You've got THE watch. But are you still missing something on your wrist?

Nothing beats the feeling of landing your dream watch. But sometimes, it doesn't hurt to give it a little extra 'something'. For most of you out there, that means getting a new strap for your treasured timepiece. After all, a strap can be just as personal as a watch.

As with watches, buying a new strap raises more than a few questions, so let's try to answer most of them!

How do I make sure I'm getting the right strap for my watch?
How do I know I’m getting the right strap size?
There are so many types of straps — what should I get?
Which strap style should I get?
Do I need a professional to help me change straps?
Can I use the buckle from my original watch on the new strap?
What is the difference between your CTS rubber straps and leather straps?
Should I even be changing straps?
Will changing my watch strap affect my warranty?
Why should I choose Delugs straps?

1. How do I make sure I’m getting the right strap for my watch?

The first thing you'll need to find out is what type of strap will even fit your watch. This is easy with most watches — look at their original strap. Is the end that attaches to the watch curved or straight? In most cases, all you need to do is ensure that your new strap matches the original in that regard.

For watches that come with bracelets, things get a little more complicated. Most watch bracelets flow directly into the watch case. Others, like the Milanese mesh, attach the same way as regular, straight watch straps. In the case of the former, whether you need a curved or straight watch strap depends on your watch's lug length and the depth of the screwbar holes. For watches from brands like MING, the lugs are so short that only curved straps will fit. You can learn more about curved straps and the situations that call for them here.

There is also a third instance of watch bracelets: Integrated. Such bracelets are designed to produce a seamless appearance when attached to the watch. This means foregoing conventional lug designs, making most third-party straps incompatible. In such instances, the only way to purchase a strap for such watches is via our Custom Strap Program.

The second step is to find out your strap's lug width. This is measured in millimetres and is quite easy to do — you can learn how here.

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2. How do I know I’m getting the right strap size?

Determining your strap size requires taking two things into account: Your wrist size and your watch's lug-to-lug measurement. Contrary to what some believe, watch straps are not one-size-fits-all. A properly sized strap keeps your watch balanced on your wrist, and minimal strap excess also contributes to a neater appearance.

You can refer to this guide for a more in-depth explanation of how to find your Delugs strap size. We've also prepared a handy Strap Size Calculator that does all the math for you. Once you have your strap size, you can use it for virtually all our straps (excluding our CTS Rubber collection), regardless of style. And unless your next watch features a very different lug-to-lug measurement, there should be no need for resizing.

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3. There are so many types of straps — what should I get?

Even though there aren't as many straps as there are watches, it's still a lot to choose from. In general, Delugs straps are defined by their material makeup: Leather, Sailcloth, FKM rubber or Fabric. Which one you end up picking really depends on your needs, preferences and/or lifestyle.

Traditionalists tend to prefer the classic charm of leather, while modernists prefer the performance benefits associated with sailcloth or FKM rubber. And if you're talking about a watch that might get exposed to water (e.g. a dive watch), you would certainly prefer a more waterproof option or even something that isn't afraid to get wet, like our fabric collection.

Even then, each material category has subtypes. We go into a little more detail here, so have a read to find out how you can pick the strap material that's right for you.

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4. Which strap style should I get?

As with strap materials, picking the strap style comes down to preference — there's no real 'right' option. Delugs currently offers five strap styles within our ready-stock Leather and Sailcloth strap collection: Signature, Slim, Side-Stitch, Stitchless and Chunky. Meanwhile, our CTS Rubber and Fabric collections have their own unique styles. Additional strap styles are also available via our Custom Strap Program — you can learn more about our full range of strap styles and how to match them here.

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5. Do I need a professional to help me change straps?

That depends — if you're swapping between Delugs straps, then no! All our straps come with custom quick-release spring bars, which allow strap-swapping to happen in seconds, tool-free. They also feature upgrades like welded quick-release knobs, a double flange and longer retractable ends. However, not all OEM straps function like this. In such instances, a spring bar tool will sometimes be required to remove the existing strap. Some watches require nudging the strap edge aside to retract the spring bar, while others have drilled lugs for easier access. Regardless, you may want to consult a watch technician for removal to avoid accidentally scratching your lugs, especially if you've never handled a spring bar tool before.

Removing a watch bracelet, on the other hand, requires a bit more finesse. While there are watches that come with quick-release bracelets and drilled lugs, these are more often the exception than the norm. Bracelets, due to their one-piece design, are more difficult to manipulate compared to two-piece straps, making removal tricky for inexperienced hands. While we do offer a Bracelet Removal Tool that makes the process simpler and fuss-free, trusting it to a professional is always best if you're in any way unsure.

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6. Can I use the buckle from my original watch on the new strap?

In most cases, yes. If you're shopping within our Handcrafted collection, you can always swap in your watch's original buckle to maintain that 'stock' look. However, this is contingent on your watch's original buckle width matching ours. A wider or narrower buckle will NOT result in a perfect fit.

If you decide to stick with our default buckle, rest assured that your strap is in good hands. Our straps come with a custom-made buckle as standard, specially designed to reduce stress on the strap holes while maintaining an ergonomic profile for comfort on the wrist.

Our CTS Rubber strap collection is the only exception here. These straps are designed to only work with our custom CTS Deployant clasps, which use the same leaf spring system as our Spring Deployant Clasps to ensure a secure fit. If you're buying a CTS Rubber strap for your watch, you will not be able to use your watch's original buckle or clasp.

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7. What is the difference between your CTS rubber straps and leather straps?

Our Handcrafted Leather straps are crafted using the same traditional techniques that leather artisans rely on for their goods. This includes manual skiving, saddle stitching, and hand-applied edge finishing. You can learn more about our leathercrafting process here (we've also included a special video, for TL;DR purposes).

Our CTS Rubber straps, on the other hand, are injection-moulded using a high-quality FKM (fluoroelastomer) rubber. We chose this material for two reasons. Firstly, we were impressed by FKM rubber's ability to withstand the rigours of daily wear while remaining comfortable, and we wanted to bring those same benefits to watch enthusiasts as an everyday strap (this includes our Sailcloth collection). Secondly, it allowed us to offer the advantages of a cut-to-size strap without requiring specialised handling. This means that anyone who purchases a CTS Rubber strap can size it for a perfectly tailored fit, all within the comfort of their home.

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8. Should I even be changing straps?

Changing straps is a personal choice. That being said, you should definitely consider buying a new strap if your current one is damaged or fits poorly. Aside from that, strap-changing can be a fun way to experiment with new looks for your watch and even breathe new life into an old, neglected piece. It's also a great way to inject some personality into your watch. Think of straps as clothes for your watch — just as you curate your wardrobe to be a reflection of your tastes and personality.

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9. Will changing my watch strap affect my warranty?

It's 100% understandable to be concerned about voiding your watch's warranty. However, changing straps does not count as tampering and will therefore NOT violate your warranty agreement.

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10. Why should I choose Delugs straps?

When it comes to watch straps, we're all spoilt for choice on where to shop. At Delugs, one thing that we've always been proud of is our community-first mentality. We understand that people shopping for straps are more than just standalone customers; they're part of a larger collective of watch enthusiasts, from different walks of life, who understand that it's the little things that make a huge difference.

This means understanding and anticipating sensitivities and issues that only watch owners can identify with, and offering the relevant solutions. Things like extended lug width coverage, custom-made quick-release spring bars and buckles, watch-specific straps, travel-friendly watch kits, and multi-purpose storage boxes are the result of this. Plus, the fact that all of us at Delugs are watch enthusiasts ourselves certainly helps too!

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