Luxury Watch Strap 101 - A helpful guide on luxury watch strap replacement

Rolex_oyster_40 mm_steel_watch With vintage watches, originality is important, so an online Rolex watch valuation is likely to return a higher number if all the parts of the watch are original and in good condition. However, being the part of the watch that takes the most strain, watch straps can and do eventually wear out. Replacing the strap on a Rolex watch is a fairly straightforward operation as original Rolex straps are available from a number of retailers. Take care to choose a strap that exactly matches the old one in terms of colour, style, quality and design. If you want or need to change the strap on your Rolex watch, you're not necessarily limited in the kind of strap you have. You can, for instance, replace a bracelet strap with a leather strap if that suits you better. Far more important than the strap itself is the way you feel about wearing it. Bear in mind, though, that Rolex watch straps are important to the look of the watch, and a watch that's originally designed and sold with a bracelet won't have the appearance that Rolex buyers expect.

Can I Change My Bracelet Strap to a Leather One?

You can fit any type of strap to your Rolex, providing it fits properly and does not damage the case or the lugs. Damaging the actual watch case will reduce its resale value. If you do decide to drastically alter the appearance of your watch by changing the manufacturer's strap style, consider keeping the original strap so that you can switch back if and when you consider reselling a Rolex watch.

How Long Do Manufacturers Continue to Make Original Straps For?

Most luxury watch manufacturers continue to make original watch straps for all the watches in their range for many years after the initial launch of the watch. If you have an older model with a broken strap, it's worth shopping for a new strap in order to bring the watch back to a wearable condition.

Does Changing the Strap Affect the Resale Value?

This depends on the original value of the watch. Collector's items are more valuable when they have all their original parts and pieces, and this includes straps as well as documents or papers of authenticity. If you're using a Rolex watch buying service, they will advise you on resale values and what you can do to maximise your investment.