Can I Use My Leather Watch Strap Around Water?

It is a question many watch owners ask, especially in summer or before a holiday - can I wear my leather-strapped watch around water? It is a sensible thing to check, because leather and water are not natural friends. Here is the short, honest answer, and what you need to know to keep your strap looking its best.

The Short Answer - Best Kept Away From Water

In short, a leather watch strap is best kept away from water. Leather is a natural material, and water is one of its greatest enemies - so while a stray splash will not ruin a strap, leather straps are not designed for swimming, showering, or regular wet conditions, and repeated or prolonged exposure to water will damage them over time.

This is quite separate from whether the watch itself is water-resistant. Even a watch with some water resistance will have a leather strap that is not, and for a vintage watch, you should assume the watch is not water-resistant either, as we explain in our guide to whether vintage watches are waterproof. So around water, there are really two reasons to take care - the strap and the watch both prefer to stay dry.

What Water Does to Leather

Understanding why helps you look after your strap. When leather gets wet, and particularly when it is repeatedly soaked and dried, it can suffer in several ways. It can dry out and become stiff or brittle as its natural oils are drawn out, it can crack or lose its shape, and it can discolour or develop a tide mark. Prolonged dampness can also encourage the leather to deteriorate and, in time, to smell.

A single light splash, wiped off promptly, is nothing to worry about. It is repeated or prolonged wetting - swimming, showering, washing up, or being caught in heavy rain - that does the real harm over time.

What To Do If Your Strap Gets Wet

If your leather strap does get wet, a little simple care helps enormously. Pat it dry gently with a soft cloth, and then let it dry naturally, away from direct heat such as a radiator or hairdryer - forced heat dries leather too quickly and can cause cracking. Let it return to room temperature and dryness in its own time, and it should come through a light wetting perfectly well.

The Simple Solution - Swap to a Bracelet

Here is the genuinely practical answer for anyone who wants to wear a watch around water regularly. Because straps are so easily changed, the simple solution is to keep a metal bracelet for wet or active conditions and save the leather strap for everyday wear.

A metal bracelet, unlike leather, is unaffected by water, so it is a far more sensible choice for the beach, the poolside, or an active summer day - bearing in mind, of course, that on a vintage watch the watch itself should still be kept from water regardless. Switching between a leather strap and a bracelet takes only moments, and it means you need never worry about your good leather strap near water, as we discuss in our complete guide to leather watch straps.

A Final Thought

So, can you use your leather watch strap around water? Best not - leather and water do not mix, and your strap will last far longer and look far better kept dry. A stray splash, promptly dried, is no cause for concern, but swimming, showering, and regular wet conditions are best avoided. Keep your leather strap for everyday elegance, swap to a bracelet for wet or active days, and your strap will reward you with years of beautiful wear.

At AR Collectables, we offer a lovely range of premium, handmade leather watch straps, crafted from fine Italian leather. If you would like help choosing the right strap for your watch, or have any questions at all, just drop me a message - we would love to help. 🤝

Check out our full range of premium leather watch straps today!