The Journal
Field notes from the wrist.
Sizing guides, care routines, style rules worth knowing - and the occasional rule worth breaking. Short reads for the well-strapped collector.
Guide · 3 min read
How to Choose a Watch Strap: The Practical DVIL Guide
Choose the right watch strap for your watch, wrist and style with DVIL's practical guide to fit, colour, leather, stitching and occasion.
Read the piece
Guide · 4 min
How to Measure Your Watch Strap Size Before You Buy
A simple guide to measuring lug width, strap length and buckle width so you can buy a replacement watch strap with confidence.
Guide · 4 min
Watch Lug Width Explained: 18mm, 20mm, 22mm and Beyond
Understand watch lug width, why it matters and how to choose the correct strap size for common 18mm, 20mm and 22mm watches.
Guide · 4 min
Watch Strap Length Guide: How Long Should Your Strap Be?
Learn how watch strap length works, how to check fit on the wrist and what to consider before choosing a new leather strap.
Guide · 3 min
Tapered Watch Straps: What They Are and When to Choose One
A clear guide to tapered watch straps, buckle widths and why taper can make a watch feel more vintage, dressy or refined.
Guide · 3 min
Straight vs Tapered Watch Straps: Which Looks Better?
Compare straight and tapered watch straps, including comfort, case balance, buckle fit and the styles each option suits best.
How-To · 3 min
How to Change a Watch Strap Without Scratching Your Watch
A beginner-friendly guide to changing a watch strap safely at home, including tools, spring bars and how to avoid case scratches.
How-To · 3 min
Spring Bar Tools Explained: The Small Tool That Changes Everything
Understand spring bar tools, fork ends, strap changes and why the right tool helps protect your watch case and strap.
How-To · 3 min
Quick Release Watch Straps: Are They Worth It?
Learn how quick release watch straps work, when they are useful and when traditional spring bars may still be the better choice.
Guide · 3 min
How Tight Should a Watch Strap Be?
Find the ideal watch strap fit: comfortable, secure and smart without being too loose, too tight or awkward on the wrist.
Guide · 3 min
10 Watch Strap Buying Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid the most common watch strap mistakes, from wrong lug widths and cheap leather to colour clashes and poor buckle choices.
Guide · 3 min
Aftermarket Watch Straps vs Original Straps: What Should You Choose?
A practical guide to original and aftermarket watch straps, including value, variety, fit, style and when to keep the factory strap.
Style · 3 min
Black Leather Watch Straps: When They Work Best
Learn when to choose a black leather watch strap, which watches it suits and how to avoid making a watch look too severe.
Style · 3 min
Brown Leather Watch Straps: The Most Versatile Choice?
A practical brown leather watch strap guide covering dial colours, case metals, casual wear, dress watches and vintage pairings.
Style · 3 min
Tan Leather Watch Straps: How to Style Them Properly
Tan leather watch straps can transform a watch. Learn which dials, cases and outfits they suit best and when to choose tan over brown.
Style · 3 min
Blue Leather Watch Straps: What Watches Do They Suit?
A guide to blue leather watch straps, including white dials, blue dials, silver cases, summer outfits and smart casual styling.
Style · 4 min
Green Watch Straps: How to Pair Green Leather with the Right Watch
Learn how to wear green watch straps with dive watches, field watches, silver cases, black dials and everyday outfits.
Style · 3 min
Red and Burgundy Watch Straps: Bold Pairing Advice
Red and burgundy watch straps can work brilliantly when used carefully. This guide explains how to pair them without overdoing it.
Style · 3 min
Grey Watch Straps: The Understated Alternative to Black
Grey watch straps are subtle, modern and easy to wear. Learn how to pair grey leather or textured straps with different watches.
Style · 3 min
Striped Watch Straps: How to Wear Colour Without Going Too Loud
Striped watch straps add personality to vintage and casual watches. Learn when they work, which colours to choose and how to style them.
Style · 3 min
How to Match a Watch Strap to Your Dial Colour
A complete guide to matching strap colour with black, white, blue, green, silver and champagne watch dials.
