Can you switch the band on a watch from leather to metal?

the short answer is yes. the leather band watch has pegs that hold the strap to the watch, making the band replacable. you can get a number of metal band styles that fit, but they may not be exactly the same as your nixon example. before jumping to buy a band, see how you friend likes the leather band. i personally like leather bands because the metal ones usually react to my skin and turn color, which can rub off and stain my wrist as well.