Elegant or rugged, tactile or practical, animal or mineral? What makes the best strap? Leather or Steel? 

PROS 

Leather is traditionally the smartest of materials to sport in a strap. Classic dress watches will always sit on animal skin and at an old-school black tie occasion, only leather will cut it. 

Steel is the most robust way to attach your watch to your wrist. Once you’ve snapped the clasp, you know your timepiece will remain in place until you chose to remove it. 

Leather is the most comfortable strap material. It will hug your wrist perfectly and unless you are checking the time, you will barely know it is there. 

Steel goes with everything (except your dinner suit). From gym kit, through casual wear to a business suit, a steel strap will not clash with any colour or texture. 

Leather provides the most variety. Chose alligator or ostrich, horse or kangaroo for the largest selection of feel, look and colour. 

Steel will stand the test of time. The steel strap of a truly high quality watch should last just as long as the mechanism it bears. 

Leather feels great. And touch is one of the senses overlooked in the appreciation of watches. 

Steel is waterproof. If your watch is tough enough for those depths, you can be sure your steel strap is. 

CONS 

Leather will stretch. You may find yourself changing buckle holes, or even have to punch new ones, to prolong its fit. This will make your strap look messy. 

Steel will scratch. Sometimes this can make your strap look nobly mature. Sometimes it can make it look a mess. 

Leather straps will not last forever.  Sooner or later, the stitches will wear out or one of the holes will simply stretch too far. Then you could be left spending hundreds of pounds on a replacement. 

Steel can stretch. The links can loosen and you will be left with a badly fitting strap that you will probably have to take to a jeweller for adjustment. 

Leather is not waterproof. Of course a decent quality strap will survive a couple of dips in the pool but give it prolonged exposure to sea water and it will soon begin to perish. 

Steel can be uncomfortable. Steel straps have more rough edges and are bulkier than leather ones. 

Leather is weaker than steel. Your strap is more likely to come apart than a steel one if you catch it somewhere. And that could result in you losing your watch. 

Steel is heavy. Sometimes a chunky steel strap can feel like it is wearing you, rather than vice versa. 

Conclusion 

After taking all the above information into deep consideration, Chrono Hunter recommends you buy two watches. A dress watch with a leather strap for extra-special occasions and a sportier watch, with a steel strap for day-to-day wear. Sometimes, compromise can feel like winning.