Frequently Asked Questions

General Watch Strap Questions

Most of our straps comfortably fit wrists from approximately 5.5" (14cm) to approximately 8" (20cm) in circumference, depending on the strap width and the size of your watch case. If you have a larger wrist, consider looking at our Custom Fit straps.

No. Our watch straps are free of PFAs and are made with high-quality, safe materials.

You'll need to measure the lug width of your watch — that's the space between the two small posts (lugs) where the strap attaches to the watch case. Lay your watch flat, remove the old strap if possible, and use a ruler or caliper to measure that gap in millimeters. Common sizes are 18mm, 20mm, and 22mm. We also offer 16mm, 19mm, 21mm, 23mm, and 24mm widths in some straps. If you're not sure, just send us a message with your watch's make and model and we'll help you figure it out.

The buckle is held in place by a spring bar. To remove it, stick a small pointed object (like the end of a paperclip, sewing needle, or the pin end of a spring bar tool) into one of the small holes on the side of the buckle. Press the spring bar in and slide the buckle off. To attach the new buckle, just reverse the process — push the spring bar end in, slide the buckle on, and make sure both ends pop into the holes.

Apple Watch Straps

Our Apple Watch straps are compatible with all Apple Watch models — from Series 1 through the latest Series, Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Edition, and Apple Watch Ultra. Just make sure to choose the right size based on your watch's case size.

Check the case size of your Apple Watch by turning it over and looking at the back. You'll see small text engraved around the sensors that says something like "41mm" or "45mm."

*NOTE: Series 1-3 42mm uses the large (44/45/46/49mm) size and Series 1-3 38mm uses the small (40/41/42mm) size.

Yes — the Apple Watch Ultra uses the larger strap size (44/45/46/49mm).

Slide the adapter into the slot on your Apple Watch until you hear a click. To remove it, press and hold the strap release button on the back of the watch and slide the band out.

Apple Watch Nylon - Khaki/Black, ARC-AWNYL-KHKB42, ARC-AWNYL-KHKB38

If the adapter appears not to fit on one side, it may just be inserted upside down. The side with the silver-colored oval should face down, and the side with three black ovals should face up. Try flipping it and see if that solves the issue. If it still doesn't fit after that, reach out to us and we'll help you out.

If you'd like a different color or finish buckle, we sell separate buckles in several colors and finishes that you can easily swap in. For 40/41/42mm Apple Watch straps, you'll need a 20mm buckle. For 44/45/46/49mm Apple Watch straps, you'll need a 22mm buckle.

Quick Release Straps

Our quick-release spring bars make swapping straps incredibly simple - just slide the small lever with your finger to pop straps in and out in seconds, no tools required. Despite the easy removal, the mechanism is completely secure when locked in place and won't accidentally release during normal wear. The quick-release feature is built into the spring bars themselves, so there are no bulky adapters or loose parts. This system allows you to instantly change your look to match different outfits, occasions, or activities while maintaining the same reliable connection as traditional spring bars.

Simply slide the quick-release lever on the spring bar with your finger, position the strap between the lugs, and release the lever so the spring bar pops into the lug holes. No tools needed! The whole process takes just a few seconds.

Remove the quick-release spring bars from the strap, then insert your watch's original spring bars in their place. Note that this means the quick-release function won't work — you'll need a spring bar tool to swap straps. But it can help with fit if your watch has non-standard lugs.

Military Style Straps

Military Style straps thread through the spring bars of your watch. Here's the quick version:

  1. Thread the main strap through the watch's spring bars, behind the watch
  2. Pull the end of the main strap through the stainless steel ring at the end of the shorter "Y-strap"

Yes! The extra length is how Military Style straps are designed to fit. The excess is meant to be tucked or folded under the strap — it's part of the classic military strap look.

NATO - Black/Gray (James Bond), ARC-NATO2-BLKGRY18, ARC-NATO2-BLKGRY20, ARC-NATO2-BLKGRY22, ARC-NATO2-BLKGRY24

Our classic military straps have a Y-strap design that provides extra security. It secures the watch from behind, preventing it from sliding off the strap while putting it on your wrist. It's a feature borrowed from the original military design.

Unlike quick release straps, military style straps use your watch's existing spring bars to attach to the watch by threading through them. If your watch does not have spring bars, we sell quick release spring bars separately that you can use. These have the added advantage of being able to quickly switch between quick release and military style straps.

