23 mm

23mm Watch Bands

23mm is one of the most specialised lug widths in the CNS range — sitting between the standard 22mm and 24mm sizes, it is used on a small but significant group of watches including the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 45mm, specific Citizen references, the Seiko SUP880 and SWR049, and Luminox field and dive watches. Most strap retailers skip 23mm entirely. CNS stocks 23mm as a dedicated size across sailcloth watch straps, leather watch straps, FKM rubber watch bands, single-pass nylon, and canvas watch straps — in every construction and colour.

Adjacent sizes: 22mm watch straps | 24mm watch straps

Is 23mm the Right Size for Your Watch?

23mm refers to the lug width — the gap in millimetres between the two lugs on your watch case. Confirm by measuring with a digital caliper before ordering.

Watches that use 23mm lugs include:

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 45mm — the most celebrated reference at this lug width. The Fifty Fathoms 45mm Automatique and its colour variants use 23mm lugs with standard spring bars. A watch with the Fifty Fathoms' heritage deserves a strap that considers its specific proportions — a 22mm strap leaves visible gaps; a 24mm strap will not fit. The correct size is 23mm.

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe 43mm — some Bathyscaphe variants also use 23mm lugs. Confirm your specific reference.

Citizen references — "Citizen 23mm watch band" (50 monthly searches), "23mm watch band Citizen" (50 searches), "Citizen 23mm watch strap" (50 searches) — Citizen is the most searched brand at 23mm. Several Citizen Eco-Drive and Promaster references use 23mm lugs. Leather watch straps in black or warm brown and FKM rubber watch bands for Promaster active references are the most commonly requested replacements.

Seiko SUP880 — the Seiko SUP880 solar dress watch uses 23mm lugs — confirmed by Seiko's own OEM replacement strap specification (part L0CZ011K0). One of the few contemporary dress watches at this width. Flat leather watch straps in black or dark brown are the most appropriate.

Seiko SWR049 — the Seiko SWR049 dress watch also uses 23mm lugs. Flat leather watch straps in black or warm brown suit its rectangular dress case.

Luminox — "Luminox 23mm watch bands" (20 searches), "Luminox 23mm watch band" (20 searches), "Luminox watch band 23mm" (20 searches). Several Luminox field and dive references use 23mm. FKM rubber watch bands and single-pass nylon are the most appropriate materials for Luminox operational watches.

Nixon — "Nixon 23mm watch band" (20 searches). Nixon Corporal and similar sport references use 23mm lugs. Leather watch straps and silicone are the most commonly requested replacements.

Tissot — "Tissot 23mm watch band" (20 searches). Select Tissot references use 23mm.

U-Boat — "U-Boat watch strap 23mm" (20 searches). U-Boat Italian luxury dive watches frequently use 23mm lugs. Padded leather watch straps in dark brown or black suit U-Boat's bold Italian design.

Seiko SUP880 note: "23mm watch strap Seiko" is a consistent query. Always measure your specific Seiko reference — some models listed as 22mm at the tapered buckle end are actually 23mm at the lug width.

If you own the Blancpain x Swatch Scuba Frogskin — this is not a 23mm watch. The Blancpain x Swatch uses approximately 21.7mm lugs compatible with 22mm watch straps, and uses screw-in pins requiring a 0.9mm hex key rather than conventional spring bars. See the MoonSwatch straps page for full fitting guidance.

23mm Sailcloth Watch Straps

Sailcloth watch straps at 23mm watch straps — "23mm sailcloth watch strap" generates 30 monthly searches. The most historically resonant and most widely admired strap choice for the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms. The technical woven fabric is water-resistant, UV-stable, and quick-drying — the most practically appropriate fabric choice for a watch rated to 300m. The maritime connection between sailcloth material and the Fifty Fathoms' nautical heritage is direct.

Navy — the most natural sailcloth colour for a nautical and dive watch heritage. References the French naval commando heritage of the original Fifty Fathoms directly.

Black — the most versatile colour across all materials at 23mm.

Grey — the most understated choice. The colour that says the watch is the statement, not the strap.

Olive — the most operational colour. References the military and outdoor heritage of watches originally issued with olive-coloured equipment.

23mm Leather Watch Bands

Leather watch straps at 23mm watch straps — for Fifty Fathoms, Citizen, Seiko, Nixon, and U-Boat owners who wear their watches in smart-casual and formal contexts.

Padded dark brown calfskin — the most widely worn leather combination for the Fifty Fathoms. The padded profile suits the substantial case depth; dark brown leather complements the warm dial tones across the Fifty Fathoms colour range.

Classic black calfskin — the most formal leather option.

Vintage two-stitch warm brown — for collectors who want to reference the Fifty Fathoms' 1950s heritage through the strap. Warm brown two-stitch calfskin at 23mm suits the vintage-inspired character of the watch.

Flat black or dark brown — for Seiko SUP880, SWR049, Nixon, and Tissot owners at 23mm where a slim flat profile suits a dress or casual watch more naturally than padded leather.

