How To Break In A New Leather Watch Strap

Getting a new leather strap for your watch is always a joy, but you will find they can be quite uncomfortable at first. They are just sort of stiff and do not feel right on your wrist.

Luckily leather will break in and after a while it will be extremely comfortable. A new watch strap is like a new pair of shoes, it just takes it a little time to get comfy.

If you think your leather strap is the wrong size. you should read – What To Do If A Leather Watch Strap Doesn’t Fit.

Types Of Strap

There are lots of different types of leather available that come from all sorts of different animals. There is also artificial leather that can be made from either plastics or plant material.

You within these different types you have various grades of leather such a top grain or genuine leather.

This pretty much means that different straps will have different levels of stiffness and will take a different amount of time to break in.

In general you should find that the more expensive your strap is the better quality it should be. However, this is not always the case and you can still find some great quality straps at a cheaper price point. 

Some people will also argue that a strap that starts stiffer, well actually be better in the long run compared to straps that are very supple and soft from the start. However, I believe the overall quality of the leather is more important than the initial stiffness of your strap.

I also would not worry too much about the stiffness of your strap. Although it does feel very nice to hold a soft and supple strap, once it’s on your wrist it’s more important that its conforms to the shape of your wrist. This will give you true comfort while you wear it. Of course it will need some level of softness to do this, but it is probably a lot less than you think it needs. 

(You can also read more about – How To Break In A Nato Strap)

Things That Can Help Break The Strap In

The following methods are going to help break in your watch strap:

Wear It

The number one best and simplest way to break in a watch strap is to wear it. Simply put it on and forget about it.

It will probably feel a little awkward for the first few days but you will quickly forget about in no time will be super comfortable.

Whenever I get a new watch or strap I just wear it non-stop for at least a week, usually two. Mostly i wear it so much as I am madly in love with my new purchase, but also to break the strap in.

I just put it one for about 12 hours a day and I actually don’t mind the awkward feeling, it reminds me that I am wearing it and then it makes me look at it. Maybe I am a bit of a weirdo, but I really do love getting new watches/straps and just enjoying them on my wrist when I first get them.   

Bend It

This is a technique I like to use a lot. It can help speed things up, but you have to be gentle. It is more of a massage than simply bending it.

Take the strap and place your thumb and forefingers at one end. Then place your other hands thumb and forefinger directly next to it. Keep one hand still and move the other hand back and forth gently.

Basically you are bending the watch very gently at the point where you are holding it. You don’t want to be aggressive and damage the strap. You just need lots of gentle wiggling back and forth to slowly loosen up the fibres so they become more flexible.

 Slowly work your way along the length of the strap doing this along its entire length.

When I get a new strap I do this once a day for a couple of minutes for the first week (after wearing it all day). I find this is more than enough to just help loosen the strap and to get it to form around my wrist in a very comfortable way

Your Natural Oils

Wearing the watch strap, along with gently massaging it is all you need. The heat from your wrist and fingers, along with the natural oils in your skin is exactly what the leather needs to help soften it.

When you add in the gentle movement from wearing it and the massages from your finger it all helps to really break the watch strap in and help it be the shape it needs to be around your wrist. 

Techniques I Wouldn’t Use To Break In Watch Strap

You will often hear the following points being suggested as things you should do, I think do think they are worth it and you should actually avoid these:

Leave It On A Pipe

This technique could work, but you need the pipe to be the same thickness as your wrist. The idea is that you put the watch on a pipe. It then simulates you wearing it and breaks it in for you. Just leave it there a week and when you come back it should be perfect.

The only issue is that it’s going to start to bend and conform to the shape of the pipe. The pipe is also not moving, not taking the watch on and off, not warm and not covered in natural oils. 

So realistically, it’s not really doing much apart from bending the leather into a shape that isn’t even the same as your wrist.  It sounds like it should be a good idea, but I don’t think it is.

Conditioners

A lot of people will swear by these and I do think they have their place. Personally I wouldn’t use them.

You can buy special waxes and conditioners for watch straps to help make them softer. I just don’t think they are really needed. If I was going to add anything to my watch strap, it would rather use this than the home made versions.

Homemade Potions

I’ve seen all sorts of various recipes with Vaseline/baby oil/alcohol and basically any oil you can find in the kitchen. Maybe some of them work, but really I would not be trying this.

I would not be taking a brand new strap and covering it in something I’ve mixed up in the kitchen. I have no idea how this might affect the strap and if damages it, you only have yourself to blame.

What To Expect Once A Watch Strap Is Broken In

Breaking in a strap will make your strap change in a few ways, this is nothing bad, its just all part of the process. It is just good to be aware that this can happen.

More Distressed Looking

Wearing your strap and having it bend to the shape of your wrist is going to cause some distress. If you just wear your watch normally and gently massage the strap, you should not get much distress.

However, you will start to see a difference in the leather; it will not be exactly the same across teh strap as some areas will be bending more than others. This can be annoying at first, but when you realise it is breaking in and starting to patina, you will realise it is now unique to you.

It Will Not Be Flat

The strap is going to get a natural curve to it. This is the curve of your wrist. When you take the watch off, it will still have this. This is a good thing.

Whenever I watch videos of people showing their watch collections I always notice their straps are as straight as an arrow. This just says to me that they never wear the watch or use strap, which to me is pretty sad. Put it on and enjoy it. Allow it to get worn in and become comfortable and let it have its natural bend.

Discolouration

I have sort of touched on this above and mentioned it should patina over time from wearing and exposure to the elements. However, if you use products such as conditioners they can discolour instantly. This is another reason why I am not fond of using them. They can often darken the strap, which isn’t what I want to happen.

How Long Can It Take To Break A Watch Strap In?

On average it should be broken in within 2 weeks, certainly by 4 weeks.

It’s hard to say exactly as it depends on so many things. It depends on the leather and its thickness. It also depends on how often you are wearing it and if you are doing anything else to it. If you just wear it all day, no matter what the strap is you should start to see signs of it breaking in within 2 weeks.   

Just be patient, it will get there. I have heard people throw about the figure of 140 hours. I guess when you divide that down to 10 hours a day, you get 2 weeks, so that number adds up in my opinion.

(You can read more about – What Are The Benefits Of A Leather Watch Strap?)

Conclusion

Breaking in a new strap is something that is important, but also something you shouldn’t really worry too much about.

You should treat it like a new pair of shoes. It should be comfortable enough when you first put it on, maybe a bit awkward, but very quickly you not notice it and in no time it will be the most comfortable thing you have ever worn.

(You can read more about – How Often Should You Change A Watch Strap?)