There is a saying that watches are differentiated from bracelet watches, and as a result, watch straps have not become mere accessories to fixed watch cases. A good watch strap can add a lot of color to a watch. Today, the wristwatch strap has undergone a silent evolution. Metal, leather, silk cloth, composite materials and so on have enriched it. Gems have made the wristwatch strap no longer a low-key supporting role. The watch strap is the guardian of time, and when it completes its silent evolution, it is already worth our admiration.

Watch straps give birth to wristwatches

The birth of wristwatches should be attributed to those ladies who pursue independence. In the Breguet Museum located on Place Vend ô me in Paris, there is still a watch order dated June 8, 1810 preserved in the Breguet historical archives. The owner who placed the order was Caroline Murat, the youngest sister of Napoleon I, who had another more well-known identity - the Queen of Naples. The order clearly states that 'we should charge 5000 francs for this timekeeping bracelet watch' and provides a complete description of each stage of the watch's production process. The watch ordered by the Queen of Naples is described as an 'oval bracelet timekeeping watch'. Patek Philippe also made a bracelet watch at the invitation of Countess Kocewicz of Hungary in 1868, which has been passed down to this day.

Order file of Naples Queen ordering Breguet watch

Bracelet watches are the embryonic form of modern wristwatches. Brazilian aviator Albert Santos Dumont found it very inconvenient to read the time on his pocket watch during his flight. His friend Louis Cartier learned of his problem and decided to create a timing tool that could be worn on his wrist. Cartier fixed the watch on a leather strap, tied it to the wrist, and presented it in a square case. This groundbreaking watch series was named Santos de Cartier. In 1906, when Santos de Cartier stepped off the plane at the end of his flight, everyone witnessed him reading the time on his wrist, and Santos de Cartier officially made his debut from then on. In 1911, the Santos de Cartier watch was officially launched to the public, and by 1973, Cartier had produced approximately 800 Santos de Cartier watches.

Albert Santos Dumont once flew a 14 bis biplane in the sky

Precious metal watch strap

Whether it's 18K white gold, rose gold, or platinum, precious metal materials are often the most commonly used materials for high-end watch straps. The disadvantage of precious metal alloy watch straps is that the color durability of the alloy is not high. After wearing for a long time, the chemical components in daily necessities are prone to corrode precious metals, and the outer layer of metal is more prone to wear, ultimately revealing the original color of gold. Moreover, the hardness of precious metals is not high, and their soft texture can cause deformation and relatively more scratches with slight bumps.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Gold Automatic Chain Watch

Stainless steel watch strap

Metal remains an important material in watch straps. Metal watch straps have excellent characteristics of durability and wear resistance. They are forged from ordinary stainless steel material and suitable for mass production. However, stainless steel watch straps still have a series of disadvantages that are difficult to avoid. Some ordinary stainless steel watch straps contain nickel material, which is a nightmare for some wearers. A considerable number of people have a nickel material allergy constitution, and wearing watches with this material strap can cause skin rashes, redness, and unbearable swelling. However, currently many high-end watches choose to use nickel free metal materials, which can be said to be a blessing for watch enthusiasts.

Patek Philippe Ref.5960 1/A watch

Leather strap

There are two main materials for watch straps, one is metal strap and the other is leather strap. Leather watch straps come in many materials, such as cowhide, crocodile skin, ostrich skin, lizard skin, horsehide, and so on. The disadvantages of leather watch straps are also obvious, the biggest weakness is that they are not waterproof, and sweat is also a fatal killer of leather watch straps. Leather watch straps should avoid strong sunlight exposure, as light exposure accelerates leather aging and can easily lead to tearing over time.