What Colour Watch Strap Goes with Everything?

There are so many different watches available that it can often be an extremely challenging task identifying what the perfect watch strap colour would be for it. In this article, we'll help you identify what to consider when picking out a watch strap, what the most versatile colours in fashion are and ultimately what the most versatile watch strap colour is.

Are you in the market for a new watch? Or perhaps you're looking to replace the strap on your current watch. Either way, we know that choosing a new watch band can often seem a daunting task. 

There are so many things to consider when identifying something that is both versatile in colour and that suits a variety of watch designs and fashion styles. With all of these requirements, the question we often hear people asking is “what colour watch band goes with everything?”

watch case in box with spring bar removal tool

Fortunately, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading and we’ll share with you everything you need to know to answer this key question and get you well on the way to purchasing your next watch strap.

WHY CHOOSE A WATCH BAND THAT GOES WITH EVERYTHING?

We know that we have a lot of customers who own a vast array of watch straps and change them regularly, but the reality is the majority of people have one watch and one watch strap.

Choosing a watch strap therefore that complements the other colours in your wardrobe becomes all the more important. Ultimately you want to match your clothes with your wristwear and to feel confident in what you’re wearing. Get it right and you won’t need to spend time searching through your clothes for that one elusive outfit that matches your boldly coloured watch strap for fear of having to give up and go bare-wristed. 

With a versatile coloured watch strap, you can just put your watch on and get on with your day feeling confident that your outfit and accessories will all look great together. Simple!

WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN MATCHING A WATCH STRAP?

There are a few key factors to consider when choosing a watch strap colour. These include the colour and design of your watch dial, your personal style, and your lifestyle. Let's dive a bit deeper into these.
chronograph on black watch strap but is this the most versatile watch strap colour?

The Watch Dial

A watch dial can display your personal sense of style all on its own.

There are many different styles that you can find in a watch face – from minimal to intricate designs and from neutral to brighter tones. The choice is almost endless irrespective of whether you’re spending £30 or £30,000!

So, it’s important to take the dial design into account and consider what colours will work well with it. Silver, white, grey, black, and blue are the most common watch dial colours and fortunately they are also the most versatile in fashion. They pair well with each other and, due to their neutrality, also with a variety of other colours including reds, purples, and greens.

If you have a watch with one of these more neutral coloured dials, this will ultimately make it much easier to find a watch strap that works well. However, adding contrast between the strap and dial definitely adds a stylish flair to your look so don’t be fearful of trying out some bolder colours if your fashion style allows.

Of the dial colours above, blue is always the dial colour we get asked about the most. If you’re looking for some inspiration, check out this article where we take a look at the best watch strap colours for a blue dial watch.

If you have a black watch dial, using a lighter tone such as silver or grey for the strap can also look amazing. Alternatively, a white dial looks great paired with deeper colours like brown and black.

Your Wardrobe

Once you’ve thought about the strap that would look good with the watch dial, next it's time to consider your wardrobe. Firstly, take a look in your closet and identify the most common colours. Finding a colour that will pair effortlessly with most of your clothing will definitely keep you looking sharp.

Is your wardrobe filled with shades of blue and other cool tones (greens, light purples etc.)? Choose a watch strap in deep blue, black, grey, or one of the various shades of brown.

If your closet has mostly warm tones (reds, oranges, yellows etc.) then a black, warm brown, silver or white strap will complement your outfits well. Keep in mind that warm tones tend to be more vibrant than cool tones, so these colours usually stand out more.

Alternatively, you may have clothes that are mostly neutral tones like black, white, and grey. In this case, a strap in any of those colours will match seamlessly with whatever you wear. You can also opt for something like blue, green, or silver to create a more dynamic look but be wary that in a neutral toned wardrobe a bolder coloured watch strap will stand out more.

A closet that has primarily earth tones (browns, tan, olive etc.) or muted colours will pair perfectly with a rich brown, deep green, or dark grey.

You should also consider your personal style. Do you like well-matched and neutral shades, or do you prefer wilder patterns and bold colours?

How you prefer to dress will likely translate into your accessories as well. And you can still choose a colour that is versatile and matches many outfits, while also keeping authentic to your look.

Another tip is matching your watch strap to the other accessories that you wear. Check out your belts, shoes, and/or purses to see if there is a common theme regarding colour. If so, you can choose a strap in the same colour or tone, and your accessories will always match, pulling more of your outfits together.

fashion conscious lady holding many bags of shopping

Your Lifestyle

Another important factor is your lifestyle and the type of events that you will likely be wearing your watch to.

If you wear your watch in an office or business setting, then you will probably want something sleek and tasteful, potentially a stainless steel metal or leather watch strap. Or, if you work in an industry where you may get your hands dirty, such as in construction or restaurants, then you will probably want a dark colour that doesn’t easily show dirt and a strap material that potentially adapts to the rigours of your day.

If you plan to wear your watch to special or formal events, you will need a strap that looks classic and sophisticated, similar perhaps to the office style watch strap above.

Maybe you mostly wear your watch in your leisure time? If so, you can choose a colour that really matches your style and personality. On one hand, it could be something that looks casual, or something bright and bold. If you’re looking for some bold watch strap inspiration, you should definitely take a look at our spring and summer collection - watch straps for the extroverts out there!

