Over the centuries watch companies have never stopped trying and playing with new materials to optimize their watches. Therefore, the list of available materials is getting quite extensive. The research on different materials can become tiresome very quickly. Hence, we created a spreadsheet for you. It lists all common watch materials for the most important parts and highlighting their pros and cons.
The strap is certainly that watch part that will influence the most the appearance of your timepiece. The strap has the power to change a casual or athletic watch into one that can be worn on formal occasions. You can read more about this in our watch fashion guides for women and men. Furthermore, because of different flexibilities, texture, and weights, the watch strap is also essential for wearing comfort.
| Material | Sub- Category | Properties | Pro | Con |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leather | Applies to all | lightweight | good look, easy maintenance, (eco-friendly), durable, feels light on skin, does not cause a lot sweat | not water/ sweat resistant, can be damaged by sun |
| faux-leather/ vegan leather | many different forms | vegan, environmentally friendly options available | can be out of plastic -> less environmentally friendly | |
| genuine leather | smoother surface, more flexible | durable, looks good, reasonable price | harmful to animals | |
| full-grain leather | rougher surface, less flexible | very durable | harmful to animals, pricey | |
| Wood | / | lightweight | unique look, affordable, environmentally friendly, hypoallergenic | shorter life span, not water/ sweat resistant |
| Metals | Applies to all | durable, valuable and classic look | accumulation of dirt and grain, stiff-> uncomfortable | |
| Stainless steel | silver colour, hard, heavy | relatively affordable compared to other metals, resistant to corrosion | might cause allergic reaction | |
| Gold ( Rose Gold/ White Gold ) | golden/ silver colour, soft, heavy | expensive look | scratches easily,pricey | |
| Titanium | different colours, hard, lightweight | durable, resistant to corrosion | easily scratched, pricy | |
| Rubber | Applies to all | different colors, flexible, high tensile strength, lightweight | affordable, flexible, water resistant, easy to maintain, many different design options | no long-term durability, cheap look, |
| Silicone rubber | smooth surface | smooth surface, hypoallergenic | sweat prone, low tensile strength, damaged by oils, surface easily damaged, | |
| Natural rubber | durable, water/sweat resistant, environmentally friendly | sweat prone, can get sun damaged | ||
| Nylon | / | different colours, lightweight, fabric-like | durable, breathable,water/sweat resistant, easy to clean, many different designs, many design choices | can fluff,might look cheap |
| Ceramic | / | lightweight,often coated with thin layer of metal, hard material Note: not like ceramic in cookware | scratch resistant, heat resistant | scatters easily, pricey |
| Material | Properties | Pro | Con |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acrylic glass | lightweight, plastic | affordable, lightweight, durable | scratches easily |
| Mineral glass | glass | affordable, more scratch resistant | can scatter, scattering can damage movement |
| Sapphire crystal | glass-like | very resistant for scratching and scattering | pricey |
| Material | Properties | Pro | Con |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stainless steel | silver colour, relatively hard metal, heavy | durable, resistant to corrosion, easy to maintain | scratches more, visible, pricey |
| Brass/Bronze | brownish/yellowish golden colour,relatively soft metal | unique look, high resistant to seawater | platina can form, lower durability,pricey |
| Titanium | different colours, relatively hard metal, lightweight | durable, resistant to corrosion, hypoallergenic | pricey |
| Gold (Rose Gold/White Gold) | silver/ golden colour, relatively soft metal, heavy | expensive look | scratches easily, pricey to very pricey |
| Platinum | bright silver colour , relatively soft metal, heavy | durable scratch resistant, can be often refinished, hypoallergenic | very pricey |
| Aluminum | silver colour, lightweight | affordable, resistant to corrosion | flimsy |
| Palladium | silver colour, lightweight, | hypoallergenic, resistant to corrosion | very pricey |
| Silver | silver colour, relatively soft metal | resistant to corrosion, | quickly tarnishes, less durable, pricey |
| Carbon Fiber | black,colour ,very hard material, lightweight | highly durable, unique look | very pricey |
| Ceramic | often coated with thin layer of metal, lightweight, hard material Note: not like ceramic in cookware | scratch resistant, heat resistant | can scatter, pricey |
| Plastic/Rubber | many colours, lightweight | affordable,water/ sweat and heat resistant | flimsy,might look cheap look |
| Wood | lightweight | unique look, affordable, environmentally friendly, hypoallergenic | shorter life span, not water/ sweat resistant |
Have we missed anything? Let us know in the comments below.