Watch Straps for the Cartier Santos
The Cartier Santos is one of the most recognisable luxury watches ever made, famous for its exposed screws and square case. The Santos de Cartier (medium) uses a 20mm lug width with Cartier's QuickSwitch system — but standard 20mm straps with a straight end fit perfectly. Cartier's own replacement straps start at $300. AliExpress offers leather, alligator-embossed, and rubber alternatives for $6–$18 that look equally sharp.
Popular strap styles for the Cartier Santos
Buying tips
- 01The Santos medium uses 20mm spring bars — standard flat-end straps fit without modification.
- 02The square case and exposed screws look best with a slim, flat leather strap rather than a padded or sporty one.
- 03Brown or tan leather pairs especially well with the Santos's yellow-gold screw heads.
- 04Search 'alligator embossed leather strap 20mm' for an elevated look at a fraction of the price of genuine croc.
24 cheap straps for the Cartier Santos
Genuine Leather Watchbands Calfskin Replace Wristwatch Straps 18mm 20mm 22mm 24mm Watch Accessories Men Women Soft Watchband
Genuine Calfskin Leather Watchbands Business Replace Watch Band 18mm 20mm 22mm 24mm With Butterfly Buckle Wristwatch Strap
Vintage Leather Watch Band 18mm 19mm 20mm 22mm Quick Release Soft Suede Replacement Strap for Men Women Classic Retro Watchband
SAMCO Watch Band Strap Sport Vintage Leather Watchband Stainless Steel Buckle Watch Accessories 18mm 20mm 22mm 24mm
Premium Genuine Leather Watchbands 12/14/16/18/19/20/21/22/24 mm Watch Band Strap High Quality Wrist Belt Bracelet + Tool
Genuine Calfskin Leather Watchband for Panerai Business Watch Band Quick Release Bracelet 20mm 22mm 24mm Stitching Brown Straps
Universal Replacement Leather Watch Strap Leather Watchband for Men Women 12mm 14mm 16mm 18mm 19mm 20mm 21mm 22mm Watch Band
18mm 20mm 22mm Vintage Oil Wax Leather Watchband 19mm 21mm 24mm Wristband Stitching Cowhide Strap for Omega for Seiko Watch Band
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Try the tool →Frequently asked questions
What lug width is the Cartier Santos?
The Cartier Santos de Cartier (medium) uses a 20mm lug width. The large Santos uses 23.3mm with proprietary attachment — standard straps fit the medium; the large requires Cartier's QuickSwitch system or careful sourcing.
Can I use a regular strap on the Cartier Santos?
Yes — the Santos medium uses standard 20mm spring bars. Any flat-end 20mm strap will fit. The Santos's straight lugs mean you don't need curved-end straps. Quick-release straps work well and make swapping easy without tools.
What leather strap looks best on the Cartier Santos?
Slim calfskin or alligator-embossed leather in tan, dark brown, or black suits the Santos best. The watch's elegant square profile looks better with a refined flat leather than with thick padded or sporty rubber straps. Search 'calfskin leather strap 20mm' on AliExpress for options from $7–$15.
Are there cheap alternatives to Cartier's official Santos straps?
Yes. Cartier's official replacement straps cost $250–$400. AliExpress leather straps in the same dimensions ($6–$14) are nearly indistinguishable at a glance. The quality gap is mainly in the texture and finish of the leather — for casual wear the difference is minimal.
Can the Cartier Santos wear a rubber strap?
Yes — a Cartier Santos rubber strap is a popular and surprisingly versatile choice, particularly for the larger Santos-Dumont or the steel Santos de Cartier. The Santos's square case with exposed screws has an avant-garde, almost sporty character that suits rubber better than most dress watches. Search 'FKM rubber strap 20mm quick release' or 'santos rubber strap 20mm' on AliExpress for $8–$15 options. The Santos looks best in black rubber, which pairs with the polished bezel screws and contrasts well against both the steel and two-tone case variants. A thin FKM rubber with a smooth finish looks more in keeping with the Santos's elegant character than a thick dive-style rubber. Quick-release spring bars let you swap between leather and rubber for different occasions.