Style · 3 min
How to Match Your Watch Strap to the Case Metal
Learn how strap colours work with steel, gold, black, bronze and two-tone watch cases, including buckle colour advice.
Style · 3 min
Should Your Watch Buckle Match the Case?
A simple guide to buckle colour, case metal and strap hardware so your watch strap feels intentional rather than mismatched.
Style · 3 min
Should Your Watch Strap Match Your Shoes and Belt?
Find out when to match leather accessories, when to contrast and how to make a watch strap look natural with an outfit.
Leather · 3 min
Leather Watch Straps: A Beginner's Guide to Types, Feel and Finish
Understand leather watch straps, including smooth, textured, suede, perforated and crocodile-style finishes before you choose.
Leather · 3 min
Smooth Leather Watch Straps: Clean, Classic and Easy to Wear
A guide to smooth leather watch straps, including dress watches, vintage cases, office wear and daily strap rotation.
Leather · 3 min
Textured Leather Watch Straps: When Texture Improves the Watch
Learn how textured leather straps add depth, contrast and character to vintage, diver and dress watches.
Leather · 3 min
Crocodile-Style Watch Straps: Dressy Without Being Boring
Crocodile-style watch straps can sharpen a watch instantly. Learn how to use them on rectangular, dress and vintage watches.
Leather · 3 min
Suede Watch Straps: Style, Care and When to Avoid Them
A practical suede watch strap guide covering feel, casual styling, water, brushing, storage and colour pairing advice.
Leather · 3 min
Perforated Leather Watch Straps: Style, Comfort and Racing Influence
Learn what perforated leather watch straps are, why they look sporty and how to pair them with chronographs, divers and vintage watches.
Leather · 3 min
Canvas vs Leather Watch Straps: Which Should You Wear?
Compare canvas and leather watch straps for comfort, formality, durability, warmth, summer use and daily rotation.
Leather · 3 min
Rubber vs Leather Watch Straps: Which Is Better for Your Watch?
A practical comparison of rubber and leather watch straps for divers, daily wear, summer, water resistance and smart casual use.
Leather · 3 min
Watch Strap Stitching: Small Detail, Big Difference
Learn how stitching colour, stitch size and contrast stitching change the look of a leather watch strap.
Leather · 3 min
Watch Strap Edge Finishing: Why the Sides Matter
A simple guide to watch strap edge finishing, painted edges, raw edges and how the finish affects the overall look.
Care · 3 min
How to Clean a Leather Watch Strap Properly
A safe, simple leather watch strap cleaning guide for everyday dirt, sweat and storage without soaking or damaging the leather.
Care · 3 min
How to Care for a Leather Watch Strap So It Lasts Longer
Learn how to look after a leather watch strap, including moisture, sunlight, storage, rotation and when to replace it.
Care · 3 min
How to Clean a Suede Watch Strap Without Ruining the Texture
Suede needs a lighter touch. Learn how to brush, dry and protect a suede watch strap without flattening the nap.
Care · 3 min
Can Leather Watch Straps Get Wet?
A practical guide to water and leather watch straps, including rain, sweat, swimming, drying and when to switch to another strap.
Care · 3 min
Why Does My Watch Strap Smell and How Do I Fix It?
Learn why watch straps can smell, how to reduce odour and when it is better to replace the strap rather than keep cleaning it.
Care · 3 min
How to Break In a Leather Watch Strap
New leather straps can feel stiff at first. Learn how to break one in naturally without creasing, soaking or damaging it.
Care · 3 min
How to Store Watch Straps Without Damaging Them
A practical guide to storing spare watch straps, including leather, suede, buckles, spring bars, humidity and travel storage.
Care · 3 min
When Should You Replace a Watch Strap?
Learn the signs that a watch strap needs replacing, from cracking and smell to loose holes, worn stitching and damaged spring bars.
Care · 3 min
Watch Strap Maintenance Checklist: 5 Minutes a Month
A quick monthly checklist to keep leather watch straps cleaner, safer and better looking with very little effort.
