the StrapSmith

Go Quick Release
Love watch straps but don’t like the hassle of changing them? Quick release straps are your answer. Most of them come with a small button on the underside that you slide to release. So start your watch strap obsession up again and go nuts. Personally, we love Barton Bands, a brand we feature often on this blog. You can find their website at www.bartonwatchbands.com or shop Barton Bands on Amazon.

Army Green Barton Bands Quick Release Silicone Watch Strap on Seiko 5
Army Green Barton Bands Quick Release Silicone Watch Strap on Seiko SNK 809
Brown Leather Quick Release Watch Strap by Barton Bands
Brown Leather Quick Release Watch Strap by Barton Bands

Go For a New Style
If you haven’t yet tried out new straps on your watch, now is the time. Replace that old stock band with something new. Check out this lizard camo watch strap from Crown and Buckle, this rally strap from Watch Gecko, this Colareb Roma Brown Strap, or these two-piece NATO straps from Clockwork Synergy.

Crown and Buckle Lizard Camo Premium NATO watch Strap
Crown and Buckle Lizard Camo Premium NATO watch Strap .
Watch Gecko Brown Rally Strap
Watch Gecko Brown Rally Strap
Seiko Alpinist on brown Colareb Roma strap
Seiko Alpinist on brown Colareb Roma strap
Clockwork Synergy Two-Piece NATO Strap
Clockwork Synergy Two-Piece NATO Strap

Help with Buying a Watch Strap
If you’re buying a watch strap as a gift, it can be hard to make sure you’re buying the right band. We’re here to help. First, make sure you’re buying the right width and length. Google the watch you’re buying for and make sure the width between the lugs is the same size as the strap you’re buying. If you don’t know the name of the watch or aren’t sure of the make or model, take a picture of the front and back (make sure the tiny writing is in focus) and email the watch strap company, they can probably help you figure it out.

Measure your wrist or the wrist of the person you’re buying it for. You can always guess if you want it to be a surprise. Custom watch strap makers will make a strap that fits exactly, so you’ll definitely want to measure properly if you go in that direction, but most strapmakers sell in various sizes or “one size fits all” lengths. Guessing the diameter of the wrist you’re buying for will be good enough in those instances. Also check out our 5 Tips for Picking Out a New Watch Strap or Band. It will go over a few other things you may not have thought about.

Second, make sure you have the right tools. If you’re buying a quick release strap you won’t need anything else, but if you’re buying a regular strap, you may want to pick up an extra set of spring bars and a watch strap removal tool. You can find them both on Amazon for relatively cheap. Check out our article on watch strap tools here to familiarize yourself with everything that’s needed.

Lastly, Thomas Lathrop, CEO of watch band company Crown & Buckle, wrote up some style tips for us on matching up the right band to your watch. Check it out on our blog here.

Other Gift Ideas
Sometimes a watch strap just isn’t in the cards, either because the watch uses unconventional lugs or you aren’t quite sure what size or length to get. In that case, consider a watch strap case, watch case or watch winder. They are a great way to store watches and straps and make a nice addition to any watch owner’s collection. You can find ideas below or on the Basic Bands Amazon Shop, our Amazon Affiliate Portal.

Also check out our other guides:

  • How to Safely Purchase a Watch Online
  • List of reputable watch strap companies & brands
  • Tools for Replacing A Watch Strap Or Band
  • How to Pick Out The Right Watch Band For Your Watch
  • 5 Tips For Picking Out A New Watch Band Or Strap
  • The Complete Guide to the Orient Bambino Dress Watch
  • Seiko SNK Watch Guide
  • Seiko Presage Cocktail Time Guide
  • How to Fix A Broken Loop On Your Watch Strap

We are an Amazon & Jomashop Affiliate.


Filed Under: Guides, Shop Tagged With: bespoke, gift ideas, guides, nato, rally, shop

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Welcome to Basic Bands!

  • We hope you enjoy our blog on watch strap fashion. Here are some places to start:
  • List of Watch Strap Companies
    List of Custom Watch Strap Makers
  • Interviews with Watch Strap Makers & Brands
  • Primer on Watch Strap Style | Style Inspiration | Watch strap examples by color & type
  • Tools for changing a strap | Fixing a broken strap loop
  • Guide to safely purchasing a watch online.
  • Watch Guides: Orient Bambino | Seiko SNK | Seiko Presage.
  • Shop our Amazon recommendations | Inexpensive NATO straps on Amazon

 

See our watch guides

Brown suede rally tropic watch strap by Maverick Custom Handmade

HOW TO FIX A BROKEN LOOP ON YOUR WATCH STRAP

Most watch bands have one or two loops on the strap to keep the bracelet or band from flopping around on your wrist. Known by different names like hoop, retainer, loop, these loops are officially called “keepers,” and they can sometimes fall off and break. Leather or cloth keepers will disintegrate through wear and tear from moisture or sweat, while rubber ones can become brittle and snap.
The good news is that you can fix a broken watch hoop in several ways. The easiest way is to buy a replacement loop on Amazon and put it on the strap. Rubber loops can sometimes be stretched over the buckle, but for most replacement loops you must disconnect the strap or buckle to get the new loop on. Important: make sure you buy the correct width loop, measured in millimeters.

crown-and-buckle-straps

HOW TO PICK OUT THE RIGHT BAND FOR YOUR WATCH – A PRIMER ON WATCH STRAP STYLE

If you’re new to watchbands or looking to buy a gift for that special someone, knowing how to pick out the right watch strap is difficult. We interviewed Thomas Lathrop, CEO of popular watchband company Crown & Buckle, for some tips on matching up the right band to your watch.

