Best MoonSwatch Straps in 2026: Rubber, Leather & NATO Replacements
Every MoonSwatch ships on stock velcro strap. And every MoonSwatch owner eventually reaches the same conclusion: the velcro needs to go.
It absorbs sweat. It frays at the edges. It traps odour. It looks and feels like the one compromise Swatch made on an otherwise genuinely impressive watch. The good news is that 20mm is the most common lug width in watchmaking, which means the aftermarket options are enormous. The bad news is that most of them are not worth your money.
We have tested, stocked, and rejected more MoonSwatch straps than we can count. Here are the ones that made the cut, organised by material, with our specific picks for each.
FKM rubber: the default upgrade
If you only buy one strap for your MoonSwatch, make it rubber. FKM (fluoroelastomer) rubber is what professional dive watches use. It resists UV, saltwater, sweat, and heat. It does not degrade, discolour, or smell after six months of daily wear. On a MoonSwatch, it turns a fun watch into a daily wearer you never take off.
Not all rubber is FKM. Budget straps use PU or silicone and they feel like it. If the listing does not say FKM, it is not FKM.
Our picks:
MoonSwatch FKM Curved Rubber Strap | from £75 →
The best-selling MoonSwatch strap on the site. Curved ends that follow the case shape for a seamless, integrated look. Available in 8 colours. This is the strap that makes people ask "is that a different watch?" The curved end is what separates it from every generic 20mm rubber strap on the market. It sits flush against the MoonSwatch case with no gap.
MoonSwatch Rubber Woven Strap | from £59 →
A textured rubber strap with a woven pattern embossed into the surface. Same FKM durability as the curved strap but with a visual texture that catches light differently. 8 colourways. If you want rubber that does not look like rubber, this is it.
MoonSwatch FKM Straight-End Diver Strap | from £42 →
The entry point into FKM. Straight ends rather than curved, so there is a small gap at the lugs. But the rubber quality is identical and the price is the lowest in the range. If you are replacing velcro for the first time and want to spend the minimum on something genuinely good, start here.
Best for: Daily wear, travel, summer, gym, anyone who wears their MoonSwatch more than three days a week.
Browse all rubber MoonSwatch straps →
Leather: dress it up
Leather on a MoonSwatch sounds wrong until you see it. The Bioceramic case has enough visual weight to carry a quality leather strap, and the contrast between a playful dial and a refined strap creates something unexpectedly good.
The key is proportion. A thick padded leather strap designed for a 44mm Panerai will dwarf a MoonSwatch. You need something cut for a 42mm Bioceramic case with a 20mm lug width. That means slim, supple, and tapered.
Our picks:
MoonSwatch Saffiano Leather Strap | from £70 →
Italian Saffiano leather with a cross-hatch texture. Structured enough to hold its shape, slim enough to sit under a cuff. The black version works across every MoonSwatch model. The brown is particularly good on the Mission to Saturn and Desert editions.
MoonSwatch Embossed Alligator Leather Strap | from £70 →
Calfskin with an alligator-embossed grain. The texture elevates the MoonSwatch without making it feel like it is trying too hard. Available in brown, black, grey, and navy. At £42 this is the most affordable way to dress a MoonSwatch up for an evening.
MoonSwatch Suede Strap | from £59 →
Soft, matte, and casual. Suede develops a patina with wear that is unique to each owner. On the Mission to Earth or the Saturn, a brown suede strap adds warmth and character that rubber cannot. Not water-resistant, so keep it dry.
Best for: Evenings, office wear, collectors who rotate straps by occasion, anyone who wants their MoonSwatch to look less sporty.
Browse all leather MoonSwatch straps →
NATO and fabric: the casual option
NATO straps and the MoonSwatch share the same DNA. Both are accessible, colourful, and designed to be swapped without tools. A NATO strap on a MoonSwatch is the most natural combination in the range.
The difference between a cheap NATO and a good one is the weave. A tight, dense nylon resists fraying at the edges and holds its shape after washing. A loose weave softens and distorts within weeks. If you can see light through the strap, the weave is too open.
Our picks:
MoonSwatch Premium NATO Strap | from £30 →
Woven nylon, single-pass design, brushed steel hardware. Five colourways. At £30 this is the cheapest strap on the site and the easiest to recommend for anyone who wants to try something different without committing. The black/grey Bond colourway works on every MoonSwatch.
