A decrease in leather-band watches in the general public?

[stockjock1975]

The other day I was having lunch at a local pub. Being the typical WIS I never miss an opportunity to scan the room and gander at the watches on the wrists of others. Lately I seem to have noticed a trend: most people no longer wear watches on leather, but instead have gone to more sporty, stainless steel band watches.

Perhaps my unscientific poll has misled me. But I just have been noticing the lack of watches being worn on leather bands lately and instead going the way of the typical stainless steel band sport watch. Please don’t misunderstand the point of this post. This is not a “which is better” type of message, but instead I’m just curious why the population seems to have moved away from, or perhaps more aptly, moved TO full stainless steel watches?

As I think more about this question, I begin to wonder if leather band watches like my Patek Calatrava (see picture below) are now considered too old-fashioned and out of style? Is it perhaps no longer “cool” to wear a classic watch? Taking the example one step further, have traditional watches on leather straps gone the way of bell-bottom pants, cassette tapes, and the VCR?

At the end of the day, we all wear what makes us smile. I just long for the day when watches on leather was the norm and not the exception. Anyone else agree? I look forward to your thoughts and comments.

[azguy]

No offense, leather stinks in my opinion, it stains, it wears out quickly, it stretches and if you own a sport watch it's meant for swimming, diving and hard abuse none of which leather is appropriate for...

[impalass]

As a child growing up in the 50's/60's the overwhelming majority of watches where white dail with three hands on leather. The big deal in watches with the common man where "flex bracelets", lol.

We've come a long way, I for one do not care what's popular and even enjoy the fact that for non WIS types leather is not that popular.

[HL65]

I love wearing suede and leather and that is my norm so for me doesn't really matter what anyone else wears. Wear
what you like as taste is subjective and to each his own! Posted while wearing my 63' Sub on leather strap.

[Billywiz]

Originally Posted by azguy

No offense, leather stinks in my opinion, it stains, it wears out quickly, it stretches and if you own a sport watch it's meant for swimming, diving and hard abuse none of which leather is appropriate for...

...I agree especially in hot climates.

[mjclark32]

Originally Posted by SteelerFan65

I love wearing suede and leather and that is my norm so for me doesn't really matter what anyone else wears. Wear
what you like as taste is subjective and to each his own! Posted while wearing my 63' Sub on leather strap.

Gorgeous

I also see mostly metal bracelets, but there is certainly a demand for straps. Just look at the demand for Etur and Smarty's end links

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by azguy

No offense, leather stinks in my opinion, it stains, it wears out quickly, it stretches and if you own a sport watch it's meant for swimming, diving and hard abuse none of which leather is appropriate for...

The alligators in Florida must not be aware of this.

[HL65]

Originally Posted by mjclark32

Gorgeous

[HL65]

Originally Posted by MonBK

The alligators in Florida must not be aware of this.

Nor the Italian Navy from the late 40-50's who sported Panerai's on leather straps for diving missions.

[ceconomakis]

cheaper watches are coming with more and more metal bracelets. the leather is becoming reserved for the more upscale brands, IWC, Panerai, PP, AP, etc

[aardvarkbark]

Originally Posted by impalass

As a child growing up in the 50's/60's the overwhelming majority of watches where white dail with three hands on leather. The big deal in watches with the common man where "flex bracelets", lol.

We've come a long way, I for one do not care what's popular and even enjoy the fact that for non WIS types leather is not that popular.

Totally agree. As a youth, getting a Speidel Twist-O-Flex every year was living large. Now, I put all of my watches on strap. When they get sweat stained they get replaced just as my shoe soles get replaced. I do find the gap-aversion so seemingly high amongst Rollie fans rather comical, and the insitence on end links if a strap is used simply absurd.

[Cc1966]

I've tried quality leather bands twice and was amazed how fast they started to wear-out; went back to SS and have not looked back yet. Perhaps I'm harder on leather than an alligator!

[joe100]

Steel is the way to go. Leather can't get wet and wears out quickly

[beshannon]

I would say that your survey was anecdotal at best. Not nearly a large enough sample to draw any conclusions except that on that date in that place you saw more people wearing bracelets than straps.

I wear both and sometimes switch between bracelet and strap. Depends on mood, weather etc.

[wingku]

I love a classy watch in leather strap, like a JLC, IWC, Patek etc. My Pam, which is I can't classified as classy dress watch but I love the different straps, meanwhile, my other watches, the GV, the Expy I, PO, Speedy, all SS.....

just different look and different taste i suppose and I love them all.

[landroverking]

I like classic leather bands.

[Daytona-Dan]

I personally like the look but find them simply uncomfortable compared to a good bracelet. Having said that, I've tried bracelets before that were even worse..

I tend to see more older people wearing them which supports your argument that it's going out of fashion. I guess the older you get, the more likely you are to cling to what you remember as being nice in your youth.

[R.J.]

Originally Posted by stockjock1975

The other day I was having lunch at a local pub. Being the typical WIS I never miss an opportunity to scan the room and gander at the watches on the wrists of others. Lately I seem to have noticed a trend: most people no longer wear watches on leather, but instead have gone to more sporty, stainless steel band watches.

