Leather Bund Strap

A bund strap is a leather watch strap with a wide pad that sits under the watch case, so the metal never touches your wrist. Ours comes in green, brown, tan and black, in 18, 20, 22 and 24mm.

The story

The bund is usually traced to German military pilots in the Second World War. At altitude, a steel caseback against bare skin gets painfully cold. On the ground, sweat gets under the case and starts working on the metal. A thick leather pad solved both problems. It was a fix for a uniform, not a fashion choice.

It didn't stay in the cockpit. Surplus straps found their way onto civilian wrists, and the look has come back round every decade or so since. Bund is simply German for band. The pilots had other things on their minds.

It isn't subtle, and that's the point. A bund strap turns a watch into an object with a frame around it.

Why it still works

Nothing metal touches your skin, warm day or cold one. The pad frames the case, so a modest watch wears with real presence. It also hides a plain caseback, which is no bad thing.

What to wear it with

Pilot watches, field watches and military-style chronographs are the natural home. Green suits black and khaki dials. Tan and brown suit cream dials and aged lume. Black keeps it sharp on steel. If you want the military look without the pad, our NATO and fabric straps are the lighter option.

How it's made

A two-piece leather strap threads through keepers on a shaped leather pad. The pad is edge-stitched and backed with natural leather, so the side against your skin stays soft. Stainless steel buckle. Spring bars included. More in the same material is in our leather watch straps.

Sizing and fitting

Available in 18mm, 20mm, 22mm and 24mm. Measure between the lugs, not across the case. Standard length fits wrists from 15.5cm to 20.5cm. Not sure of your width? Use the strap finder.

Fit the strap to the watch, then thread it through the keepers so the case sits centred on the pad. A spring bar tool makes it a two-minute job.

Bund strap questions

What is a bund strap?

A leather strap with a wide pad that sits between the watch and your wrist.

Why is it called a bund strap?

Bund is German for band. The style is linked to German military pilots in the Second World War.

Will it fit my watch?

It fits any watch with standard spring-bar lugs in 18, 20, 22 or 24mm.

Is it comfortable in warm weather?

Yes. The pad is backed in natural leather, so there's no metal against your skin and nothing cold or clammy.

How do I fit a bund strap?

Attach it to the watch with the spring bars, then thread it through the pad's keepers so the case sits in the centre.

Free tracked delivery

• Royal Mail Tracked, 1–2 working days
• Order by 3pm Monday to Friday and it ships the same day
• Weekend orders ship on Monday

Guaranteed next day – £9.95

• Royal Mail Special Delivery, by 1pm the next working day
• Order by 3pm Monday to Friday

Free FedEx Priority shipping on orders over $120 to the US, C$190 to Canada, A$200 to Australia, NZ$240 to New Zealand and £100 everywhere else. Below that, the cost is shown at checkout.

No fees on delivery

• US prices already include all import duties and taxes.
• Everywhere else, any duties and taxes are shown and paid at checkout.
• Either way the checkout total is final – nothing more to pay when it arrives.

Delivery times (FedEx, shipped from London – order by 2pm UK time Monday to Friday and it ships the same day)

• Europe: 1–2 working days
• United States and Canada: 2–3 working days
• Middle East and Asia: 2–4 working days
• Australia and New Zealand: 3–4 working days
• Rest of world: 3–5 working days

Full shipping policy

You have 14 days from delivery to start a return through our returns portal. Items must be unworn and in their original packaging. Personalised and engraved items can’t be returned.

Full returns policy