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A spring bar is the small spring-loaded rod that holds a strap between the lugs. Its tips push into holes on the inside of each lug. A quick-release pin is a spring bar with a tiny lever, so you can pull the tip back with a fingernail and change the strap in seconds, without tools.

Living the WatchLife means a watch is not something you check, it is something you live with. It decides how your morning starts, what your eyes go to when you meet someone, what you listen to on the drive, who you end up talking to at the airport and where you spend your Saturday. It is a hobby, a community and a way of paying attention to small, beautiful things, and once ...

Check the material grade, the edges, the stitching, the lining, the hardware and the fit. A good strap has a clearly named leather grade, smooth even edges, neat tight stitches, a soft natural lining, solid stainless steel hardware and exact sizing. Most of these can be judged in a minute, in hand or from close-up photos.

Watch straps fall into five families: leather, fabric, rubber, metal bracelets and pass-through straps (like the NATO). Leather suits dress and everyday watches, fabric and pass-through straps suit field and casual wear, rubber suits sport and water, and bracelets suit almost anything. The right one depends on the watch's character, your day, and the climate you live in.

A straight-end strap has a flat, square end and fits almost any watch with the right lug width. A curved-end strap has its end shaped to follow the curve of one particular case, so it meets the watch with no gap. Straight ends are universal and easy to swap; curved ends look factory-fitted but only fit the model they're made for.

This glossary defines the terms used to describe watch straps, bracelets and their parts, each in one or two lines. Every term has its own link, so you can share or bookmark a single definition.

Keep leather and suede dry and give them rest days; wash fabric by hand; rinse rubber after salt or chlorine; brush metal bracelets with warm soapy water. Store straps out of direct sun, and let any wet strap dry naturally, never on a heater or in a dryer. Ten minutes of care a month can double a strap's life.