Orient Bambino Version 2

THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE ORIENT BAMBINO DRESS WATCH

Simply put, the Orient Bambino is probably the best affordable dress watch out there. A fantastic option for your first watch, it takes a movement from a reliable watch company and puts it in an incredible looking package. Earlier generations can be bought for just over $100, while the most popular style from the new generation will be closer to $300 (although it frequently goes on sale).

barton-bands-blue-canvas-quick-release

SAFE PLACES TO BUY WATCHES ONLINE – A GUIDE TO ONLINE WATCH PURCHASING

Watches make good gifts for birthdays, weddings and special occasions like graduations. But if you don’t purchase a watch often, it’s hard to know where to look first for the best deal, the best warranty & a guarantee of authenticity. Most people find that the online watch purchasing experience is fragmented and fraught with fakes and high prices. This article explains how to pick an online watch store.

Seiko Turtle Watch on Barton Bands Canvas Strap

BEST PLACES TO BUY WATCH STRAPS ONLINE

A common question we get is where to buy watch straps, who is reputable, and how to choose among the different options. On this page, we have listed the major strap companies and brands, divided by category. Most places ship internationally, but we have listed out companies that are outside the U.S. if you’re looking […]

Barton Bands Green Canvas Strap on a Seiko SNK 805

THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE SEIKO SNK WATCH LINE

The Seiko 5 line of SNK watches are highly recommended as an inexpensive way to get into automatics. The watches are great for kids as a first watch and an excellent casual watch for adults. It meets all the check boxes for a good looking watch from a great brand at a great price.

Kids (and parents) will love the sub-$100 price, the good design and the ability to mix and match watch straps. It can be a first watch for a kid or a nice watch for a teenager that can go with a lot of outfits.

Hybrid Sand Woven Fabric Tudor NATO strap on a Tudor Black Bay Dive Watch

Watch Strap Color Guide & Inspiration

We get a lot of questions here at the Basic Bands watch strap blog, and often that question is about which watch strap color goes with which color watch dial or type of watch. If you’re wondering about that too, we’re here to help.

It’s not possible to list every watch type and style and the colors and types of straps that go well with them, so we’ve started Pinterest boards to give you more inspiration. Other sources of watch strap ideas include Reddit’s r/Watchbands and Instagram.If you don’t use Pinterest, you can find images by clicking on tags in the sidebar or using the Inspiration category at the top of the page.

Seiko Cocktail Time Header

THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE SEIKO PRESAGE “COCKTAIL TIME” LINE OF WATCHES

Welcome to the Basic Bands guide to the Seiko Presage “Cocktail Time” line of watches. These watches, nicknamed after the elaborate cocktails fashioned by Shinobu Ishigaki, are an incredibly popular line of dress watches from Seiko. Combining the reliability and affordability of a Seiko with some amazingly gorgeous dials, these watches have become one of the most popular affordable dress watches in the market.

Tag Heuer Carrera Watch on Brown Hirsch Speed Alligator Strap

BASIC BANDS 2018 WATCH STRAP & ACCESSORIES GIFT GUIDE

Hello everyone, and welcome to the 2018 edition of the Basic Bands Watch Strap & Accessories Gift Guide! We’re here to help you find that perfect someone (or yourself) the perfect gift this holiday season. We’ve divided the guide up into sections, so skip ahead to the one that interests you most. First we have […]

Clockwork Synergy Two-Piece NATO Strap

BASIC BANDS 2017 WATCH STRAP AND BAND GIFT GUIDE

So you’re looking for a strap? Maybe the person you’re shopping for already has a nice watch and you’d love to match it with a nice strap. Or maybe you’re buying a watch and you’re looking for strap ideas to complement the stock band. Or maybe you just got a new watch and you’d like to spice it up with a new leather or NATO strap. Well, you’ve come to the right place. We’re Basic Bands, and we loooove watch straps.

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alligator apple watch bauhaus bespoke black black dial blue blue dial breitling brown brown leather canvas chronograph custom watch strap companies diver dress watch exotic Geckota green green dial grey guides hamilton horween IWC leather leather band nato omega Omega Speedmaster Panerai perlon rally strap rolex rubber seiko Seiko diver Seiko SNK shop skx speedmaster thick timex tudor white dial
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alligator apple watch bauhaus bespoke black black dial blue blue dial breitling brown brown leather canvas chronograph custom watch strap companies diver dress watch exotic Geckota green green dial grey guides hamilton horween IWC leather leather band nato omega Omega Speedmaster Panerai perlon rally strap rolex rubber seiko Seiko diver Seiko SNK shop skx speedmaster thick timex tudor white dial

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