Leather care guide

For routine care, we recommend carrying out the following steps after every 10-15 wears. If your strap is made from Horween tanned leather, reduce this frequency to every 20-30 wears. The exact frequency required also depends on the environment and your personal usage.

1. Carefully remove your strap from the watch case.

2. Wipe gently, using your cotton cleaning cloth provided to remove any surface dirt.

3. Apply a small amount of balsam onto your cloth. Please do so sparingly.

4. Apply to the grain side of the leather only in small circular motions and with light pressure, giving special attention to any scratches or marks that may be seen. We do not recommend using the balsam on the flesh side of the leather or the Zermatt Calfskin lining.

5. Leave to dry for a minimum of 10 minutes. This gives the waxes and oils time to soak into the leather. Allow 30 minutes for shell cordovan, as the leather is denser than most.

6. Gently remove any excess balsam from the surface with a dry section of your nourishing cloth.

7. Once fully dry and soft to the touch, your strap is ready to wear again!

Top tips

• Please be aware that use of balsam may darken the leather over time.

• Use balsam responsively to your strap. Generally, if your strap is beginning to look dull or dry, it will likely be time to clean it using a nourishing treatment.

• Although nourishment is an important part of keeping your strap healthy, it is crucial that you do not over-nourish your leather. Overusing the product will be counterproductive for your leather care and is not recommended.

• If your strap feels slightly tacky to the touch, you might be over-nourishing or under-cleaning your strap, and the pores of the leather may be clogged. In this instance, we recommend reducing the frequency of balsam application or the amount you use. You may also wish to clean your strap more frequently with your cleaning cloth to prevent any build-up of dirt, oils or waxes.

• Please note that leather is a natural material and can be sensitive to strong products and environmental factors. Direct contact with water and/or strong products such as perfumes, household cleaners and sanitisers, in addition to exposure to extreme temperatures, may cause damage to your strap and should be avoided at all times.

Natural Ageing

Natural ageing is a desirable quality of leather. A gradual change in colour and texture can be expected as your strap ages, adding unique character and greater depth to your piece.

You may notice a ‘patina’ developing as you wear your strap. This is where unique markings can be seen on the surface layer of the leather. Areas of the leather may darken, and soft sheens may appear where the strap has been well used. Scratches and markings from daily wear will fade into the patina, beautifully infusing with the surface of the leather.

Certain leathers have distinct qualities that may occur as your strap ages. If you have any questions, or would like more information on this, please do get in touch.

Blooms

In time, especially if unused for a period of time, certain leathers may develop what is referred to as a ‘bloom'. This is a natural process where the oils and greases used in the tanning process are brought to the surface of the leather, creating a white, cloudy effect.

We suggest buffing the leather with your cotton cloth to remove any bloom. Doing so will return the oils back into the leather. You may also wish to repeat the above ‘care’ steps and apply a fresh coat of leather balsam.