Ever since it became the fashion to wear your watch on your wrist rather than in your pocket, leather has been used by watchmakers the world over.
Attach a leather watch strap to your favourite timepiece today and you instantly give it a touch of timeless class.
It’s easy to see why leather has remained such a popular material for so long: as a natural material it is both breathable and comfortable, and unlikely to cause any allergic reactions or skin complaints. It is also highly durable, as the dense fibres of good quality leather make it resistant to the wear and tear of daily life. And of course, leather has high aesthetic appeal as well; there is a reason that leather remains the material of choice for many luxury brands.

Seiko Presage on Kington Short - Image Credit: WatchGecko Online Magazine
As romantic as that sounds, there will of course be parts of the story you want to edit out – the spilled drink or the trip in the mud – and so you will almost certainly want to breathe a bit of life back into your favourite old leather watch strap from time to time. In this post, we’ll take you through how to do this, before offering a few tips on how to prevent your leather watch strap becoming too damaged, and recommending some replacement leather watch straps if there is little chance of reviving your existing one.
Refreshing your leather watch strap

Leather watch straps available via WatchGecko right here! - Image Credit: WatchGecko Online Magazine
Step 1
First, remove your leather watch strap from the watch and wipe it down with a dry, microfibre cloth. Using a microfibre cloth will mean you avoid scratching the leather if there are any specks of dirt on the surface, but will be sure to get all the dust off.
Step 2
Dampen a soft cloth such as a jewellery cloth, and perhaps add a speck of natural soap to its surface. Using gentle circular motions work your way up and down the strap until you have evenly covered all the surface.
Step 3
Take a new cloth, dampen it and using the same technique as before, gently wipe the soap from the cloth. The leather will darken slightly with the moisture.
Step 4
Place your leather watch strap in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight. Don’t be tempted to put it on a radiator, or blast it with a hairdryer, as this will cause the leather to age and become brittle faster that it naturally would. Just let time do its thing, and you’ll have a leather watch strap with a new lease of life!
To keep your leather watch strap looking its best, you should carry out this cleaning process regularly – once every couple of weeks or month depending on how much you use it. This might seem like an arduous task, but for us it’s another of the pleasures of owning a leather watch strap – the process of caring for it over time simply makes you appreciate it more.
You might also want to protect it further by conditioning or waterproofing your strap. If you choose to do this, always follow the instructions on the product you are using carefully.
Prevention is better than cure

Leather watch straps available via WatchGecko right here! - Image Credit: WatchGecko Online Magazine
Don’t wear it too tight.

Geckota Winstone (MKII) Racing Leather Watch Strap - Image Credit: WatchGecko Online Magazine
Don’t wear it for housework and chores

The Besford and Painswick Watch Straps - Image Credit: WatchGecko Online Magazine
Have alternative straps

ZULUDIVER Iridescent Herringbone Strap - Image Credit: WatchGecko Online Magazine
Limit exposure to light and heat

Chronoswiss Watches - Image Credit: WatchGecko Online Magazine
Sunlight and heat can dry the fats and oils in leather, which can make it brittle faster. If possible, try to minimise the strap’s exposure to both, either by concealing under a cuff, or having an alternative strap for outdoor use.
Choose a good quality leather watch strap
Not all leathers are created equal. Making the right choice when you buy will give you a leather watch strap that looks great for longer. Poor quality leathers tend to have more fat in them, which, as outlined above can cause them to become brittle faster. Better quality leathers have a higher grain, which means the fibres are denser and the leather is more durable. Doing a little research into where the leather from your strap comes from can help you find the best quality leather watch straps.

The Otley strap on The Zenith El Primero - Image Credit: WatchGecko Online Magazine