Design Your Own Watch Strap: Step-by-Step + Holiday Dates
To design your own watch strap at XILUGS, you work down one builder page: leather and color, end shape, form, lug width and length, lining, tip, stitching, edges, keepers, buckle, spring bars and engraving. A live preview redraws the strap as you choose. Custom straps start from $69 and are made by hand in three to five business days.
How the strap builder works
The design-your-own strap builder is a single page with a list of choices and a preview beside them. You pick an option, the preview and running total update, and nothing is cut until you place the order. There is no quote to wait for.
The early steps matter most: the leather sets the price band, and lug width and length decide whether the strap fits. Everything after that is about looks.
At the end you can upload up to three photos of your watch and leave a note with its model or a measurement.
Step 1: choose the leather and color
The builder splits materials into three tabs: regular leather, exotic leather and non-leather, so start by picking the tab that fits your watch and budget. Among the regular calfskins, Epsom is $75, while Togo, Swift, Nappa and hand-dyed vegtan are $69. Exotics start at $105 for alligator patina, $109 for ostrich and lizard, and $115 for alligator.
Epsom alone comes in 27 colors in the live builder, from black and navy to lime and off-white. Togo has a softer, pebbled grain, and Swift a smooth one. Our guide to watch strap leather types compares them in more detail, and the lizard strap guide covers small dress watches.
What each option adds to the price
Most choices are free. Only a handful change the price, and the running total shows each one as you go:
| Option | Choice | Price effect |
|---|---|---|
| End shape | Curved end | +$15 |
| Lining | Epsom or Togo | +$5 |
| Stitch style | Box stitches | +$5 |
| Buckle | Pre-V or butterfly | +$5 or +$10 |
| Clasp | Deployant | +$25 |
The Classic buckle is included in silver, gold or rose gold, with black at $5 more. Spring bars, tip shape, colors and engraving are included. A curved end follows the case for a gap-free fit, so send a photo of your watch if you choose it.
Getting lug width and length right
This is the step to get right. Lug width is listed as two numbers, such as 20/18 mm: the first is the width at the watch, which must match your lugs, and the second is the width at the buckle. The builder offers pairs from 12/10 mm up to 24/22 mm, plus a custom size.
Length is also two numbers, long piece over short piece, chosen from your wrist measured just above the wrist bone. The live size guide maps each length to a wrist range:
- 105/65 or 105/70 mm for wrists up to 15.5 cm
- 115/70 or 115/75 mm for 15.6 to 17.5 cm
- 125/75 or 125/85 mm for 17.6 to 19.5 cm
- 135/85, 135/95 or 135/105 mm for 19.6 to 22.5 cm
Two tips from the size guide: for a case over 44 mm go one size shorter, and between two sizes take the larger one. Our guide on how to measure watch strap size walks through it with a ruler.
Stitching, edges, keepers and lining
These steps are where a strap starts to look like yours. Five stitch styles are on offer: classic, box, classic double, stitching only at the lug end, or none for a vintage look. Thread can be cream, match the leather, or take a custom color; our guide to stitching types shows each one on a real strap.
Edge paint can match the leather or the underlay, or take a custom color, as our edge color guide explains. The two keepers can match the strap or take one or two contrast colors. The lining is Zermatt by default, with Epsom or Togo as options, and you can engrave up to 12 characters on it for free.
Buckle, spring bars and tip shape
Match the buckle finish to your case. The Pre-V buckle offers a different frame shape for anyone who wants something less plain. A butterfly clasp folds closed, so the strap is not bent through a buckle every morning, which helps stiffer leathers and exotics. A deployant clasp is the other folding option.
For spring bars, choose quick release if you like to swap straps without tools, or regular bars for the traditional fit; our quick-release vs spring bars guide compares them. The tip can be pointed, square, oval or pilot style.
Ordering a custom strap for Christmas
Every strap is made to order in three to five business days in Ha Noi, then ships to the US in about 10 to 12 days, so plan on roughly 13 to 17 days from order to door. For US Christmas delivery, order by approximately December 1.
During holidays, production can take a few extra business days, so earlier is safer, and delivery estimates are not guarantees. Our shipping policy has the current details. US shipping is a flat $5.99, free over $350, and duties are the customer's responsibility. Canada ships for $15 in about 10 to 12 days, and Europe, Australia and New Zealand for $15 in about 12 to 15 days, also free over $350.
Buying a gift and unsure of the wrist? A strap in a standard length with no engraving can come back unused within 30 days from delivery. Engraved and custom-spec straps are final sale unless faulty.
Prefer to start from a finished design? These are also cut to order in your size:
- Padded Togo Calfskin Strap in gray: from $69, soft from day one.
- Flat Tan Babele Calfskin Strap: from $69, an easy office-to-weekend choice.
- Padded Black Epsom Rally Strap: from $75, the rally look ready to order.
Would you rather describe it in your own words? Start a bespoke watch strap order, or compare workshops first in our guide to handmade watch strap makers.
FAQ
Can I see my strap before it is made?
Yes. The live preview redraws the strap as you choose leather, colors and hardware. To double-check something, email support@xilugs.com or message WhatsApp +84 963 567 901 before ordering.
What if my lug width is not listed?
Choose Custom size and enter your lug and buckle widths in millimeters. Standard pairs run from 12 to 24 mm at the lug, and other sizes are made to measure.
How long does a custom strap take to reach the US?
About three to five business days to make, then about 10 to 12 days in transit, so roughly 13 to 17 days in total. Holiday periods can add a few days.
Does the builder cost more than a ready-made strap?
No. Both start from $69 for calfskin. You pay more only for options such as Epsom, exotic leather, a curved end, a lining upgrade or a folding clasp.
Is engraving really free?
Yes. Up to 12 characters, such as initials or a date, are engraved on the lining at no extra cost. Engraving makes the strap personal, so it can no longer be returned for a change of mind.
Can I change my design after ordering?
Email support@xilugs.com straight away. Each strap is cut after you order, so a change is easiest before the artisan starts on it.
Ready to start? Check your lug gap and wrist in the XILUGS size guide, then open the builder with the numbers in hand.
