Milanese Strap – History and Why It's So Popular

The Milanese strap is one of the oldest watch strap styles still in use in more or less unchanged form, and one of the most instantly recognisable – the finely woven steel mesh that moves almost like fabric around the wrist.

Origins

Milanese weaving has its roots in northern Italian craftsmanship – Milan gives it its name – where the technique was originally used for jewellery and chains rather than watch straps. When the wristwatch became common in the first half of the 20th century, the weaving technique was adopted by the watch industry, and Italian craftsmanship became the hallmark of quality for the style.

Design and materials

What makes the Milanese strap unique is its construction: hundreds of tiny steel wires are woven together into a dense, flexible mesh without traditional links or joints between individual segments. The result is a watch band that lies flat against the wrist whatever you're doing, weighs surprisingly little for its size and has none of the gaps between links that other steel bracelets can have.

Popularity

The Milanese strap had its big international breakthrough in the 1960s and 70s, when it was fitted to both sports and dive watches and became synonymous with a certain kind of Italian style – simple, functional and elegant at the same time. It never disappeared entirely, but it has seen a clear revival over the past decade as more watch brands have started offering it as a standard option.

Modern use

Today a Milanese strap suits a classic watch just as well as a modern sports model, thanks to its neutral, fabric-like surface that reads as neither formal leather nor sporty rubber. We have several versions in our range, including gold and silver – see our mesh watch straps for the full selection, including our gold mesh/Milanese strap in 18, 20 and 22mm.

Conclusion

Few watch strap styles have lasted so long, so unchanged, as the Milanese – an old craft that happens to suit today's watches perfectly. Browse all our Milanese and mesh watch straps or the full range of stainless steel watch bracelets.