Perhaps my unscientific poll has misled me. But I just have been noticing the lack of watches being worn on leather bands lately and instead going the way of the typical stainless steel band sport watch. Please don’t misunderstand the point of this post. This is not a “which is better” type of message, but instead I’m just curious why the population seems to have moved away from, or perhaps more aptly, moved TO full stainless steel watches?

As I think more about this question, I begin to wonder if leather band watches like my Patek Calatrava (see picture below) are now considered too old-fashioned and out of style? Is it perhaps no longer “cool” to wear a classic watch? Taking the example one step further, have traditional watches on leather straps gone the way of bell-bottom pants, cassette tapes, and the VCR?

At the end of the day, we all wear what makes us smile. I just long for the day when watches on leather was the norm and not the exception. Anyone else agree? I look forward to your thoughts and comments.

You're wearing my watch Brian. Exchanged the standard black strap for the dark brown to be worn with a deployant clasp. A luxury dress watch with leather strap in my opinion is a thing of beauty but then I am biased. Other styles of watches have different rules.

[stockjock1975]

Nice choice R.J.! I just found that the brown gives the piece a little more versatility. Great with jeans or a suit. Glad to hear you are of like mind! Wear yours in good health!

[HL65]

Originally Posted by Daytona-Dan

I personally like the look but find them simply uncomfortable compared to a good bracelet. Having said that, I've tried bracelets before that were even worse..

I tend to see more older people wearing them which supports your argument that it's going out of fashion. I guess the older you get, the more likely you are to cling to what you remember as being nice in your youth.

I never thought of myself as old being in my late 40's!

As for comfort of bracelet vs. leather and suede no comparison for me...Way more comfy and also again much prefer the look. It is interesting thou that many in the vintage community wear leather straps over bracelets. I guess also if you want to go with the masses you do as the masses do. Me I like to be different and like unique look but what the heck us old fogies don't know any better!

[motoikkyu]

Where I am, globally, it is summer now. In summer, I tend to wear watches with bracelets because the summer is warm here, and leather sometimes can make me sweat, especially if it is humid. Humidity also can make a person's dimensions, including their wrists, change. This affects those of us who are getting older, especially those of us who take some daily medications. Sometimes, it is easier to compensate for these changes with a bracelet: while some leather deployment bands are easy to "fine tune", MANY stainless bracelets have the same potential. When autumn comes, I will be wearing more leather. In terms of water-proof or water-resistant, I encourage my fellow watch enthusiasts to take another look at shark and stingray bands, especially the shaved stingray. Many of these are water-proof, which is not surprising since they are made from fish, and they have a unique look that some of you might like.

[aeon888]

I want the Tudor Black Bay in leather. Gives it a vintage kinda retro look.

[GermanyMatt]

Rubber seems to be the new leather - and fabric straps like nato, zulu, and sailcloth.

[Daytona-Dan]

Originally Posted by SteelerFan65

I never thought of myself as old being in my late 40's!

I'm in my early 30's so by comparison,.. um... no, I'm not going there
Then again, as my dad keeps reminding me, I'm catching up pretty fast!

On a more serious note, your straps do look better than the average ones I see and they're pretty thick too so you probably don't have the same wear and tear problems other have. I do honestly find straps uncomfortable though but I can't say I've given any of them a real chance to bed in so it's probably my own fault

[metallic]

Excellent observation. Certainly anecdotal but my general observations say the same thing, bracelets far outnumber straps.

Of course, then we need to look at the distribution of straps to bracelets in better quality watches, or at least in mechanical movement watches. It seems that 99% of watches seen in the wild are quartz. If we eliminate all of those quartz watches, what then would the stap:bracelet ratio be? And then if you look only at precious metal watches, things really change in favor of straps.

[HL65]

Originally Posted by Daytona-Dan

I'm in my early 30's so by comparison,.. um... no, I'm not going there
Then again, as my dad keeps reminding me, I'm catching up pretty fast!

On a more serious note, your straps do look better than the average ones I see and they're pretty thick too so you probably don't have the same wear and tear problems other have. I do honestly find straps uncomfortable though but I can't say I've given any of them a real chance to bed in so it's probably my own fault

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by azguy

No offense, leather stinks in my opinion, it stains, it wears out quickly, it stretches and if you own a sport watch it's meant for swimming, diving and hard abuse none of which leather is appropriate for...

That's why you replace the strap after a certain amount of time.

[stockjock1975]

Great point, Metallic! (Sorry, don't know how to quote). I would suspect that we put your "high-end" hypothesis to the test, it may in fact reflect favorably for leather straps. Thanks for pointing that out.

[HL65]

Originally Posted by SearChart

That's why you replace the strap after a certain amount of time.

Or buy really nice thick custom straps like I do. They cost much more but well worth it.

[Oyster Al]

One day, in one pub makes not a fashion trend. Always good to mix things up with bracelets and leather bands. Leather can sometimes give that color pop that is needed for a specific look or outfit. So No! The leather band has not gone the way of the cassette tape.