Watch band care?

nathanb · Apr 6, 2010

Hello,

Maybe some watch experts could help me out. My leather watch band is getting a little worn where the buckle (right word?) is and I don't know if there is anything I can do to make it more flexible. The band is pretty stiff and has been since I got it about 6 months ago.

Is there anything I can do to make it less stiff so it does not get so worn?

Thanks!

Thebigspendur · Apr 6, 2010

Depends on the kind of leather. There are treated or waterproof leathers that can be very stiff and there isn't much you can do about it and of course certain varieties of leather that are stiffer than others and the thickness and type of padding comes into play also. In general you can use any leather conditioner to soften the leather.

djh · Apr 6, 2010

One of the big problems with normal buckles on watch bands is that the leather strap needs to be bent quite severely to pass through the buckle. This causes the the part of the leather strap that rests in the middle of the buckle to bulge out and wear more quickly than we would like. One of the best remedies for this is to add a deployant buckle to your strap- this is like the folding clasp on a metal watch bracelet and keeps your strap straighter for longer life as well as lessening the chances of you dropping the watch whilst trying to put it on.
If you check a website like www.mywatchmaker.net you will see what I am talking about.
HTH.

RCR · Apr 6, 2010

Try Obenauf's leather oil on the band. I've done that before (and on my leather wallets as well) and it can help soften and preserve the leather of the band.

MichaelG · Apr 6, 2010

they really extend the life of straps. My advice is, if you have a nice watch, spend the money on a good watch strap and a good deployant. Take care of the your straps - try to minimize exposure to water, etc., and you should get a good lifespan out of a good strap.

Having said that, straps do wear out - if it starts getting funky from sweat or just looks worn out, go ahead and replace it. Once a strap has gone sweaty or stained or worn, it's time to replace it.

djh said:
One of the big problems with normal buckles on watch bands is that the leather strap needs to be bent quite severely to pass through the buckle. This causes the the part of the leather strap that rests in the middle of the buckle to bulge out and wear more quickly than we would like. One of the best remedies for this is to add a deployant buckle to your strap- this is like the folding clasp on a metal watch bracelet and keeps your strap straighter for longer life as well as lessening the chances of you dropping the watch whilst trying to put it on.
If you check a website like www.mywatchmaker.net you will see what I am talking about.
HTH.

Austin · Apr 6, 2010

MichaelG said:
they really extend the life of straps. My advice is, if you have a nice watch, spend the money on a good watch strap and a good deployant. Take care of the your straps - try to minimize exposure to water, etc., and you should get a good lifespan out of a good strap.

Having said that, straps do wear out - if it starts getting funky from sweat or just looks worn out, go ahead and replace it. Once a strap has gone sweaty or stained or worn, it's time to replace it.

Agreed. I would also recommend buying an extra strap to change from time to time.