Let us examine a watch from an aesthetic point of view, starting with the accessory that is most noticeable: the strap. It may seem trivial to describe the instrument that allows the watch to be worn on the wrist, the link between the case and our body, but I assure you that it is not at all. Not a day goes by without each of us having to deal with it. The strap is given the utmost attention and consideration from the moment of purchase by customers. Although the watch is the main actor, it often happens that a wrong strap combination can influence the customer's decision in the final phase of the choice: this might seem exaggerated, but it is not at all. Having decided on the watch to be purchased, the question often follows: are there further options for the strap? Some buy an extra one right from the start, obviously in a different colour or material. If it is provided for, some watch models, for example, include a second one directly in the case. Many enthusiasts are well versed in watch straps: they know about leathers, fabrics, various composite materials and the most popular ones, colour variations, stitching, thicknesses and sizes. The Maisons themselves devote time to the research of new materials and the development of different models, both in design and shape, investing considerable capital in this important accessory. Not only watch manufacturers are involved in the production of straps; there is a thriving 'undergrowth' of specialised companies on the market that make the creation and customisation of straps their primary activity. Not to be underestimated, then, is the work of high-level craftsmen who make custom-made straps. We could compare them to haute couture tailors, who offer their customers a wide choice of materials and customisation possibilities. A beautiful strap enhances the beauty of the watch, but it is equally true that when it wears out, with the consequent alteration of colour and the formation of unsightly cracks, the result is comparable to a worn-out pair of shoes, dirty and old, under a well-cleaned and pressed haute couture suit. Often in the shop, I pause to observe the saleswomen as they propose the different possibilities in choosing a new strap. I admire their great patience and commitment with customers who have become increasingly demanding, especially with regard to colours. When the ordered watch strap arrives, more and more often, the customer even checks the colour shade and, especially in the case of a customised order, if the colour arrives is not perfectly identical to that of the sample chosen, there is no point in reminding them that, since it is 'original' leather, it is natural that the colours and the type of scaling differ from one sample to another. This should not be considered as a defect but, on the contrary, as proof of authenticity and value. In order to avoid unpleasant complaints, we sometimes even prefer to place a new order, even at our own expense in terms of time and money. From one extreme to the other, let us turn to those who see the strap as a mere tool. I would give them one piece of advice: check and change the strap when it is worn. The main risk is that it may break; the weak points are in the lugs, the cavities where the bars fit, the buckle attachment and the strap hole. If even one of the above-mentioned points is too worn or damaged, the watch can fall to the ground causing damage, or worse, we might not realise the fact and thus lose the watch at a cost far greater than the cost of the strap. It would be a good idea, therefore, to remember to periodically check that the bars are secure and firmly attached to the lugs of the watch, that there are no traces of oxide due to perspiration, and that there is no empty space left between the lugs and the strap, which would allow for an obvious horizontal movement; even in this case, the risk is that the bar will detach and the watch will fall off. The strap, therefore, is not just an embellishment or a frill, but we must consider it an important accessory of the watch. The essential tool that will allow us to raise the wristband with pride.
