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Leather watches just exude class and timelessness. These classic timepieces make the perfect dress watch regardless of movement, watch brands, or style; leather watches are undeniably elegant. You can almost not go wrong with a brown leather strap or even a classic black leather band. Leather watches look much more dressy than a rubber strap, but is luxurious aesthetics all they can offer? The answer is no! They are also very functional timepieces with many features and styles that are fit for any occasion.
Whether you are a gentleman or a lady, having a leather watch in your collection is a staple. You can look for watches by brand, but we have organized a list that emphasizes not only the style but also the watch features, material, and capabilities.
View The Best Leather Watches Below
1. Armani Exchange Watch
Armani Exchange is a very chic and stylish brand for watches and clothes as well! They have many options, including ones with a black dial and a matching leather strap, or ones with a brown leather strap and a deep blue dial. Each one is decorated with Roman Numeral indicators with a subtle Armani Exchange logo at the 12-hour mark.
The beautiful quartz movement watch with an analog display is covered safely with a mineral crystal dial window. These products are water resistant up to 50 m; it’s not a lot since leather isn’t recommended to be submerged for long periods.
Pros:
+ Mineral crystal dial window
+ Quartz movement
+ Water resistant
+ Stainless steel case
Why We Like It – A leather dress watch doesn’t need to have a basic watch dial. We like how the overall design is simple, but the carefully placed logos make it stand out.
2. Seiko SNE102 Solar Watch
Seiko watches are long trusted and a very reliable brand. They operate on a Japanese quartz movement, and the Hardlex dial window is held together between croc-embossed leather bands. This is another gorgeous dress watch style watch design that looks great on your wrist any time of the day.
Measuring at 39mm, it’s slightly smaller than other watches for men, and the two-tone stainless steel watch case is water resistant up to 100m! That makes this design suitable for general water sports but not diving.
Pros:
+ Water resistant up to 100 m
+ Japanese quartz movement
+ Hardlex dial window
+ Stainless steel case
Why We Like It – The stainless steel case and the Hardlex dial window make these watches sturdy and durable.
3. BUREI Minimalist Wrist Watch
This watch lives up to its minimalist name. This is the best dress watch we’ve seen if there ever was one. The slim watch with a simple watch face features no numbers, just indicators for each hour and minute. The only Arabic numeral you will see on the watch dial is the date window at the three-hour mark.
If you are looking for a basic and simple timepiece that will always be in style no matter how you wear it, then this is it! The plain watch case is covered by a mineral crystal lens and held in place on your wrist by a brown leather strap.
Pros:
+ Accurate Japanese quartz movement
+ Simple timepiece
+ Features a date window
+ Water resistant
Why We Like It – For the minimalists, these timepieces can’t get any simpler, yet they still clearly display the time as well as the day of the month.
4. Michael Kors Quartz Watch
These watches from Michael Kors come in a variety of classic colors for you to choose from. They feature a plain watch face with indicators only for the hour and minutes. A mineral crystal dial protects the stainless steel case with a soft leather band that wraps around your wrist and a tang buckle.
Just to make the design stand out a little bit more, there are small crystal embellishments on the watch dial and around the case. There’s even a crystal Swarovski leather strap option to help you stand out from the crowd.
Pros:
+ Comes with small crystal decorations
+ Classic leather watches
+ Stainless steel case
+ Waterproof up to 50m
Why We Like It – Leather watches are usually paired with a simple watch dial, but just to give it a bit more style, Michael Kors offers crystal embellishments.
5. Fossil Georgia Quartz Watch
Other than decorating the band, you can also add buckles and screws to improve the style. These stainless steel quartz watches are slightly smaller and come with a 3-hand display. The luminous watch hands will also make it easier to tell time at night.
The slim and genuine brown leather watches are waterproof up to 50m and complete with a scratch-resistant mineral crystal dial window. Fossil watches also come with interchangeable band designs so you can switch between your favorite looks.
Pros:
+ Luminous hands
+ Mineral crystal dial window
+ Stainless steel watch
+ Quartz
Why We Like It – We like Fossil watches because their watch straps are interchangeable. It’s almost like purchasing many different watches at a lower price!
6. Timex Expedition Classic Digital Watch
Now to introduce a leather watch that isn’t paired with an analog display. Just when you thought leather timepieces couldn’t come in any other style, here is one with a digital display. The genuine leather strap comes with nylon accents and is a 100-hour chronograph watch. Not only that, but it also can help you keep track of the month, day, and date.
