The strap of a watch is a very important part of the watch. It has to be durable, stylish, and more importantly comfortable. There are various types of strap materials available in the market which include leather watch straps. The question that is on my mind right now is do leather watch straps stretch?
Leather watch straps with constant contact with sweats, moisture, heat, friction with the skin, and the secure action of its clasps (tang buckle) will cause it to stretch.
Leather watch straps will also stretch when you cover condition them or from wear and tear which happens naturally with time.
There’s obviously more to this topic so keep reading to find out more.
What Causes Leather Watch Straps To Stretch?
There are various causes of the leather watch straps stretching. Here are a few of the most common causes.
1. Constant Friction With The Skin
Over time the leather watch strap stretches due to constant friction with our skin, especially in hot and humid climates. This is a very common reason why your watch strap might be stretched out after prolonged use.
Our body heat also causes the strap to stretch. So if you are running in hot weather, your watch may slip out of place because of this reason.
I find this a very common problem but the level of stretch you get in this case is not very significant.
2. Soft Leather Watch Straps Will Stretch More Easily
Generally the softer and thinner the leather watch straps, the easier it is for them to stretch.
So if your leather watch strap is made from leather like calfskin, it will stretch very easily unlike other exotic leather like crocodile skin.
This is because leather becomes also has more elasticity the thinner and lighter it is. So this is why leather watch straps from calfskin are more likely to stretch when compared to the thicker exotic leathers.
3. Leather Watch Straps Stretch Due To Constant Exposure To Sweat And Moisture
Another common cause of watch strap stretching is exposure to sweat and moisture. This is a very serious cause of the strap stretching as it causes the leather to wear off from inside over time making it lose on your wrist.
This is because leather as material becomes pliable and elastic when exposed to any form of moisture.
The pliability of the leather can be reduced by using a waterproof coating on the leather watch strap. It is important to note that coating the leather with waterproof will only reduce or slow down the penetration of sweat into the leather – meaning the leather strap will still stretch anyways.
4. The Tang Style Buckle Will Stretch Leather Watch Straps
There are different types of watch clasps available in the market. If the watch is secured with a tang buckle, the watch strap is very likely to stretch two main ways;
- from the constant friction with your skin, and
- friction from the contact with the buckle during the pull action that secures it.
If you are wearing a tang buckle clasp, it will dig into your wrist and cause the leather watch strap to stretch.
There are other types of clasps such as a simple fold-over clasp which is one side attached to the watch strap, while another side has two small and thin metal tangs.
So when you fold over the strap to wear your watch, even though it is folded properly and securely – both sides of the leather watch strap can come out of the tang buckle which causes it to stretch.
5. Too Many Holes On The Leather Watch Strap Will Cause It To Stretch
There are different styles of leather watch straps that have holes on them for wearing them.
If the number of such holes is too large or too many it can cause the leather strap to stretch since it has more contact surface with your wrist.
This is because when you pull on both ends of the leather strap to wear the watch, you are pulling in opposite directions.
This causes the leather on both sides of each hole to stretch – resulting in the leather strap losing its elasticity and becoming loose.
This is why it is important to have a minimal number of holes on your leather watch strap.
6. Over Conditioning The Leather Watch Strap Can Cause It To Stretch
Anything leather must be conditioned from time to time to keep the leather from drying out. This is important for proper care of any leather watch strap to keep it in good condition over time.
The same goes for leather watch straps as you would have to condition them so that it is resistant against sweats, heat, and moisture.
While conditioning your leather watch strap will help to keep it in good condition, over conditioning the leather watch strap can cause it to stretch.
There is an amount of leather conditioner you’re supposed to use whenever you treat your leather. This should basically entail applying a very thin layer of conditioner over the surface of the leather and allowing it to dry before use.
You should never put too much conditioner on your leather watch strap or apply the leather conditioner too frequently as this could lead to the leather strap stretching.
Reasons Why Leather Watch Strap May Not Stretch
Infrequent Use
If your watch is not worn every day, your leather watch strap will break in to and you will feel it stretch to suit your wrist perfectly. However, a watch strap may not break in quite as much if the watch is not worn for several weeks in a row.
When this happens it will be as if your leather watch straps have become even tighter whenever you wear them.
So the best way to break in your leather watch strap or make it stretch is by wearing it every day or as often as possible until you feel that they are comfortable and don’t feel too tight on your wrist.
Leather Watch Strap Will Not Stretch If It’s Synthetic Leather
Real leather when compared to synthetic or faux leather will be more likely to stretch and provide you with a more comfortable wearing experience.
Synthetic leather is made from polyvinyl chloride or PVC and other synthetic materials that is why it has no elasticity. This means that synthetic leather watch straps will not stretch and there is nothing you can do about it.
If you try to stretch it or do anything that puts a lot of stress on the synthetic leather watch strap, it will develop crackers and will give in to wear very quickly.
Why Would I Want To Stretch My Leather Watch Straps?
