How to find the correct size watch strap

Measuring your watch strap is a straightforward yet crucial step in finding a new strap that fits both your watch case and wrist comfortably.

If you’ve currently got a leather watch strap, the quickest and easiest way to determine width is simply to look at the back side of the strap. Some – not all – have the width imprinted onto the leather. For example, if there’s a ‘22’ on the back of your leather strap, it means the width is 22mm.

Simple!

If your strap doesn’t have a number on it – or you’re dealing with a strap made from a different material – you’ll need to measure the width yourself. But this isn’t difficult. What you need to do is find the ‘lug width’, which is the size of the gap between the lugs (or horns). The lugs are the two metal parts on each side of the watch case that protrude out and connect the case to the strap. Measure between the inside of the lugs on one side, and record your measurement in millimetres.

The image above shows how to measure the lug width. On this watch it measures 20mm so requires a 20mm watch strap. Always measure accurately and in millimeters, if your rulers is in centimeters you can always convert this to millimeters (we don't advise measuring in inches).