Quite a boring one - what strap would you choose for a watch?

[Blondielongie]

If you were going to buy a watch, would you pick a leather or stainless steel strap? And why?

The watch in question is a Mondaine. But if there's another brand you love up to £250, please suggest. I know nothing about watches but would like something a bit different that will be good for 20 years or so. Not sure if I've missed a good one(??)

Stainless steel looks smarter longer.

Leather. I have a Mondaine with a leather strap. I think leather looks more modern.

Yes, this is the thing, I love the look of the leather strap, but I don't want to replace every year, which is why the stainless steel might be good.

Which Mondaine do you have? How do you tell the difference? There's a big difference in each price but they look very similar! And what colour strap do you have? I love the look of the red one..

I have the evo2 - the lugs (arms?) on it are straighter as opposed to tapered on the classic. I liked the unisex styling. Think mine is 26mm, the smallest, which looked best on my wrist. My strap is black, but I've seen the red on a colleague and it looks lovely.

I like leather but they do go manky on me after a while. What look do you prefer?

I think the stainless steel strap on the Mondaine is a lovely look, the mesh looks different to other watches so I would get that one.

I was looking at the evo2. I think I'd need quite a big face. Going to try them on and see. The 'simply elegant' ones look lovely too (looking at YouTube). But in the online shops, I really can't tell the difference.

Bloomed - same here, I love the leather, I like how it gets softer and the way the red one looks, but same, gets manky. I wear the same watch every day and leather doesn't last. I had a fossil strap last and it is horrible now.

Vegancow - the mesh does look different, i do like it, it looks less bulky than a normal bracelet strap. Can't wait to get one. My old watch has packed in and my wrist feels so bare!!

Post a photo of it on when you get it!

Okay, so I originally bought the mesh strap but wore it all day and didn't like the way it felt. So bought a cheapy red one. Its not an offical mondaine strap. But if it's only going to last a year or so, I'm not going to buy the official expensive one!
What do you think?