MoonSwatch Sailcloth Deployant Strap | from £85 →
Not technically a NATO but worth including here. FKM rubber with a sailcloth-embossed texture and a deployant clasp. Looks like fabric, performs like rubber. Fully waterproof. If you want the visual character of a NATO with none of the drawbacks (moisture absorption, drying time, odour), this is the hybrid solution.
Best for: Weekends, holidays, colour matching to specific MoonSwatch models, anyone who owns more than one MoonSwatch and wants variety at a low price point.
Browse all fabric MoonSwatch straps →
Personalised straps: make it yours
Every rubber strap in the range can be personalised with buckle engraving. Up to three characters, laser engraved into the stainless steel buckle. Initials, a date, a short code. It is a small detail but it turns a strap into a gift or a personal statement.
Leather straps can take a single initial via hot-stamped foil at the tip. Available in silver or gold foil, or blind embossed for a more subtle finish.
Browse personalised MoonSwatch straps →
Which strap for which MoonSwatch?
Every MoonSwatch is 20mm so every strap fits every model. But colour matching matters. Here are our quick recommendations by model:
Mission to the Moon (grey): Black rubber, grey suede, black/grey NATO. The neutral dial works with almost anything.
Mission to Mercury (black): Black rubber, black Saffiano leather. Keep it monochrome.
Mission to Neptune (blue): Navy rubber woven, navy NATO, navy embossed alligator.
Mission to Saturn (brown): Brown suede, brown Saffiano, brown rubber woven. The warmest MoonSwatch deserves the warmest strap.
Mission to Mars (red): Black rubber with red accents, or lean into it with a red rubber woven.
Snoopy Black (Moonphase): Black curved FKM rubber. Clean, dark, lets the dial do the talking.
Snoopy White (Moonphase): White or cream rubber. Or go contrast with navy leather.
Earthphase Moonshine Gold: Navy or black rubber woven. The gold seconds hand pops against dark straps.
1965 MoonSwatch: Grey or cream. The vintage aesthetic suits muted tones.
For detailed model-specific picks with images, see our MoonSwatch straps by model page →.
Before you swap: is the MoonSwatch waterproof?
The MoonSwatch is rated to 50 metres (3 bar). That covers splashes, rain, and washing your hands. It does not cover swimming, snorkelling, or showers. FKM rubber and NATO straps handle water without issue. Leather does not. If you are putting a leather strap on a MoonSwatch, keep it away from water.
For the full breakdown, read our guide: Is the MoonSwatch Waterproof? →
How to change a MoonSwatch strap
Every strap ships with spring bars. Most ship with a spring bar tool. The swap takes 30 seconds. Push the spring bar pin inward, slide the old strap out, slide the new one in, release the pin. No jeweller required. No special skills. If you can change a phone case, you can change a MoonSwatch strap.
Frequently asked questions
Do all MoonSwatch models take the same strap size? Yes. Every MoonSwatch ever made uses 20mm. Original eleven, Moonshine Gold, Moonphase, Mission on Earth, Earthphase, 1965. All 20mm.
Can I use any 20mm strap or does it need to be MoonSwatch-specific? Any 20mm strap will physically fit. But straps designed for the MoonSwatch case shape, particularly curved-end rubber straps, will look and sit better than generic alternatives. The curved end eliminates the gap between strap and case that you get with straight-end straps.
Is the stock velcro strap really that bad? It works. It does the job. But it absorbs moisture, develops odour over time, and the velcro weakens with repeated opening and closing. A rubber or leather replacement is a permanent upgrade in comfort, appearance, and durability.
How do I know if my MoonSwatch is genuine? Counterfeits are increasingly common. We have written a detailed guide: Genuine vs Fake Snoopy MoonSwatch →
What's the best strap for daily wear? FKM curved rubber. Waterproof, comfortable, durable, and it looks the part. The curved FKM at £75 is our most popular MoonSwatch strap for a reason.
Every MoonSwatch takes a 20mm strap. Every MoonSwatch ships on velcro. And every MoonSwatch owner eventually reaches the same conclusion: the velcro needs to go.
It absorbs sweat. It frays at the edges. It traps odour. It looks and feels like the one compromise Swatch made on an otherwise genuinely impressive watch. The good news is that 20mm is the most common lug width in watchmaking, which means the aftermarket options are enormous. The bad news is that most of them are not worth your money.
We have tested, stocked, and rejected more MoonSwatch straps than we can count. Here are the ones that made the cut, organised by material, with our specific picks for each.
Ready to upgrade?
All MoonSwatch straps → | Rubber → | Leather → | By model → | Personalised →