If you prefer military time, it’s as easy as adjusting a few buttons, and you have the option of setting three different alarms. The resin case with an acrylic window is equipped with Indiglo backlight for low light conditions.
Pros:
+ Digital display style
+ Chronograph
+ Genuine leather strap
+ Indiglo backlight
Why We Like It – This is a sporty watch that has many features but is paired with an unconventional genuine leather strap.
7. Skagen Jorn Minimalistic Watch
The three-hand display will correctly point to the hour, minute, and second of the day with accurate quartz movement. The watch comes in a stainless steel case that features a classic blue dial. Wear the watch with confidence as they are waterproof up to 50m.
This means you do not have to take it off when you wash your hands or do daily activities. If you love the watch case but want a different strap, Skagen also features interchangeable watch straps to suit any style.
Pros:
+ Waterproof up to 50m
+ Interchangeable watch straps
+ Stainless steel case
+ Classic blue dial
Why We Like It – We always like a good deal as we are sure many of you also do. The interchangeable straps offer a layer of variety to these timepieces.
8. Stuhrling Original Watch
As another minimalist and basic design, it’s great to wear this timepiece with any outfit. These products are very slim and sit flat against any wrist without giving extra bulk or weighing you down.
There is a small date window set at the 3-hour mark, and the watch runs on Japanese quartz. The genuine calfskin leather band on these leather watches feature unmatched comfort. They are also waterproof and come with a 2-year international warranty.
Pros:
+ Genuine leather watches
+ Best soft calfskin
+ 2-year international warranty
+ Japanese quartz
Why We Like It – These leather watches are some of the best to wear with any outfit and don’t feature a cluttered watch dial.
9. Fossil The Minimalist
The mineral crystal watch dial is scratch-resistant on this timepiece. The ultra-slim stainless steel case is bound together by genuine brown leather straps. These watches have 50m of water-resistance and are comfortable to wear and mix and match with any outfit.
This timepiece features a blue dial with white and gold markers and hands that display the time clearly. As far as leather watches go, not all watches are genuine leather and remain affordable, but this watch offers real quality and style.
Pros:
+ Water resistant
+ Genuine brown leather straps
+ Classic style
+ Slim stainproof steel case
Why We Like It – This is another option with interchangeable straps for you to switch back and forth and perhaps even experiment with different materials.
10. Timex Weekender Watch
There is something to be said about Arabic numerals taking over the watch blue watch face. Time has never been easier to read with these large numbers. They also went as far as to label military time as well.
For telling time at night, the Indiglo light-up watch face makes everything easier to read. The watch bands are also easy to switch out and replace. Just slip it through the watch case to enjoy a new style. There are even chronograph options with a battery life that lasts up to 10 years!
Pros:
+ Indiglo backlight
+ Interchangeable leather straps
+ Large Arabic numerals
+ Versatile
Why We Like It – Tell time easily at any part of the day in any lighting condition with the Indiglo backlight.
Leather Watches Buyer’s Guide
The word “best” is incredibly subjective when it comes to minor details. However, we all want the same things when we talk about the big picture. We want reliable products that can tell time clearly. Hopefully, they will also display the day and date, and they should be built with high-quality materials (given that the right amount is paid).
To find the right watch that satisfies all of these categories, you need to know what to look for. There are more than enough leather watches to choose from, so to make things easier, follow our guide below.
Materials
Since we’re focused on leather watches, then we won’t talk too much about the band. The case, however, should be stainless steel. There are resin and aluminum cases, among others, but for the best price and overall durability, we suggest the stainproof steel option. These products will outlast many other watches and require the least amount of attention.
As for the window, the best would be sapphire crystal. They are the hardiest and most robust material that’s proven to withstand more external force than mineral crystal or acrylic lenses. However, this robust material is mostly found on higher-end watches. If you aren’t prepared to spend a few hundred dollars on your leather watches or other products, then you may have to settle for mineral crystal lenses. They are still highly scratch-resistant and durable.
Movement
Watches come with different movements; you have quartz, automatic, and mechanical watches. Automatic and mechanical watches are also generally found in higher-end products, so you may find Japanese or Swiss quartz in a lot of the more affordable leather watches. That’s not to say these products are any worse, as these movements are known for their accuracy.
Keep in mind that this kind of movement runs on battery power, and they need to be replaced every so often. We suppose this is what contributes to their lower pricing even though they are the best at time-keeping.
Analog or Digital?
The next category is the display. Do you prefer analog or digital? This is a big personal preference. A lot of digital watches can display the day and date, which may be important to some. Analog displays can still have the day and date, but it’s less common.
