Ask a strap maker which question they hear most and it won’t be about size or material. It’s color. People know they want a new strap. They just don’t know whether the watch wants black, blue, green or something braver, and they worry about getting it wrong.
The good news is that color is the easiest part of a strap to get right once you know what to look at. Artem Straps organizes its range by color for exactly that reason. This guide walks through each shade, which watches it suits, and how to choose with confidence.
The one rule that always works
Look at the dial, the bezel and the hands. Somewhere on the watch there is already a color the strap can pick up. A red tip on the seconds hand, a blue bezel insert, cream lume, a gray sunburst dial. When the strap matches something that’s already there, the whole watch looks like it was designed that way.
If nothing on the dial stands out, go with black or gray. If the case is steel, almost any color works. If the case is gold, bronze or rose gold, lean toward warm shades such as brown, beige and dark green.
Black watch straps
Black is the strap every collection should own first. It goes with every dial color, every case metal and every occasion, and it lets the watch do the talking.
Artem’s black watch straps cover every material in the range. The Classic sailcloth comes in black with black, gray, white, blue or red stitching, so you can keep it plain or let the stitch pick up a color on the dial. The rubber HydroFlex comes in two black editions, Dark Matter with black stitching for the cleanest look and Event Horizon with white stitching for a sportier one. The Barenia leather is offered as Forge Black for dressier days. The nylon range includes a plain black and the striped Bond and NTTD patterns.
Black with white stitching is the one to pick for a black dial diver. Black with black stitching is the one to pick when you want the strap to disappear.
Blue watch straps
Blue is the second most useful color on a strap and the one most often chosen for a blue dial. Navy is the safe choice. Lighter blues are for summer and for watches with white or silver dials.
Artem’s blue watch straps include navy sailcloth in Classic and clasp versions with navy or white stitching, the Cosmic Tide HydroFlex in blue with white stitching, the lighter Stellar Azure HydroFlex, and a long list of nylons including Navy Blue, Blue Bond, Summer Blue and Atlantic Blue.
Navy with white stitching on a blue dial is the pairing people photograph most. Navy with navy stitching is quieter and works just as well on a black dial.
Gray watch straps
Gray is the color that solves problems. It sits between black and white, flatters a steel case, and calms down a busy dial. It also suits watches with gray, silver or slate dials that black can overpower.
Artem’s gray watch straps include gray sailcloth in Classic and clasp versions, the Lunar Ash HydroFlex in gray with white stitching, and a gray nylon. Black straps with gray stitching also appear here, which is a good halfway option when full gray feels too soft.
Green watch straps
Green has gone from a niche choice to one of the most requested strap colors, and it works on far more watches than people expect. Khaki green suits field watches and divers, warms up a steel case and looks natural on a bronze one.
Artem’s green watch straps are built around khaki green. There’s a Classic sailcloth and a clasp version, both with green stitching, the Orbital Moss HydroFlex in green with white stitching, a khaki green nylon, and two HydroFlex editions that combine khaki green with orange for anyone whose dial has an orange accent.
Red watch straps
Red is a statement, and a good one when the watch can carry it. A red strap suits a black dial with red markers, a white dial chronograph, or any watch with a red tipped hand or a red word on the dial.
Artem’s red watch straps start with the Blood Moon HydroFlex in red with red stitching, which looks especially strong on a black or white diver. There’s a black sailcloth with red stitching for a subtler nod, and on the nylon side the burgundy, Commander and Vintage Bond stripes bring red into the mix without taking over.
Brown, beige, white, orange and yellow
Beyond the big five, Artem’s range covers the warm and bright end of the spectrum. Brown comes as the Nebula Dust and Vulcan Clay HydroFlex editions and the Saddle Tan and Bridle Brown Barenia leathers, all of which suit gold cases and cream dials. Sand beige is offered in sailcloth and as the Titan Dune HydroFlex, and it’s the color that turns a serious tool watch into a vacation watch. The Nova Light HydroFlex is a true white strap, which looks sharp on a white dial and brave on a black one. Solar Flare orange and Ion Glow yellow are for watches with those colors already on the dial, where they look intentional rather than loud.
Stitching changes everything
Two straps in the same color can look completely different depending on the thread. Tonal stitching, where the thread matches the strap, is the formal choice and the one that flatters dress watches. Contrast stitching, usually white, gray or a dial color, reads as sporty.
The trick is to let the stitching, not the strap, do the color matching. A black strap with blue stitching picks up a blue bezel without committing the whole wrist to blue. A navy strap with white stitching echoes white hands on a blue dial. It’s the smallest change on the strap and the one people notice most.
Match the hardware too
Color doesn’t stop at the strap. A buckle or clasp should match the finish of the case. Artem offers its hardware in brushed stainless steel and black DLC, so a black strap can wear black hardware on a black PVD case or steel hardware on a steel one.
How to shop by color at Artem
Every color collection on the Artem site brings together the sailcloth, rubber, leather and nylon straps in that shade, so you can compare materials once you’ve settled on a color. Each strap is offered in lug widths from 18mm to 23mm and in three lengths, and every one comes fitted with quick release spring bars. All straps carry a two year craftsmanship warranty and a thirty day fit and feel return window, so a color that doesn’t work on the wrist can go back.
Frequently asked questions
What color watch strap goes with everything?
Black, followed closely by gray and navy. All three work with any dial color and any case metal.
Should the strap color match the dial?
It should connect to something on the dial rather than match it exactly. Picking up an accent color, the bezel or the lume usually looks better than a straight match.
What color strap suits a gold or bronze watch?
Warm tones. Brown, tan, beige, khaki green and dark navy all flatter yellow metals. Black can look harsh on bronze.
Is a white watch strap practical?
On rubber, yes. Artem’s Nova Light HydroFlex wipes clean and doesn’t absorb anything, which is what makes white workable day to day.
Can I wear a colored strap to the office?
Navy, dark green and dark brown all pass in most offices. Keep the stitching tonal and the hardware brushed and the strap will read as considered rather than casual.
What is the best strap color for a blue dial watch?
Navy with white stitching is the classic pairing. Gray, sand beige and black with blue stitching are the alternatives if you want contrast rather than a match.
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