Watches are the ultimate accessory to an great outfit. They can be casual, sporty or dressy, and having multiple watches for different occasions is not uncommon. However, watches are not a cheap hobby to have. Expect to spend around $100 for your first quality entry-level watch, and exponentially more for notable brands such as Omega, Rolex and Patek.
So without breaking the wallet, how do people make the watch they have more versatile for casual, sporty or dressy occasions?
You change the straps of the watch!
Most watches have a spring bar connecting the main body of the watch to the strap. If you have a spring bar removal tool, you can remove the strap by yourself without any professional help. Once you have removed the spring bar and the strap, you can swap out straps as you please. Make sure you have the correct size of strap. Most come in 18mm, 20mm, or 22mm size straps. The easiest straps to remove and replace are NATO straps. They are a piece of nylon that you slip in between the spring bars without having to remove them.
The watch shown in the image is a dive watch, which is a style brought mainstream by the popular James Bond movies. This watch is a Seiko homage to the Omega Seamaster Bond wears in the films. The NATO strap replaced the metal strap that came with it, which gives it a more casual look. If a dressier occasion arises, a simple swap of the strap will do.
Watches are a must-have piece to a person’s wardrobe, and with it should come a strap for every occasion.
