What material of leather strap should one choose for wearing a watch in winter?

　　As the weather gradually turns colder, while we add extra layers of clothing, our wristwatches also call for a strap change. A leather strap is the top choice for winter wear; it does not feel as ice-cold as a steel bracelet and adds a touch of elegance to the winter season. Surprisingly, however, there are so many material options available when wearing a leather strap watch! So, how on earth should one choose?

　　Alligator leather strap: luxurious, features a natural grain, most common

　　It has to be said that luxury watches most frequently utilise alligator leather straps, and it seems that apart from stainless steel, watch bracelets are predominantly crafted using alligator leather.

　　IWC Portugieser Series Seven Days IW500114

　　Watch collection: Portugieser collection

　　Movement Type: automatic mechanical

　　Case Material: Stainless steel

　　Strap material: alligator leather strap

　　Case diameter: 42 mm

　　Replica price: $462.12 USD

　　Cowhide/calfskin strap: soft and smooth leather, durable, suitable for different types of watches

　　Cowhide straps are also a very common strap material; they are soft, durable, and offer great value for money. At the same time, cowhide straps possess a characteristic that alligator leather cannot achieve, which is that they can be paired with any style of watch, such as sporty or chunky timepieces.

　　Hermès KELLY 2 series KT1.210.130/UBC1 stainless steel watch

　　Watch collection: KELLY 2 series

　　Movement type: Quartz watch

　　Case Material: Stainless steel

　　Strap Material: Calfskin strap

　　Case diameter: 40 mm

　　Replica price: $178.88 USD

　　Since Hermès has been mentioned, let us add a little more. Hermès started out with leather goods, and their various leather items are among the most sought-after in the world. Because of the excellent quality of their leather, many brands choose Hermès to make their leather watch straps.

　　Ostrich leather strap: supple to wear, highly breathable, and durable

　　Ostrich leather straps are softer to wear and offer higher tensile strength. Many of Blancpain's high-end ladies' watches use ostrich leather for their straps.

　　Horsehide strap: excellent value for money and comfortable to wear

　　Not many watch brands use horsehide for their straps; the one that immediately comes to mind isNOMOS watches. Those familiar with NOMOS will also have a strong fondness for its horsehide straps. Distinct from the texture of other leathers such as alligator or calfskin, horsehide straps are exceptionally comfortable on the wrist. In addition, horsehide offers relatively better value for money compared to other leathers, which is one of the reasons why NOMOS maintains top-tier German watchmaking standards while keeping its prices relatively low.

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