30 Dec 19mm Watch Bands: The Complete Comfort Guide
If you’re a watch aficionado, then you know the right strap makes or breaks your timepiece. A few factors come into play when selecting the perfect strap: length and width.
A quality strap must be both comfortable and compatible with your watch’s case size. For reference, on average women’s wrist sizes run from six-and-a-half to eight inches and men from seven-and-three-quarters to nine inches.
1. Padded Bund
One of the benefits of a wide variety of 19mm straps available now is that there are more options to choose from than there were just a few years ago. Previously, you would have to order custom straps in the odd width to get a comfortable fit, but now most reputable strap makers offer standard designs in a variety of colors and materials.
This strap from Windup is a great example. It features a classic CWC design, but with elastic nylon for flexibility. This allows the strap to be worn a bit snugly, and also helps to keep the watch secure in case of spring bar failure (which is less likely to occur with this type of strap than a traditional fixed-bar NATO). The strap also has stitched-in hardware rather than heat-sealed, which feels more high-end and durable than most other straps on the market.
While the Sackett has a few downsides, including only three size options and metal hardware that isn’t quite as high-end as the Wyckoff, it’s still a great option for those looking for an alternative to the standard NATO. Like the sackett, it’s made from pebble-grained leather that’s soft to the touch and can develop a nice patina over time.
The TULA series from RIOS1931 is another great example of this style of strap. This particular strap is made from bark-tanned leather treated with birch oil, which adds durability and hardiness to the leather while also creating an interesting aesthetic.
2. Oyster
The Oyster strap was designed with security in mind and provide a secure and comfortable wear. The strap is made of a flexible, lightweight nylon, and features pass-through hardware that connects to the spring bar at one end and to a metal loop at the other. This design means that a single spring bar can’t fail and cause your watch to fall off the bracelet. It also produces a nice, cuff-like feel when worn snugly.
The hardware on this strap is stitched in, which gives it a more high-end feeling than many NATOs on the market. In fact, it’s the only strap in our lineup that uses this style of hardware. This is a welcome change from the heat-sealed hardware that most NATOs use. The stitching is also very nice, with a clean appearance that makes the strap look almost like it came from the factory.
Another nice feature of this strap is that it has a very traditional leather smell. The strap is also quite supple, so it feels great against the skin. This strap is very versatile, and can be used for a wide variety of watches. It’s a great choice for anyone who loves the classic look of leather but doesn’t want to spend a lot of money.
One downside to this strap is that it only comes in three size options, but at least one of those sizes is 19mm, which isn’t always a common option with third-party NATOs. However, this strap does have a fairly low 3mm taper, which helps to reduce the bulk of the buckle. It’s also a bit stiffer than the other straps in this guide, but not unreasonably so. As a bonus, the packaging is very nice, with Erika’s strap coming in an embossed envelope that contains a hand-signed card and a set of instructions. Mankey’s strap has a more minimalist approach with a narrow instruction card, while the Watch Steward strap has a very large logo on the hook that takes up a substantial portion of the surface and looks a little tacky.
3. President Bracelet
There are few watch bands that ooze class and prestige like the Rolex President bracelet. It is iconic, timeless, beautifully made and sublimely comfortable. I’ve seen it adorn the wrists of world leaders and it radiates the kind of confidence that is hard to replicate. Its semi-circular links, reminiscent of dew drops, closely follow one another leading to the case at the end and around the wearer’s wrist at the other. The curved top surfaces of the outer, smaller links have been gently brushed and finished with a subtle sheen that is not only lustrous but also very tactile.
The President bracelet is a great choice for a Speedmaster because it matches the watch in every way except color and it’s a little more versatile than the 1450 President, which only fits a few precious metal watches (like the 18ct gold or 950 platinum Day Date). It is also a perfect replacement bracelet for many vintage Seikos with 18 or 19mm hooded lugs.
Larry, who goes by the username Uncle Seiko on WristWatchDisorder, makes a number of these replacement bracelets for vintage Seikos. He’s become a valued resource for the vintage community as he produces bracelets that look authentic and period-correct, but feel like definite upgrades over the original Seiko ones.
There’s a growing market for 19mm straps and it’s easier to find them than ever before. Most of the reputable strap manufacturers make them in multiple styles and the selection is much larger than it was just a few years ago. You can still special order them, but they’re available for a lot more watch models than used to be the case. A few examples of quality 19mm straps you can choose from:
4. Leather
Leather straps are a classic and enduring watch accessory. Real leather (typically from cattle or sheep) undergoes a lengthy transformation process that includes tanning, crusting, and finishing to produce a flexible, robust and comfortable material that’s able to hold on to daily wear and tear. Leather has a natural look that’s timeless and will continue to get better with age, developing a rich patina over time.
There’s a wide range of leathers available on the market today, each one with their own unique color, texture, and feel. The type of leather that you choose will depend on the look and style of your watch as well as your personal preferences.
For example, dive watches often come with a tan suede strap, which blends in and looks great with the dark dials and field-style cases of many dive watches. But there are also other options such as a more casual, pebble-grained strap like this 18mm grained calfskin one from Molequin that’s a little more standout in appearance and can be used with dress watches.
Alternatively, there are straps made from more exotic leathers like snake and crocodile skin that can be quite expensive. But the great thing is that nowadays, a lot of reputable manufacturers make their own leather straps in a wide variety of colors and textures at very affordable prices.
Another type of leather that’s not so common is NATO or mil-spec straps. But if you’re a fan then consider a strap from David Lane’s Mil-Spec Strap collection that is available in Horween shell cordovan or calf suede. It’s a quality NATO strap and surprisingly supple given that it bucks tradition by not having a deployant clasp. This means it stretches incredibly well and can easily accommodate larger wrists, unlike other NATOs that can be restrictive in this regard.
5. Rubber
The watch world has seen a significant shift in popularity towards straps that fit between the lugs of a watch (known as lug width). Where once only Rolex wore 20mm straps, now many other brands use this larger size. This has resulted in a big jump in the selection of available 19mm straps, making it much easier for you to find the perfect match for your watch.
The most popular 19mm straps are made from rubber. This material is supple and feels great on the wrist, offering a high level of comfort. Rubber is also very durable and withstands wear and tear better than leather. Additionally, rubber is easy to clean. Running your strap under cold water is usually enough to restore it to good condition.
Lastly, rubber straps tend to be more affordable than leather. This makes them a great option for those looking to diversify their watch collection without spending a fortune.
When selecting a new strap, be sure to consider the color and design you want to pair with your watch. You can get a sense of how a strap will look by examining pictures online, but you’ll probably also need to take your watch’s lug width into consideration. Using a lug gauge will ensure you select a strap that fits your watch properly – a strap that is too large won’t fit, and one that is too small may cause damage to the watch case or spring bars. If you’re not sure what the lug width of your watch is, check the manufacturer’s specifications or order a free lug gauge from Watchgecko here. To remove your watch’s current strap, you’ll need a spring bar tool to press out the narrow bars that connect the strap to the lugs of your watch.