Does it feel like a new watch when you change the strap

I have one main watch that is my daily wear - recently I bought a couple of nato straps to change the look and feel of it. It was one from Amazon to see whether I liked the way it felt… and it’s very comfortable.

I have since bought several more, and an official Omega one might get onto my Christmas list.

Sadly I give very little wrist time to any of my others and might soon be parting with most of them, and return to a 2/3 rotation.

But I digress, a nato for me makes it feel like a new watch, yes.

Changing straps is half the fun of owning watches. I definitely think it changes the character your watch as well.

One watch, three unique appearances!

Great minds think alike😉

Wow.. I need to to buy more straps.. I am thinking one color strap/quarter. 

Yes!

I wore my cheapest watch to work today, a Casio Duro. I wore it on a really nice, super-premium, black and grey Bond NATO, and it looked, and felt, a million bucks. Changing straps is fun.

Pleeeaaaase no watch strap inspiration! 😉

Pictured: Some of my 20mm straps 

I normally do not change straps to change the look, more to replace a strap that needs replacing. If I just want a change of look, I use another watch.

In addition to that, in very hot weather I may swap out a leather strap for a NATO. I didn't have the option when I was traveling last summer, and as a result a leather strap was soaked in my sweat, discolouring the inside of the strap.

It's not just you.

Unfortunately many manufacturers don't invest enough thought on their straps, I'll list here a few notable cases.

1. Seiko SARB017. The faux alligator strap is a crime against humanity. It cheapen the watch and makes it uncomfortable to wear. It's however an excellent match for the ColaReb Perugia.
2. Seiko SPB147. The rubber strap is terrible because of the rigid metal keeper and the large buckle that dig into the skin. Again. switching to a leather Roma strap from ColaReb turned a watch that I disliked to one that I wear at least once a week.
3. Yema Superman. The extra long lugs creates a huge gap with pretty much any strap. It's so bad I nicknamed mine "The Supergap". An MN style strap from Erika solved the problem.

IMO, a change of strap is the quickest and cheapest way to upgrade a watch or change its personality.

I agree with @Catskinner that a new strap changes or maybe reveals the personality of a watch. I love to purchase new straps to play around with my watches. I find that you can dress a watch up or down with a strap change. For example, I feel like I can wear my Certina to work under a cuff when it's on the bracelet, but it becomes a sports watch more fit for the park or the gym when I put it on a NATO. At some point, I'll try it with a leather strap to see if that brings out another aspect of its personality. 

You are an official collector - of straps 😝 and a true inspiration 😇

Doing the 1 Watch Challenge #1wc last June with my Seiko5 SNKL41, proved this to be true. Twas so much fun! So much so, that I did my own personal 1 month challenge this past September for my Seiko5 SNXS79. #snxs7xmonth 
As @Suddenly_Monday aptly points out, it's part of the fun of owning timepieces. 💯 

I am just getting into the changing straps and you are spot on about the change in personality of myself and the watch. I feel like a different person. Though my wife still thinks I am the same idiot. Calls me Gollum with my precious watches. 

Nice play of red and black color. Dressing up and dressing down watches sounds like a doll play for watches😝 and I am loving it. I haven’t thought of leather on sports watches.. something to think about rather than buying a new watch. 🤔

i just got a new nato strap for a watch i actually wanted to sell. but the new strap fits it so well and it looks so good, that i have to keep the watch. so i think the strap plays a big role overall. details are important.

Definitely feel the same way!

I have so, so many straps - cheap ones, more expensive ones…Onetime I went OEM was with the SMP 300m and the blue rubber strap which was fantastic.

Other than that it’s always either Amazon (yuuup) or B&R Bands.

LOVE that watch btw - wrist shot with the different bands??

There is something about OEM strap that just feels different. I have Amazon one for other watch which looks good but feel different. 

Here is the wrist watch on my new watch 😉 I mean with strap change.. totally worth it. 

If my wife can't find me around the house I'm likely in our bedroom changing straps on my watches....just saying...

SUCH a fantastic looking piece!! 👊🏼

@Half_Life @RFIMike @watchobsessed Cheers and enjoy! 🍻 There are so many bracelets and straps to choose from. But, no one can beat "Captain" @robwei's strap collection! 😜

I also practice the same as @uhrensohn, looking to cross-use bracelets and straps. Both of my 18mm watches have white dials so it's easy. But, I use some of these 18mm straps for my 19mm Seiko5 SNXS79...

2-piece MN Elastic w/ Quick Release

Leatherette NATO

Supple Seatbelt Nylon

Single Pass Perlon Nylon

2-pc Soft Nylon w/ Quick Release

So for me, @Rocketfan, I get a watch because I love it. The straps and bracelets are clothes that simply bring out further its inherent beauty. 😉 

By the way, all the straps above are of very good quality, and between $2.00 - 5.00 only! 😎 🥳  

"Captain" @robwei's strap collection!

When you put your 19mm watch on a 18mm strap, is there a voice in your head saying "yeah that's nice but wouldn't it be perfect if you'd had the same strap in 19mm" or is this just me? 😬

Straps and bracelets can really make or break a watch. Your omega looks great with that NATO! It looked great with the black leather too, just a bit more formal.

I changed the bracelet on my Carrera to a leather strap after more than 10 years and it definitely felt like having a new watch. Now I change them all the time

Strap changes definitely change the look of the watch. It's easy for it to become another obsession...

You are right!  I am becoming obsessed with straps now. I have already made my Christmas list of all the straps for all the watches I have. Human mind is a fickle thing. 🧐

At least my bank balance wont go down at an exponential rate like it was when I was buying watches. 

There a few watches in my collection I started liking even more with new strap big difference. I'm not a big metal band person but these new straps they make even better.

It really does! I got a new strap for my daily and I am in a second honey moon with the watch all over again! Granted I am not sure if this would be the case for all watches. The four I have done feel like new, but the three I haven't swapped yet are interpreted and may not be able to be changed so I have no idea how they would feel. I also don't want to since they are all  bracelet.  

Ok. I’m gonna get more watches so that I can get more straps! 😉

Hahahaha… I can see my money flying away