A watch is not that just to show you the time and sometimes the day, calendar date, month and year. In past, they often took the form of pocket watches, which today are wrist worn. In present use, watch is actually a contraction of wristwatch, a most popular style of timekeeping device worn on wrist.

Mobile telephones, which have become ubiquitous today, are meant not only for the affluent but for the whole. When not in use, it has become common to rely on them for time keeping, effectively making the Mobile phone serve the function of a watch and that is how Mobile telephones become pocket watches too.

How Watches Come into Existence?

A wristwatch, fixed firmly with a watchstrap or watchband are often made up of leather or metal. Invented by Patek Philippe in 19th century, initially was considered a woman's fashion accessory. It was not until the beginning of the 20th century when the Brazilian inventor Alberto Santos-Dumont, who had difficulty checking the time while in his first aircraft, asked his friend Louis Cartier for a watch. Cartier gave him a leather-band wristwatch which Dumont had with him for longtime. Cartier being a popular figure in Paris was soon able to sell these wristwatches to other men.

During the First World War, army officers discovered the far more convenience of wristwatches in battleground situations. Later, demobilized European and American officers kept back their wristwatches, thus popularizing it amongst the western civilian culture. The trend has then spread to other parts of the world, wherever accurate and convenient time references were required.

Straps Vs Bracelets

Watchbands in form of watchstraps and bracelets are of many types. Some people prefer the comfort of a leather strap while others like the durability and style of a metal bracelet. Some others believe the hybrid offers of durability and comfort of a rubber strap. At end of the day, it simply comes down to your first choice, to select one for your watch. Let us have a look on pros and cons of straps and bracelets.

Leather straps can be incredibly comfortable for you. You can get a nice alligator strap if you want to dress up your watch or a Kodiak strap if you want a more robust look on your watch. Anyway, if you have daily practice of wearing your watch, you have to go through a new strap in about a year before you have to replace it. In such case, a buckle can add significant life to your leather strap as it eliminates the tugging and pulling aspect of taking your watch off and putting it back on your wrist. Moreover, heavy dampness can wash out all the natural oils from your watchstrap and to preserve the strap, get the moisture off with a soft cloth regularly. Another way to preserve your strap is not wearing it tightly. Always leave enough space so that you can place your little finger between the watchstrap and your wrist coat. This helps air circulation and lets moisture evaporate away more effectively.

Metal bracelets are great for folks who prefer not to worry about their watchbands for years of time, as they are most durable. Over the years of usage, the joins will start to loosen and give way, pushing you to replace your bracelet. You can expect a steel, platinum, or titanium bracelet to last for 15 - 20 years and a gold bracelet for only about half of that because of its softer nature. Over time your do need to clean your bracelet and occasionally, clean your bracelet by gently brushing it up using warm soapy water. Rinse and dry it with a soft cloth then.

Rubber straps are great because they give you the comfort of a leather strap and are cheap comparing to leather and metallic bands. However, rubber straps are not as durable as metal straps, but they tend to last longer then leather straps. The disadvantage of rubber straps is that they are not as versatile as leather straps and steel bracelets. You will find yourself hard pressed on wearing rubber strap watch. Rubber straps too need maintenance to some extent as dampness over start to deteriorate it if you do not clean it regularly.

There are few other types of watchstraps out there, especially made for women and come with synthetic or sink bracelets. These are very delicate straps and do not agree with salt, perspiration, or water of any kind. Dampness over them can stain and take away the straps luster away quickly if they are not looked after strictly.

Choose for Your Comfort

The comfort with most wristwatches is that they enable you to use different strap/bracelet combinations. This allows you to dress up your watches to look different from its earlier appearance. It so makes you to feel like you got a new watch after swapping out a bracelet with a strap on it.

So, before choosing one, always keep in mind, which best suit your general living or work conditions. Folks who prefer to keep themselves well dressed can have blend of both, stapes and bracelets for their watches. Finally, its all about individual preference, so if you feel strongly about one of the other, go with it.