Style · 3 min
Rally Watch Straps: What They Are and How to Wear Them
A complete guide to rally watch straps, perforations, motorsport style and the watches they suit best.
Style · 3 min
Why Rally Straps Work So Well on Chronographs
Learn why perforated rally straps and chronographs are such a natural pairing, and how to choose the right colour.
Style · 3 min
Can You Put a Rally Strap on a Dive Watch?
Rally straps and dive watches can work together if the colour, case size and dial style are balanced. This guide explains how.
Style · 3 min
Dress Watch Straps: How to Keep a Watch Looking Elegant
Choose the right strap for a dress watch, including leather finish, taper, stitching, buckle colour and formal wear advice.
Style · 4 min
Vintage Watch Strap Guide: How to Respect the Watch Without Making It Look Old
A guide to choosing straps for vintage watches, including colour, texture, taper, case size and period-correct feel.
Style · 3 min
Dive Watch Straps: Leather, Rubber, NATO or Canvas?
A practical guide to dive watch straps, covering water use, casual styling, green leather, tan leather, rubber and fabric.
Style · 3 min
Field Watch Straps: Rugged, Simple and Easy to Wear
Learn how to choose a strap for a field watch, including leather, canvas, green, brown and black options.
Style · 3 min
Rectangular Watch Straps: How to Style Square and Tank-Style Watches
A guide to straps for rectangular watches, including black leather, crocodile-style texture, taper and formal styling.
Style · 3 min
Gold Watches and Black Straps: Classic or Too Formal?
Learn how to pair gold watches with black, brown and crocodile-style leather straps without making them feel dated.
Style · 3 min
Best Watch Strap for the Office: Smart Without Being Stiff
Choose an office watch strap that looks sharp, comfortable and versatile, from black leather to brown and textured options.
Style · 3 min
Best Watch Strap for a Wedding or Formal Event
A simple formal watch strap guide covering black leather, brown leather, buckle colour, stitching and dress watch etiquette.
Style · 3 min
Best Watch Straps for Summer: Comfort, Colour and Heat
Summer strap advice covering leather, suede, canvas, rubber, light colours, sweat and when to avoid certain materials.
Style · 3 min
Best Watch Straps for Winter: Texture, Leather and Layers
Winter watch strap ideas covering brown leather, black leather, suede, texture and how straps work with coats and knitwear.
Style · 3 min
Smart Casual Watch Straps: The Easiest Way to Dress a Watch Up or Down
Learn how to make one watch work harder with smart casual straps in brown, black, blue, green and textured leather.
Style · 3 min
Weekend Watch Straps: How to Make a Watch Feel More Relaxed
Choose weekend watch straps that add colour, texture and personality without making the watch look messy.
Style · 3 min
What Watch Strap Works Best with Jeans?
A practical style guide to pairing watch straps with denim, trainers, boots, jackets and everyday casual clothes.
Style · 3 min
Minimalist Watch Straps: How to Keep It Clean Without Looking Plain
A guide to minimalist watch straps, including black, brown, grey, smooth leather and low-contrast stitching.
Style · 3 min
Statement Watch Straps: How Bold Is Too Bold?
Learn how to wear red, green, blue, striped and textured watch straps while keeping the overall look balanced.
Guide · 3 min
Watch Strap Rotation: Why One Watch Can Feel Like Five
Learn how a small strap rotation can make one watch suit work, weekends, summer, winter and smarter occasions.
Guide · 3 min
How Many Watch Straps Should You Own?
A practical guide to building a useful watch strap collection, including one formal, one casual, one seasonal and one bold strap.
Guide · 3 min
The Watch Strap Capsule Wardrobe: 6 Straps That Cover Almost Everything
Build a simple watch strap capsule wardrobe with black, brown, tan, blue, green and one statement option.
Guide · 3 min
How to Choose the Best Replacement Watch Strap
A replacement strap should fit the watch and your life. Learn how to choose by size, leather, colour, buckle and use.
Guide · 3 min
Watch Strap Gift Guide: How to Buy One for Someone Else
Buying a watch strap as a gift? Learn how to check size, colour preference, buckle style and safe choices before you buy.