There are a lot of reasons why you would want to stretch your leather watch straps some of which include;
Leather Watch Strap Becoming Too Tight From Neglect
One of the main reasons why you might want to stretch your leather watch strap can be due to it becoming too tight after wearing it. This can happen when the watch has been left for long without being worn.
This would cause the leather strap to become stiffer and it will be uncomfortable on your wrist when you wear them again especially if they are too tight.
When The Leather Watch Strap Is New
It may also be a good idea to stretch your leather watch strap when it is new so that the leather strap does not feel tight on your wrist when you start wearing them.
How To Stretch Leather Watch Straps
Here are a few of the most effective ways to stretch or break in your leather watch straps;
1. Wearing The Leather Watch Regularly Will Stretch The Leather Watch Strap
Wearing your leather watch strap regularly is one of the easiest and most effective ways to stretch or break in your leather watch strap.
This could take 1 to 2 months before you begin to notice any stretch or softness on the leather if any at all.
The more you wear them, the looser they will get until it feels comfortable on your wrist.
2. Bending The Leather Watch Strap Back-and-Forth
You can stretch your leather watch strap by simply bending it back and forth until the leather watch strap begins to feel flexible.
The is great for new leather watch straps. Bending the leather watch strap back and forth will break the fibers of the leather up.
Once you’re done with this a few times, wear the leather watch as often as you can and it will definitely become softer eventually stretch.
Here’s a video on how this is done!
3. Using A Hair Dryer
Using a hairdryer is an effective way to stretch your leather watch strap. All you need to do with this method is to remove the leather watch strap from the watch using a watch strap removal tool.
If you cannot remove the watch strap, just make sure to protect the watch itself from the heat by holding it in your palm or a cloth.
Once the leather straps are off or protected, use a hairdryer to heat them to make your leather watch strap more elastic.
Be careful not to use too much heat as this might damage the leather watch strap. Once you’ve done this, simply wear your leather watch and it will most likely stretch in a few days’ time depending on how elastic the leather is.
4. Oil Or Condition Your Leather Watch Strap To Stretch It
You can also oil or condition your leather watch strap to make them more elastic. Using a good quality leather oil will soften up the fibers of the leather which then makes the leather more elastic.
You may also use a small amount of baby oil, olive oil, or vaseline if you do not want to purchase any leather oil or leather conditioner.
All you need to do is apply a small amount of the oil or conditioner onto your leather watch strap and then work it into the leather using your fingers.
Once you’re done with this, simply wear the watch as often as possible and it will stretch in a few days’ time.
How To Prevent Leather Watch Strap From Stretching
Unlike the earlier situations where you would want to stretch your leather watch strap, here are a few ways you can prevent them from stretching too much.
- Don’t Put Too Many Holes On A Watch Strap
It’s not a good idea to put too many holes on your leather watch strap as this makes the leather watch strap more elastic.
This is because when you put too many holes on your watch straps you actually reduce the amount of leather fibers that are making the leather firm and this can lead to the leather watch strap becoming more elastic and actually stretch out.
- Always Dry You Leather Watch Straps Every Time You Wear It
Leather straps are very unique because they can expand when wet. This is not the case with metal watch bands but it definitely applies to leather watch bands.
Leather straps will stretch and expand when wet so this is why you should always dry your leather watch strap after wearing it.
- Dry Clean Your Leather Watch Strap
One of the best ways to prevent your leather watch strap from stretching too much is by dry cleaning it. You may opt for a professional or you can always do it at home.
What’s important is to make sure you do not make your leather watch straps wet when you clean them.
- Do Not Store Your Watch In A Damp Place
Finally, you should not store your leather watch straps in a damp place. This is because the humidity can cause them to stretch and expand when they’re wet.
For example, if you store your leather watch straps in the bathroom where it’s always moist, they might stretch over time. This is not a good idea and can lead to your leather watch straps becoming too elastic.
FAQs
Q: What if my leather watch straps stretch too much?
A: It’s pretty normal to have a watch band that stretches out after some time. However, if your leather watch strap stretches too much or to a point where it’s not comfortable wearing them, you might want to consider adding a hole so you can adjust the size accordingly.
If you don’t have any tools to do this, try taking your leather watch straps to a store where they’ll be able to punch a hole for you.
Q: Can I wear my leather watch straps in the shower?
A: You should not wear your leather watch strap in the shower as they might stretch out. This is because the humidity and moisture can cause them to expand and stretch when wet so this isn’t a good idea at all.
Q: Can I adjust my leather watch strap?
A: You can take your leather watch strap to a professional to adjust it or you can do it at home. If you choose to do it yourself, you may need to purchase some tools in order to be able to do it safely and correctly.
You can always use the buckle to tighten up your leather watch bands. Just make sure you do not put them too tight as this can put a lot of pressure on the bands and cause them to stretch out or get damaged.
Q: How often should I adjust my leather watch straps?
A: You should adjust your leather watch strap whenever they start to feel too loose and uncomfortable. By adjusting it you will be able to keep wearing your leather watch strap for a long time without having them stretch out.
