The first week with a new strap

Stiff on day one, yours by day seven.

A well-made strap ships with the temper of the leather intact — bend it too eagerly on day one and you'll crease the grain in the wrong place forever. Wear it slightly loose for the first two days. Let body heat and the natural oils in your skin soften the strap along its own bend line.

The fitting rule.

The strap should sit snug enough that you can slide one finger between it and your wrist, no more. Too tight and the underside chafes; too loose and the case slides around and marks the grain from underneath.

The first oiling — don't.

Every article you'll read online tells you to condition a new strap with leather balm. Skip it for the first month. The leather needs to establish its own patina before you introduce oils; premature conditioning darkens the strap unevenly and blurs the grain.

After the first month, if the strap feels dry, a single pea-sized dab of a neutral leather balm rubbed in gently is enough — once every 3–6 months, no more.