23mm Rubber Watch Bands

FKM rubber watch bands at 23mm watch straps — "23mm rubber watch strap" (40 searches), "23mm rubber watch band" (20 searches). The most practically correct choice for the Fifty Fathoms worn in the water, and the primary active replacement for Citizen Promaster and Luminox references at this width. Water-resistant, maintenance-free, and proportionally suited to large dive cases.

Tropical style FKM at 23mm watch straps — references the 1960s rubber straps originally issued on dive watches of the Fifty Fathoms era.

23mm Nylon Watch Bands

Single-pass nylon at 23mm watch straps — for casual and outdoor use. Available across the CNS colour range. Most appropriate for Luminox field references and Citizen sport references at 23mm.

Canvas watch straps at 23mm watch straps — "23mm canvas watch strap" (20 searches). Olive and khaki canvas suit Luminox field references and military-heritage watches at this width.

Marine Nationale elastic at 23mm watch straps — the most comfortable daily wear option. The French Navy heritage connects naturally to the Fifty Fathoms' own French naval commando history.

The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms — Why 23mm Matters

The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms is not simply a dive watch that happens to use 23mm lugs. It is the dive watch — the reference that defined the category's design language in 1953, issued to the French naval commando units CASM and later to other elite military diving units worldwide. The Fifty Fathoms established the 300m water resistance standard, the unidirectional bezel, the luminous dial, and the rotating bezel safety mechanism that became the template for every serious dive watch that followed.

The 23mm lug width is a deliberate design dimension that produces a specific visual relationship between the case and the strap. A 22mm strap on a 23mm lug leaves visible gaps at the lug faces; a 24mm strap will not fit between the lugs at all. The correct size is 23mm.

Strap Recommendations by Context

Active diving and water use — FKM rubber watch bands at 23mm. Fully waterproof and appropriate for the pressures of diving.

Everyday casual and outdoor — sailcloth watch straps at 23mm. Water-resistant, UV-stable, and heritage-connected.

Smart-casual and office — padded dark brown leather watch straps at 23mm.

Formal occasions — black smooth leather watch straps at 23mm.

Heritage collector wear — vintage two-stitch warm brown leather watch straps or tropical style FKM at 23mm.

Citizen Eco-Drive at 23mm — warm brown or black leather watch straps for dress; FKM rubber watch bands for Promaster active.

Luminox at 23mm — FKM rubber watch bands for active use; single-pass nylon in black or olive for field use.

Seiko SUP880 / SWR049 at 23mm — flat leather watch straps in black or dark brown for the dress character of these Tank-inspired references.

Colour Guide for 23mm Watch Bands

Navy — the most natural sailcloth colour for a nautical and dive heritage. References the French naval commando context of the original Fifty Fathoms.

Black — the most versatile colour across all materials at 23mm.

Dark brown — the most characterful leather colour. Suits warm dial tones in smart-casual contexts.

Grey — the most understated choice across sailcloth and rubber.

Olive — the most operational colour for Luminox and military-heritage references.

Sizing Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

What watches use 23mm watch bands? Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 45mm, Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe 43mm (select variants), several Citizen Eco-Drive and Promaster references, Seiko SUP880, Seiko SWR049, Luminox field and dive references, Nixon Corporal and sport references, select Tissot references, U-Boat dive watches, and a small number of vintage specialist references.

What size strap does the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms take? The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 45mm Automatique uses 23mm watch straps with standard spring bars. CNS stocks 23mm in sailcloth, leather, and rubber specifically for this reference.

What is the best 23mm strap for the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms? For active diving: FKM rubber watch bands at 23mm. For everyday and outdoor use: sailcloth watch straps at 23mm — the most heritage-connected casual choice. For smart-casual: padded dark brown leather watch straps at 23mm.

What is the best 23mm strap for a Citizen watch? Warm brown or black leather watch straps for Citizen dress and Eco-Drive references; FKM rubber watch bands for Citizen Promaster active references.

What is the best 23mm strap for Luminox? FKM rubber watch bands for active and water use; single-pass nylon in black or olive for field use.

Can I use a 22mm strap on a 23mm watch? A 22mm strap on a 23mm lug leaves visible gaps at the lug faces — the strap sits narrower than the lug opening and the gap is proportionally incorrect. The correct size is 23mm watch straps. CNS stocks it as a dedicated size so there is no need to compromise.

What is the difference between the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms and the Blancpain x Swatch strap size? The genuine Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 45mm uses 23mm lugs with standard spring bars. The Blancpain x Swatch uses approximately 21.7mm lugs compatible with 22mm watch straps, and uses screw-in pins requiring a 0.9mm hex key — not conventional spring bars. They are different watches with different strap sizes and different fitting mechanisms.

Why is 23mm hard to find? Most strap retailers stock only the most popular sizes and skip 23mm. CNS stocks 23mm as a dedicated size across sailcloth, leather, rubber, nylon, and canvas specifically to serve Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, Citizen, Seiko, Luminox, and other 23mm watch owners.

All CNS Watch Bands 23mm watch bands are available with built-in quick-release spring bars where specified. Standard delivery worldwide. 30-day return policy.