Expansion.

 

how about this!

 

Depends on the watch

 

☝That

 

I’m always satisfied with the straps my watches are sold with and all but one of them came on a leather strap, the odd one being on a steel bracelet. I have no experience of other materials. To my eye the silicone ones cheapen the overall look of a watch.

 

I voted Nylon (including perlon).

Rubber would be next but your poll doesn't have it so that vote is likely to be split between silicone and resin or not recorded accurately.

Followed by steel.

I have stopped wearing leather in recent years - something about using animal skins to adorn my wrist has become off putting.

 

I should clarify that I voted Nylon but only two piece never Nato.

Not because of how it looks but I'm not comfortable wearing a continuous band. On the rare or near impossible chance that it catches on something stronger or heavier than me I would rather the spring bars give way rather than my arm.

 

Agree with it depends on the watch, but generally its…

Bracelet
leather
cloth
hook and loop
rubber

In that order

Least favorite, NATO just never been a fan.

 

In this order

Bracelet
Leather
Sailcloth
Rubber

Not a fan of Nato

 

No rubber?

 

Only steel and secondarily textile (but not NATO)
Except for sports. For this, G-Shock + composite bracelet.
No leather - unhygienic.
No silicone - does not hold shape.
No titanium - metal must have weight.
No ceramics - a watch is not fragile tableware.

 

Leather > the rest. All leather straps have toolless micro adjust, and if you don't like where the factory or strap maker punched the holes, you can punch your own. Material and color options are almost limitless. You can completely change the look of a watch with a simple strap change, and experiment with complimenting or contrasting colors to your heart's content.

 

Leather > the rest. All leather straps have toolless micro adjust, and if you don't like where the factory or strap maker punched the holes, you can punch your own. Material and color options are almost limitless. You can completely change the look of a watch with a simple strap change, and experiment with complimenting or contrasting colors to your heart's content.

A single pass Horween leather strap or double loop for the beefy look that is not a NATO. Fiesta ware is also on the menu.

 

My preference list:
1. Stainless steel
2. Titanium
3. Silicone
4. Nylon
5. Leather

 

Usually leather, obviously with a rubber waiting in the wings for wet work (Leisure no work) days.

With the caveat that some brands need a bracelet, and always stay on-a bracelet.

For me that’s Rolex, I’ve had mine thirty plus years and all bar a few days experimenting, they have always stayed on their oysters.

 

I’m lucky enough to live somewhere where you can wear short sleeves shirts from april/may to october/november so mostly steel bracelets for me, then canvas when it gets colder and cordovan leather for the rare occasion I feel like it.

 

Stainless!!!!

 

It depends on the watch.

 

Sailcloth is my fav (if inner leather layer for comfort).

 

I voted Titanium for it's poor conductive properties. Never too hot or too cold when I put one on. However, it really depends on the construction.

I love the look of the bracelet on my beloved IWC Porsche Design Titan automatic chronographs from the 80s-90s. But occasionally they'll pull a hair.

 

Perlon—my wrist is perpetually between holes on straps, I I live in Los Angeles where it gets hot midday and I want to wear as many of my watches as I can year-round, to the point where my old Longines dress watch is on very thin vintage a two-piece perlon.

 

now, that is a good idea. I like making straps with really tight hole spacing, and have one Formex clasp with micro adjust for my straps, but nothin beats a perlon for adjustability.

 

Sail cloth?
Cork?

 

Unless specifically designed for a bracelet, I find leather straps to generally be better.

They are more flexible and comfortable, plus they tend to complement how a watch looks rather than overpower it.

 

It depends on the watch. I prefer to wear my Tutima Bund with the titanium bracelet, and an Isofrane band on my MM300.

 

Stainless, and specifically the grains of rice pattern.

 

 

What bracelet is that?

 

Favorite bracelet or strap here tens to be the beads of rice. Haven't found many that it doesn't look good on to me.

 

Depends on the watch, but generally speaking I think it’s difficult to beat the look and comfort of a good quality leather strap.

I’ve recently converted a couple of watches to silicone straps (due to the vibrant colours available). I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the quality and comfort they offer. Not the best photos admittedly, but some examples below.

1. Vintage red Zuludiver leather.
2. Orange silicone Anbeer.
3. Aqua soft silicone Archer (to pair with a midnight blue faced Mondaine).

Also recently bought a new brown leather Zulu strap from the NATO strap store. It’s for a military green Seiko 5, but watch is currently away for a service.

Stainless steel doesn’t do it for me and more often than not I change the one it comes with.

 

I like leather best as you can have a wide range from refined alligator/croc, patterned exotics like ostrich/lizard/stingray, regular calfskin, antiqued/distressed looks, suede/nubuck etc. to cover the whole range from very dressy to very casual. You can even have carbon embossed waterproof leather straps for sports watches. Not to mention that you can vary the strap color/stitching to match your outfit or watch dial. I have taken off the steel bracelet from many of my watches and then vary their look with a wide selection of aftermarket quick-release leather straps.

I use rubber straps only on some of my divers when I plan to swim/dive with them and only a few field watches have fabric straps on them.