Guide · 3 min
Why Leather Watch Strap Colours Can Look Different in Real Life
Understand why leather colour can vary between screens, lighting, dye batches and natural hides when buying watch straps online.
Guide · 3 min
Watch Strap FAQs: The Questions People Ask Before Buying
Answers to common watch strap questions about size, fit, leather care, colour pairing, buckles and strap changes.
Guide · 4 min
Watch Strap Glossary: Lug Width, Taper, Keepers, Spring Bars and More
A simple glossary of common watch strap terms so you can buy, change and compare straps with more confidence.
How-To · 2 min
How to Use Quick-Release Watch Straps
Swap a strap in under ten seconds. No spring bar tool, no scratched lugs. Here's exactly how the quick-release mechanism works.
Guide · 3 min
How to Use Any Watch Strap with Your Apple Watch
Apple Watch adapters are a small, inexpensive upgrade that opens up the entire world of standard watch straps, including every DVIL leather strap.
Leather · 6 min
Shell Cordovan vs Crazy Horse: Which Watch Strap Leather Wins?
A side-by-side comparison of the two most-asked-about strap leathers: durability, patina, and what your wrist actually feels.
How-To · 3 min
How to Measure Lug Width
The single most important number on your wrist. Get it right in under a minute with a ruler.
Guide · 5 min
Finding the Perfect Strap
Eight quick questions to narrow a wall of leather down to the one strap your watch was waiting for.
Style · 4 min
Watch Strap Etiquette
The unwritten rules of what to wear, where, and what never to pair together.
Guide · 4 min
What Watch Strap Size Do I Need?
Lug width, strap length, taper - the three numbers that decide whether a strap fits your wrist or just your watch.
Guide · 5 min
Leather vs Rubber vs NATO Straps: Which Is Best?
Three families, three jobs. A short, honest breakdown of which strap belongs on which watch.
Guide · 4 min
How to Choose the Right Watch Strap for Your Watch
Match the strap to the case, the wrist and the wardrobe - in that order.
Care · 6 min
How to Clean and Maintain Leather Watch Straps: A Complete Care Guide
Five minutes a month and your strap will outlast the watch. The right cleaner, the right rhythm, and how to care for Italian Suede, Crazy Horse, and Shell Cordovan.
Care · 3 min
How to Stop Your Watch Strap Smelling
It is not the strap, it is the bacteria. Here is the fix - and the prevention.
Style · 3 min
The Cheapest Way to Upgrade Your Watch
Forget polishing, forget servicing - a new strap is the single biggest return on the smallest spend.
Style · 5 min
One Watch, Five Different Looks
How a single watch becomes a wardrobe with five well-chosen straps.
Style · 4 min
How a Watch Strap Can Make a Cheap Watch Look Expensive
Quality leather, the right hardware, and a slim profile. The three moves that bring a £100 watch up to a £1,000 one - visually.
Leather · 4 min
Classic Leather: The Everyday Standard
Smooth, full-grain calfskin with hand-painted edges - the strap that works with almost any watch in your collection.
Leather · 4 min
Crazy Horse: Built to Patina
Wax-pulled full-grain leather that scuffs into character. The strap that gets better the more you wear it.
Leather · 4 min
Crocodile: Formal Leather, Quietly
Defined scales, tight stitching, dressier than anything else on the catalogue. The strap reserved for dress watches and serious occasions.
Leather · 4 min
Fabric: NATO, Perlon and Two-Piece
Not technically leather - but the most versatile, hard-wearing strap material in any collection.
Leather · 4 min
Ostrich: Sculpted and Sculptural
Quill bumps, soft hand, instantly recognisable. The exotic strap that softens a steel case without going formal.
Leather · 5 min
Shell Cordovan: The King of Leathers
Six months in the tannery, decades on the wrist. The densest, glossiest, longest-lasting leather money buys.
Leather · 4 min
Suede: Soft, Warm and Quietly Continental
Brushed napped leather - the strap that adds texture to the wrist without shouting for attention.