The leather strap shows signs of wear early on

Why does leather age at different rates?

Leather is a natural material and changes over time. Signs of wear, a slight patina or changes in colour and surface are therefore completely normal and make every leather strap unique over time.

How quickly these changes become visible depends a lot on how often and under what conditions you wear the strap.

Why does my leather strap already show signs of wear so early?

A leather strap is exposed to various influences in everyday use. Particularly relevant are:

• sweat and skin moisture
• friction from clothing, table edges or other surfaces
• water and high humidity
• UV radiation and direct sunlight
• heat and strong temperature changes
• care products, creams, perfume or disinfectants

If you wear your watch every day, the leather can therefore change noticeably faster than with occasional use.

What changes are normal for leather?

Typical signs of wear can include, for example:

• a darker or uneven colouring
• creases and bend marks
• a softer surface
• slight shiny patches
• small scratches or pressure marks
• changes to the strap holes
• a natural patina

These changes result from use and are normal for genuine leather.

Why does my strap look different from the product photos?

Since leather is a natural material, colour, structure and grain can vary slightly.

Wear also changes the appearance over time. A new leather strap therefore often looks smoother and more even than a strap that has already been worn for a few weeks or months.

The developing patina in particular is a typical characteristic of natural leather.

Why is my leather strap darkening?

Leather can darken as a result of moisture, skin contact, sweat and care products.

Particularly light leather colours often show these changes faster and more clearly than dark straps.

Individual areas can also darken to different degrees, for example where the strap sits especially close to the wrist.

Is sweat harmful to the leather strap?

Sweat can put more strain on leather over time.

The moisture and salts it contains can cause the material to:

• darken more quickly
• become stiffer or softer
• change in surface texture
• or develop odours over time

If you sweat a lot, we recommend letting the strap dry briefly after wearing it.

A leather strap is therefore only suitable to a limited extent for sport or activities involving a lot of sweat.

Can my leather strap get wet?

Leather should ideally not come into prolonged or heavy contact with water.

Even if the watch itself is water-resistant, this does not automatically apply to the leather strap.

So where possible, avoid:

• showering
• bathing
• swimming
• prolonged contact with rain
• salt water or chlorinated water

If the strap does get slightly wet, gently pat it dry with a soft cloth and then let it dry completely at room temperature.

How do I dry a wet leather strap properly?

Let the strap dry slowly in the air.

Please do not use a strong heat source such as:

• a hairdryer
• a heater
• direct, intense sunlight

Excessive heat can dry out, harden or deform the leather.

How can I clean my leather strap?

You can gently remove light dirt with a soft, dry or only very slightly dampened cloth.

Do not rub the surface hard.

You should avoid aggressive cleaning agents, alcohol, disinfectants or household cleaners, as they can change the colour and surface of the leather.

Should I use leather care products?

If you use a leather care product, it should be explicitly suitable for the type of leather in question.

Please note that care products can change the colour of the leather or make it darker. It's best to first test a product carefully on an inconspicuous area.

Use care products sparingly only.

How can I extend the lifespan of my leather strap?

You can't completely prevent natural ageing, but you can slow it down considerably.

We recommend:

• keeping the strap as dry as possible
• letting it dry after heavy sweating
• avoiding water and high humidity
• reducing direct contact with perfume, creams and disinfectants
• not wearing the strap very tight all the time
• avoiding strong sunlight and heat
• occasionally cleaning the strap gently
• giving the watch an occasional break from being worn so the leather can dry out completely

Why does the inside wear out faster?

The inside of the leather strap sits directly against the skin and is therefore especially exposed to sweat, heat and friction.

It's therefore normal for signs of wear to appear there sooner than on the outside.

Discolouration or changes to the surface can also occur more quickly on the underside.

Is a leather strap a wear part?

Yes. Leather straps are consumable, or wear, parts.

How long a strap can be used depends heavily on how often it's worn, how it's cared for, the environment and personal usage habits. A general lifespan therefore can't be stated.

When should I replace the leather strap?

Replacement is recommended if:

• the leather is significantly torn
• the strap holes are badly stretched or damaged
• individual layers are coming apart
• the strap is damaged around the spring bars
• the seam is coming apart significantly
• or you feel that the watch no longer sits securely on your wrist

For purely visual changes or a natural patina, however, replacement is not necessarily required.

When should I contact our customer service?

If your leather strap is unusually damaged after only a very short time of use, or if you're unsure whether it's still normal wear and tear, feel free to get in touch with our customer service.

Please send us the following, if possible:

• your order number, if available
• the exact watch or strap model
• how long the strap has already been worn
• roughly how often you wear it
• whether it's had contact with water, sweat or care products
• clear photos of the affected areas

This helps us better assess whether it's normal ageing of the natural material or an unusual case of damage.