It’s important to keep in mind where you will be wearing your watch and how that may affect the look you want.

The Material

While this may not be as important as the other factors when considering the original question of this article, it's obviously an important determining factor and can affect the colour options available to you.

If you want a leather strap, then colours like black and brown will be the most common options available to you.

A watch strap made from nylon tends to look great in a wider range of colours. If you’re interested in something like green, grey or orange, then this material will be your best choice - especially if a military style watch strap such as a NATO or Marine Nationale takes your fancy.

WHAT ARE THE MOST VERSATILE COLOURS IN FASHION?

If we take a step back and look at fashion trends and common guidelines, neutral tones and muted shades such as black, navy blue and grey tend to be the most versatile. Let’s take a look at some of these colours individually and see what it is that makes them so versatile.
 
rail of mens shirts in many versatile colours

Black

Black is THE classic colour that is a staple in fashion. This colour is highly adaptable and has the bonus of easily hiding dirt. Here at The Thrifty Gentleman we acknowledged just how versatile and popular the black watch strap was that we created our All Black Collection - a collection of all black watch straps.

This colour goes with everything, from blue to silver, even reds and browns, so this has to be a great option when we pick out our most versatile watch strap colour to go with everything. Although, do keep in mind that if you don’t have many dark clothes in your wardrobe, the black may be too stark in contrast to your lighter tones.

White

Purely from a fashion perspective, this is another colour that complements every other colour fantastically well. It looks clean and crisp and will quickly brighten up your look.

However, the downside of a white watch strap is that it shows dirt and scratches more easily, so it can quickly start to look a bit run down. If you wear your watch all day or work a hands-on job, although it looks phenomenal in its infancy, white might not be the best choice for you.

Brown

Brown is an incredibly versatile colour, making it a top choice for watch straps. One of the perks of brown is the number of shades there are of this colour. With so many options, it’s easy to find the shade that perfectly complements your style.

Brown is a very common leather watch strap colour and pairs extremely well with dress watches. Some will argue that they also look great on other more casual watch styles, such as dive watches, but the jury is still out!

Grey/Silver

This neutral tone also comes in a variety of shades, ranging from cool greys to warm greys. Like brown, grey is easy to pair with a large variety of colours because of its diverse range. Silver is as versatile as grey but also adds a classier look to your watch.

As we’ve highlighted earlier, the contrast of light and dark in a watch design can make a difference. So, if you do decide on grey, think about choosing a grey that adds depth to your watch.

Navy Blue

Navy blue, and other dark blues, are a great choice if you want something that is versatile but still adds character. Deep blue looks great with all the previous colours we’ve mentioned.

Navy stands out more than the other colours but is still subtle and harmonizing. Like black, it also hides dirt or scuffs well - perfect for a more active lifestyle.

pilot watch with green nato watch strap from The Thrifty Gentleman

Green

Green isn’t always commonly considered a versatile tone, but the NATO green watch strap, our most popular watch strap, has a deeper, more muted tone. Like olive green, this green strap is very versatile.

Because it has a muted earthy tone, this shade of green easily complements many other colours - proven by the number of customers who have bought this strap. This deep green watch strap pairs beautifully with most of the colours on our list, as well as with some shades of pink, yellow and purple.

WHAT COLOUR WATCH BAND GOES WITH EVERYTHING?

  • We have covered a variety of topics in this article. We have looked at:
  • How the watch dial impacts the choice in watch strap colour;
  • How the clothes in your wardrobe and your personal style play a part in your decision;
  • How your work and lifestyle impacts the colour choice; and
  • What the choice in material does to our colour options.

Neutral tones such as white, black, grey, and brown are great options if you want something versatile.

Navy blue and deep green also add more character and style to a look while still enhancing most outfits.

We earlier took a look at some of these colours in more detail and their pros and cons but now is the time to put our “neck on the line”. It’s time to answer the original question we posed - what colour watch band goes with everything?

It’s tricky. There are some great options out there. We could go with the general consensus and look at the watch strap colours that we have sold the most of. In fact we have done that review in this article - What are the Top 5 watch straps of 2022. Surely most popular equals most versatile… or maybe not.

We’re actually going to say NOT! Not today anyway. Today we’re going to go for the watch strap colour that we believe is so versatile we have created its own collection - black. Not only is it one of the most popular but, in our opinion, it is also the most versatile.

Vostok Komandirskie with black nato watch strap from The Thrifty Gentleman - the most versatile watch strap colour option

But that is just our choice for versatility - the perfect colour watch strap for you will truly depend on your taste and lifestyle. Your wardrobe, the style of your watch and your personal style are the biggest factors to consider. How often and where you wear your watch will also matter in your decision.

Hopefully you can use some of these ideas and tips to find a watch strap that you love and can wear with anything. And if you are a one watch, one strap person, check out our amazing range of affordable watch straps here. Maybe we can tempt you into adding another to your collection. 

It’s definitely easier having more than one watch strap in your collection to suit your style of the day!

We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. In your opinion, is black the most versatile watch strap colour? Let us know what you think!

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