Also, having the time shown to you without you having to look at indicators also adds a layer of convenience with the digital leather watches, which is the best and most important reason for having a watch.
As for the style, analog options are the best. We say this because they are dressy and can be worn for more occasions. Digital displays just suggest a more sporty look and a more casual demeanor. However, some watches are digitally displayed, but sport a very classic aesthetic that will look great at more formal events.
Features
What do you want the watch to be able to do? The best watch options will definitely satisfy all your needs. Accurately telling the hour of each day is a given, but some people emphasize the day date displays. Other people want alarm clocks right on their wrists, and others require more complex features such as a chronograph.
You can even look for fancier capabilities such as a thermometer, mobile device compatibility, pressure gauge, and backlighting. A lot of the watches we suggested have Indiglo backlighting, and most of these fancy features can be found on the chronograph watches.
Waterproof
This is pretty high on the list for us. Not only because we want to spend a day in the water, but because sometimes a common daily practice, such as washing your hands, can get in the way of your watch. You don’t want to have to take it off every time you practice self-hygiene, so looking for one that is at least waterproof for 50m is suggested. Anything beyond that would be a bonus.
Unfortunately, being 50m waterproof doesn’t mean you can dive 50m deep without any issues. 50m actually means it can be in the water, but not for swimming or submersion. 100-200m of water resistance will get you the swimming watches. Something less than 50m, such as 30m, would be splashproof, meaning you can walk in the rain and wash your hands.
Budget
Lastly, think about the budget. For most products, you get what you pay for, but the best option for you may not be the highest possible grade. Chronograph watches or ones with a day date display could add a bit more to the price. Leather watches can be quite affordable. The best ones are complete with genuine leather straps and stainless steel cases. If you want a sturdy watch, look for the sapphire crystals. The budget depends on your needs.
You can set a budget first and see what that gets you, or you can look at what you need and see what the pricing looks like. Either way, make sure you invest in a quality timepiece.
Which Brand Watches are the Best?
A lot of people ask about the top 10 best leather watches or brands. That’s hard to answer because of individual preferences and needs. We’ll cater to the everyday needs and bypass the best luxury watch brands.
Seiko
Seiko is a trusted brand from Japan that has been around since the 1800s. They are widely known to produce quality and reliable timepieces for over a century. They even have credit for pairing an automatic watch with the accuracy of a quartz.
Timex
Timex’s parent company Waterbury Clock Company has been around since the mid-1800s. However, the Timex we know today was actually established quite a bit later in 1944. Based in Connecticut, they offer a wide range of styles that range from everyday dress watches, solar, chronograph, and more.
Citizen
At the end of the day, the best brands are the ones that have been around since the beginning. Citizen is one other such brand that has been around since 1918. They are responsible for the break-through eco-drive technology that charges via solar and light power without having to switch out batteries.
Casio
Japanese manufactures seem to dominate the list so far. Casio is the parent for the ever so popular digital G-Shock and Baby-G lines. They still have classic analog designs that are more muted and understated.
Bulova
This watch saved the day with mass production lines. They were one of the first to put styles into mass production and save on time and productivity. Bulova has been bought out by Citizen, but watches with their logo are still being produced.
Swatch
Swiss watches are renowned for their quality. They make plenty of designs with or without day and date displays and with many more features. Swiss-made watches come with a hefty price tag, but Swatch watches allow you to enjoy the luxury without having to shell out for it.
Skagen
You will have seen many of these brands on our list, and it’s not without good reason. Skagen is famed for producing minimalistic watches and is actually quite a young brand compared to the likes of Seiko and Timex, which have been around for over a century.
Orient
Another Japanese bran. A lot of their self-wound models feature a fancy day and date display. They are known for their elegant and expensive-looking watches without the price tag of a Rolex.
Invicta
Another Swiss brand, this is one of the oldest, having been traced back to the 1800s. They produce many different designs and have since moved their headquarters to the states.
Conclusion
The best leather watch shouldn’t only be a fancy addition to your accessory collection, but it should also provide value to your life. A lot of the best ones are multifunctional without bleeding your wallet dry. If you follow our easy guide and cross out the features you want or find necessary, you can easily identify the best option from our top 10 list. We hope we brought you one step closer to your favorite and legendary timepiece!
Did You Know
Wristwatches are the evolved version of the initial watches – the pocket watch. Wristwatches were actually made for women in mind.
Expert Tip
G-shocks are some of the most indestructible watches on the planet. If you are a little clumsier or have an active lifestyle, try the G-shock line. They were tested for their invincibility by being flung out of a 4-story building.
