Why do dress watches traditionally have leather straps?

That's an interesting question

Dress watches should be simple, sleek, unobtrusive, understated. A bracelet is heavier to look at (and wear), it stands out because it's shiny, and they used to jangle a bit, none of which fits the bill.

Because 100 years ago, they didn’t practice vegan.

Because the straps match the belt and shoes.

Not all, YMMV.

For what I heard from a dressy guy is the leather strap should match your shoes and belt. I guess attention to detail about about a well dressed person.

Why? Tradition mostly 😜

Leather does look more elegant than the other options.

The simple answer is that they haven't.

Women's watches traditionally came on bracelets that were precious metal or a combination of metal and fabric. Men's watches came on bracelets and leather straps. Most of the old bracelets have not survived. Then, as now, the bracelet was an upcharge, so they were more rare.

Since my memory does not go back that far here is how we know:

I think that the idea that the leathers of shoes and straps must match is a recent (late 20th Century) invention. 100 years ago men wore one watch and owned one suit of clothes, maybe two. Black leather straps were the most common because they matched anything due to their color neutrality.

The idea of a "dress watch" is also a recent invention. It was just a watch. It is a category that is now defined by what it isn't, namely a sports or dive watch.

Simple. It doesn't shine or stand out like a bracelet, nor does it look disposable or tool like with rubber.

The short answer is: they didn't

Watches used to be quite expensive and not as common today. They were worn by wealthy landowners, businessman, or on loan to upper employees by the wealthy for use in their job. Watches were on chains, on bracelets, and on leather.

Very expensive watches, the kind you'd call "dress" today were made of gold. Gold is a statement you don't want hiding in your pocket and gold makes a terrible bracelet (too soft) so they were on leather

Modern alloys can make a gold-mental hybrid that is stronger but it still makes a rather lousy bracelet. It's heavy, it dings easy, and it's very expensive. Best for a night out at the theater and dinner rather than going to work

Leather is seen as being more formal as to not be conspicuous. Metal is everyday knockaround and Nato is too sporty. english etiquette probably.

Same reason you wear a leather belt and leather dress shoes when you dress for something formal.

I like to wear metal belt and iron clogs, does that make me sporty? 🤔

En definitiva lo que nosotros llamamos relojes de vestir, descienden de los relojes grandes de bolsillo, los cuales en primera instancia se le agregaba un artilugio confeccionado en cuero, el cual se amara a a la muñeca, luego a estos mismos se le agregaron a la caja puentes fijos, los cuales se les cocinan correas de cuero. Hay que ver que los de vestir en realidad su cuadrante no varía mucho de los de bolsillo. Solo ha evolucionado más su estética en el conjunto, caja y correa. En definitiva el material más barato para confeccionar en grandes cantidades es el cuero vacuno. Más allá de que sea moda en la actualidad, ya que nadie combina el color de la correa con el color del cuadrante con el tono del cinturón, y mucho menos con el calzado. Ya desde que 007 con traje de smokin usa una correa textil en la fiesta con un notable diver 40mm, ya mucha combinación en los atuendos no hay.

Además del aumento del valor de materia prima si x ejemplo fuera metálica. A la vista de vestir resalta más con 🔆 qué la propia persona, y la propio cuadrante, x al ser más opaco, no opaquece a la pieza en cuestion

En fin aguante la correa de cuero... Siempre

Im all for doing whatever you want aga also, Heeyyyy the GOAT is here!! You managed to convince to buy the timex q chronograph. Love your vids in general as well!

Makes sense. Thanks for the info