Leather Strap Conditioner

29151 Views 40 Replies 17 Participants Last post by riff raff, Mar 2, 2018

Need_Help

Discussion Starter · Dec 12, 2011

So I have just recently purchased an Oris Artelier Date in Australia but the leather strap seems to be very dry probably due to the dry weather and long storage time (some fine cracks/wrinkles on the inner side of the strap). I wonder what can I do to 'moisten' it? (we usually apply leather conditioners on our leather furniture after cleaning, but is there such thing for watch straps?)

Thanks for any suggestions!

1 - 20 of 41 Posts

edeag3

· #2 · Dec 12, 2011

Apple leather conditioner for conditioning
Sno seal (carefully) to prevent more damage.

Need_Help

Discussion Starter · #3 · Dec 12, 2011

I wonder whether leather care products for cars / furnitures will work as well?

Scottish Steve

· #4 · Dec 12, 2011

If you apply something designed for furniture, you might regret it once it's been in contact with your skin for a few days. I get an allergic reaction to straps at times and now use the best quality lip balm I can find. I'm serious. This really moisturises the hide (apply sparingly) and is guarranteed to be skin-friendly. I'd be very surprised if the drying of the leather was deeper than cosmetic, but I've never lived in Oz.

Reactions: 1

3th3r

· #5 · Dec 12, 2011

Need_Help said:
... but is there such thing for watch straps?)

Actually... there is!
I just saw this the other day: Clean & Care Watch Strap Cleaner and Conditioner

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Reactions: 2

StufflerMike

· #6 · Dec 12, 2011

Moved.

Rusty_Shakleford

· #7 · Dec 12, 2011

I put a very light coating of mink oil on my straps before they look dry, every six months or so. Only on the outside though. I have never had any issues with the side that touches the skin.

RS

CADstraps

· #8 · Dec 12, 2011

Rusty_Shakleford said:
I put a very light coating of mink oil on my straps before they look dry, every six months or so. Only on the outside though. I have never had any issues with the side that touches the skin.

RS

I have never conditioned a strap after it has been made, but I have conditioned lots of leather before using it.

Mink Oil is a superior product, it will condition perfectly and also provide a small measure of water resistance, but you should be aware that it will break down stitching. If you are going to rub a product into a strap that is already made, I would suggest Dubbin - almost as good as the Mink Oil, but it is harmless to all materials.

Rusty_Shakleford

· #9 · Dec 12, 2011

CADstraps said:
I have never conditioned a strap after it has been made, but I have conditioned lots of leather before using it.

Mink Oil is a superior product, it will condition perfectly and also provide a small measure of water resistance, but you should be aware that it will break down stitching. If you are going to rub a product into a strap that is already made, I would suggest Dubbin - almost as good as the Mink Oil, but it is harmless to all materials.

Thanks for the tip. I'll try it from now on...

RS

Nokie

· #10 · Dec 13, 2011

Sno-seal. Natural beeswax and other good leather nutrients. Light coat rubbed into slightly warm leather and let absorb for 24 hours. Protects and conditions. Just be aware that it will darken lighter straps, but it works great for un-coated leather straps.

vadel01

· #11 · Dec 13, 2011

the leather of your furniture is different, it is tougher from the leather of your watch strap..so its better to use natural leather conditions..the suggestions above are right.

Bill Smith

· #12 · Dec 16, 2011

I use Bick's 4 conditioner on the outside. It's the best and used on expensive cowboy boots. I spray food grade silicone on the underside to block moisture and salt from sweat.

JPCass

· #13 · Feb 26, 2018

3th3r said:
Actually... there is!
I just saw this the other day: Clean & Care Watch Strap Cleaner and Conditioner

"The other day" was about 7 years ago, I know....

That link to the Boston Watch Exchange website no longer works, but they are actually the vendor for the product on Amazon now:

https://www.amazon.com/Leather-Watch-Cleaner-Conditioner-Horosafe/dp/B015L6QJW0

Given that it's from Horosafe and a German product intended specifically for watch bands, it seems to me like the best bet; I've ordered some to try.