Most smart watches have biometric sensors on the back that would be blocked by the military style strap going behind the watch. We created our Quick Release Nylon and Quick Release Seat Belt Nylon straps to give the people the traditional military style strap look with full functionality for use with a smart watch.

Custom Fit Straps

This custom fit strap will fit a very wide range of wrist sizes from very small to very large. If you do have a problem with fit, let us know - we offer a money-back guarantee if you're unsatisfied for any reason.

Accessories

The buckle is held in place by a spring bar. To remove it, stick a small pointed object (like the end of a paperclip, sewing needle, or the pin end of a spring bar tool) into one of the small holes on the side of the buckle. Press the spring bar in and slide the buckle off. To attach the new buckle, just reverse the process — push the spring bar end in, slide the buckle on, and make sure both ends pop into the holes.

If it's for one of our straps, match the buckle size to your strap width (e.g. 20mm strap = 20mm buckle) — unless it's our leather strap, in which case you'll need a buckle 2mm smaller than the lug width (e.g. 20mm leather strap = 18mm buckle). If it's for another strap that's not from us, or when in doubt, just measure the strap width in millimeters where the buckle attaches (NOT where the strap connects to the watch).

For 40/41/42mm Apple Watch straps, you'll need a 20mm buckle. For 44/45/46/49mm Apple Watch straps, you'll need a 22mm buckle.

Because our leather straps are tapered, the buckle is 2mm smaller than the lug width:

  • 18mm strap → 16mm buckle
  • 20mm strap → 18mm buckle
  • 22mm strap → 20mm buckle

The fork side of the tool is used to remove spring bars from watches or buckles without holes in the sides. It is wedged in between the strap and the lugs to grasp the rim of the spring bar and release it.

The pin side of the tool is used to remove spring bars from watches with holes in the lugs, or to change buckles with holes in the side.

No — our quick-release straps come with spring bars included. These are handy if you need replacements, want odd-size spring bars for a non-standard watch, or want to add quick-release functionality to a strap that didn't come with them. They are also handy to use with military style straps if you want an easy way to switch between those and quick release straps.

Canvas Straps

Our canvas material is made from 100% cotton. The stitching and the inner core are made of polyester.

We recommend gentle hand washing with soap and water.

No, canvas is not recommended for swimming. It'll absorb water and stay wet and uncomfortable. Saltwater and chlorine will also cause it to degrade faster.

Leather Straps

Yes — our leather straps use genuine top grain leather, which is the most durable type of leather available. It's highly resistant to tearing and breaking down, and the natural finish develops a beautiful patina over time.

To keep your leather strap looking great, periodically apply a small amount of leather conditioner and avoid prolonged or repeated exposure to water. That's really all you need to do.

We recommend avoiding prolonged water exposure with leather straps. For water activities, our silicone or nylon straps are a better fit.

Our leather straps are tapered, meaning they're wider at the lug end (where the strap meets the watch) and narrower at the buckle end. Specifically, they taper by 2mm — so an 18mm strap pairs with a 16mm buckle, a 20mm strap pairs with an 18mm buckle, and a 22mm strap pairs with a 20mm buckle.

Because our leather straps are tapered, the buckle is 2mm smaller than the lug width:

  • 18mm strap → 16mm buckle
  • 20mm strap → 18mm buckle
  • 22mm strap → 20mm buckle
Nylon Straps

You can wash them in a washing machine, dishwasher, or simply hand-wash with soap and water.

Yes, nylon is waterproof and dries quickly, making it a great choice for everyday wear and water activities. Just air dry it afterward.

The regular nylon is stiffer and more rugged — it takes some breaking in but will mold to your wrist with wear and become very comfortable. The seat belt nylon is softer and more flexible right out of the box, so it's better if you don't want to wait for break-in. The regular nylon is the way to go if you want the most rugged material possible.

Yes — our premium nylon is designed to be rugged and durable, so it's stiffer out of the box. It will break in with normal wear and mold to your wrist. You can speed things up by bending and rolling it a bit.

Silicone Straps

You can wash them in a washing machine, dishwasher, or simply hand-wash with soap and water.

Yes! Our silicone straps are fully waterproof. They're great for swimming, surfing, working out, or any activity where you might get wet.

Absolutely. Silicone is one of the best materials for active use — it's lightweight, waterproof, and easy to clean after a workout.

Yes — the quick-release spring bars are removable. Just pull back the silicone around the end of the spring bar and pull it out through the hole for the quick-release lever. You can then use the original spring bars that came with your watch if you prefer.