My experience with waterproofing products, as mentioned in some of the posts, is that they can have adverse side effects on some leather or on stitching, so I'd stay away from them. If not Horosafe, I'd use a good clear/neutral carnuba wax like Lincoln Shoe polish or Allen Edmonds'.

A gentle cleaning of the inside of the band with saddle soap using a cloth or soft brush, and then treatment of the topside with a product like Horosafe, is my best bet. Depending on how much Horosafe turns out to "feed" the leather, I might consider also saddle soaping the topside, or treating it with Lexol. As a last ditch attempt to revive an aging or stif band, I'd saddle soap both sides, and maybe try applying some Lexol after that.

I use Lincoln Leather Dye, which I keep on hand for shoes and belts, to touch up worn spots on bands such as on the edges of the keeper loops - then some sort of finish has to be put on top of that, like the Horosafe. A good colored cream polish like Tarrago or Meltonian could be used to try to revive the color on a more worn band, but they need to be used sparingly and then wiped off as completely as possible, and top-coated to prevent possible color transfer to clothes and other items.

p.s. I love Allen Edmonds' shoes, which are well-made with good leather and really last. Their recommended care regime is saddle soaping, followed by cream polish and then a carnuba wax polish for waterproofing, which fits with my experience of best practices - but that's for leather items down at floor level, where some color transfer from scuffing is an acceptable risk to whatever the shoes may come into contact with.

If anyone has accumulated a lot of experience with watch bands since this topic was last taken up, I'd love to hear.

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I'm more interested in the styling of my watches, than the quantity:
Everyday: Contemporary Omega De Ville Prestige Co-Axial Power Reserve 39.5 mm, steel on black leather strap, blue dial with Roman numerals, sub seconds and reserve, 424.13.40.21.03.001 cal. 2627 (2500D) - great timekeeper, but about to go to the OB for a rotor grinding noise 2.5 years out
Dress: c. 1989 EBEL 1911 cal. 93 35mm automatic 14K and steel on bracelet, slate gray dial with Roman numerals, sweep seconds; early 20th century Hamilton cal. 987s in colored gold cases on leather and reptile bands, sub seconds
Legacy: 1920 IWC early sav. cal. 82 in original 33mm Cresarrow 14k octagonal case on tan leather strap; 1943 Omega cal. 30T2PC Ref. MI 2317 35mm steel on black leather strap, sub seconds; various inherited and collected vintage wrist and pocket watches
Current project watch: early EBEL Sport Classic Carree wave tank watch cal. 91 quartz 24x30mm (ref. 181902)

3th3r

· #14 · Feb 27, 2018

3th3r said:
Actually... there is!
I just saw this the other day: Clean & Care Watch Strap Cleaner and Conditioner

Updated Link: Leather Watch Strap Cleaner and Conditioner & Horosafe
Looks to be the same product as the Amazon link in the post above ^^.

Reactions: 1

MDNTRDR

· #15 · Feb 28, 2018

Coconut oil completely organic and hypoallergenic. you can eat it and soften your leather. Unless your allergic to coconut shouldn’t cause any problems

JPCass

· #16 · Feb 28, 2018

MDNTRDR said:
Coconut oil completely organic and hypoallergenic. you can eat it and soften your leather. Unless your allergic to coconut shouldn't cause any problems

"Shouldn't" is the key term there.

In the case of an expensive enough band that you don't want to risk shortening its life, I wouldn't recommend using anything on the top leather other than the

Horosafe

Watch Strap Cleaner & Conditioner, or tried-and-true products used on fine and exotic leathers. The coconut would be okay for the back side of the band where it contacts the skin, or on a band where its cost and convenience outweighed any risk it could turn out to cause problems with the leather.

Thanks for sharing that, it does sound like a good option for the back side of bands, for people who want to use organic products in areas of skin contact.

I'm more interested in the styling of my watches, than the quantity:
Everyday: Contemporary Omega De Ville Prestige Co-Axial Power Reserve 39.5 mm, steel on black leather strap, blue dial with Roman numerals, sub seconds and reserve, 424.13.40.21.03.001 cal. 2627 (2500D) - great timekeeper, but about to go to the OB for a rotor grinding noise 2.5 years out
Dress: c. 1989 EBEL 1911 cal. 93 35mm automatic 14K and steel on bracelet, slate gray dial with Roman numerals, sweep seconds; early 20th century Hamilton cal. 987s in colored gold cases on leather and reptile bands, sub seconds
Legacy: 1920 IWC early sav. cal. 82 in original 33mm Cresarrow 14k octagonal case on tan leather strap; 1943 Omega cal. 30T2PC Ref. MI 2317 35mm steel on black leather strap, sub seconds; various inherited and collected vintage wrist and pocket watches
Current project watch: early EBEL Sport Classic Carree wave tank watch cal. 91 quartz 24x30mm (ref. 181902)

Reactions: 2

Stromboli

· #17 · Feb 28, 2018

Could the Coconut oil possibly go rancid and permeate a somewhat foul odor?

JPCass

· #18 · Feb 28, 2018

Stromboli said:
Could the Coconut oil possibly go rancid and permeate a somewhat foul odor?

Good question.

When coconut oil first came up, I did a google search for coconut oil on leather, and found coconut oil fans extolling its virtues for all sorts of use - including on furniture.

But if you search on coconut oil and rancid, it turns out that it can go bad over time - imagine ending up with rancid-smelling furniture!

At least on the underside of a watch band, it could probably be cleaned off with saddle soap. If it had permeated the finish of something like alligator or crocodile, the band might be a loss.

This shows why I think it's best to take a conservative approach and stick with simple, tried-and-true approaches, particularly with fine bands you don't want to risk experimenting on.

I'm more interested in the styling of my watches, than the quantity:
Everyday: Contemporary Omega De Ville Prestige Co-Axial Power Reserve 39.5 mm, steel on black leather strap, blue dial with Roman numerals, sub seconds and reserve, 424.13.40.21.03.001 cal. 2627 (2500D) - great timekeeper, but about to go to the OB for a rotor grinding noise 2.5 years out
Dress: c. 1989 EBEL 1911 cal. 93 35mm automatic 14K and steel on bracelet, slate gray dial with Roman numerals, sweep seconds; early 20th century Hamilton cal. 987s in colored gold cases on leather and reptile bands, sub seconds
Legacy: 1920 IWC early sav. cal. 82 in original 33mm Cresarrow 14k octagonal case on tan leather strap; 1943 Omega cal. 30T2PC Ref. MI 2317 35mm steel on black leather strap, sub seconds; various inherited and collected vintage wrist and pocket watches
Current project watch: early EBEL Sport Classic Carree wave tank watch cal. 91 quartz 24x30mm (ref. 181902)

thedose

· #19 · Feb 28, 2018

@JPCass, what do you think about this: https://www.amazon.com/Leather-Milk...D=41us18SVgJL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=detail

cfracing

· #20 · Feb 28, 2018

I am presenting my experience strictly as informational and is not intended as advice because I am a novice to leather watch strap care.

I ordered a shell cordovan watch strap for my JLC Reverso directly from Casa Fagliano. For those who do not know of Casa Fagliano they are the makers of what are considered some of the world's best polo boots. However, when I received my Fagliano strap, I thought it looked dry and was concerned (unfounded as it turned out) that the leather would crack in the future. When I contacted CF, they told me to apply a very small amount of Saphir Wax Shoe Polish to the strap, let it sit for 30 minutes, then wipe it off and repeat if needed. I was told that is what they do at CF and included a photo in the email of a half-used container of Saphir's. Well that did the trick and I was quite happy except for the slight shine that did quickly go away. However, I am left with a few questions because I discovered that Saphir makes a cream polish specifically for cordovan with no turpentine and a Renovateur (cleaner/conditioner), neither of which were suggested by Germán at CF. Well their primary business is making polo boots and watch straps is a very small sideline so maybe that is to be expected? I do have a caveat in that the Saphir wax polish does have a strong odor, probably from the turpentine, but it does dissipate after a day or two.

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