Each product is carefully selected by our editorial team. If you make a purchase through our links, we may earn a commission.
Rubber straps are great for water, sports or summer, but quality and price vary greatly.
Traditionally, rubber straps don’t have much sex appeal. Some watch collectors and enthusiasts have been known to debate the merits of vintage Tropic and ISOfrane straps, but generally speaking, people don’t have the same enthusiasm for rubber straps as they do, say, vintage Oyster folding bracelets or Gay Freres beads. Rice bracelet. Even modern leather straps seem to be getting more and more attention from the watch world.
This is all interesting given the popularity of dive watches, especially vintage dive watches – after all, rubber straps would be the ideal strap for wearing the watch in the water, which is what the watch was intended for. However, given that most dive watches sold today have typically spent their lives as “desktop divers” and never actually seen time underwater, the original use of rubber straps was also largely unnecessary. However, this did not stop many lovers of modern watches from enjoying them.
Below is a guide to the best rubber watch bands at different price points. Because no matter your budget, you should be able to afford quality tires.
The Swiss Tropic strap was one of the most popular rubber watches of the 1960s. The Tropic is instantly recognizable thanks to its slim size, diamond-shaped exterior design and waffle pattern on the back. At the time, as an alternative to stainless steel straps, Tropics were often found on the Blaincpain Fifty Fathoms, LIP Nautic and various Super Compressor watches, including the original IWC Aquatimer. Unfortunately, most original models from the 1960s have not held up well over time, meaning that finding a vintage model can be difficult and expensive.
In response to the growing popularity of retro models, several companies have revived the design and began releasing their own variations. However, in recent years, Tropic has returned as a brand produced by the Synchron Watch Group, which also produces isophrane straps and Aquadive watches. The 20 mm wide strap is available in black, brown, dark blue and olive, made in Italy from vulcanized rubber, hypoallergenic and resistant to temperature changes.
While the Tropic isn’t as soft as the ISOfrane or some other modern models, it is a classic watch, and its relatively thin size means it helps smaller diameter watches maintain a slim profile on the wrist. Although there are several companies now making Tropic-style watch bands, the Tropic special models are well made, durable, and full of 1960s style.
Barton’s Elite Silicone Quick Release Watch Band is a modern and affordable watch band available in a variety of colors and buckles. They are available in 18mm, 20mm and 22mm lug widths and feature quick release levers for easy belt changes without tools. The silicone used is very comfortable, has a premium texture on the top and smooth on the bottom, and the colors can be consistent or contrasting. Each strap comes in long and short lengths, meaning that no matter your wrist size, you won’t end up with a strap that doesn’t fit. Each strap has a 2mm taper from tip to buckle and two floating rubber stoppers.
For $20 there’s a ton of choice and value. Each strap is available with five different buckle colors: stainless steel, black, rose gold, gold and bronze. There are also 20 different color options to choose from, meaning that no matter what kind of watch you have, you can find a Barton watch to suit you.
The ISOfrane strap of the 1960s represented the pinnacle of functional and comfortable strap technology for professional divers. The company is an OEM manufacturer of watch straps for Omega, Aquastar, Squale, Scubapro and Tissot, and professional scuba divers trust ISOfrane to keep their watches securely on their wrists. Their signature “step” strap, sold with the Omega PloProf, represents one of the first uses of synthetic rubber compounds outside of the automotive industry.
However, ISOfrane folded sometime in the 1980s, and in recent years prices for vintage models at auction have skyrocketed. Because many of the chemicals used in isoflurane actually break down synthetic rubber, very few remain undamaged.
Luckily, ISOfrane was revived in 2010, and you can now buy an updated version of the classic 1968 belt. The new straps, available in a variety of colors, are designed in Switzerland and manufactured in Europe using a hypoallergenic synthetic rubber compound. Several types of buckles are available in a variety of finishes, including forged and hand-finished RS and stamped and sandblasted IN. If desired, you can even order the strap with a wetsuit extension.
The ISOfrane 1968 is a strap designed for professional divers, and its price reflects this. Again, you don’t have to be a scuba diver to appreciate the design philosophy and quality of this ultra-comfortable strap that can be used by anyone who plays sports or wears their watch in the water.
Rubber is a unique watch band material in many ways, one of which is that it can be printed with text and include useful information on the band itself. The Zuludiver 286 NDL strap (not the sexiest name, but informative) actually has a no-decompression limit chart printed on the strap for quick reference (the no-decompression limit gives you the depth of time you can spend without decompression stops on the strap). ascent). While it’s easier for your dive computer to automatically calculate these limits and stops, it’s nice to have them and take you back to a time when bracelet computers didn’t give you this information.
The strap itself is available in black, blue, orange and red, in 20mm and 22mm sizes, with brushed stainless steel buckles and floating clasps. The rubber used here is vulcanized with a tropical/racing style hole pattern. While the ribbed wavy design near the lugs may not be for everyone, these straps are flexible and comfortable, and the NDL table is a really cool feature—you can even flip the strap over to make it visible, or tuck it away tightly. your leather as the bottom half of the strap is essentially double-sided.
Most rubber straps give a watch a sporty, casual look and are a practical choice for activities that require a lot of humidity or sweat. However, they are usually not the most versatile in style. B&R sells a wide variety of synthetic watch straps, but its waterproof canvas-textured straps add some flair to sports watches. Beautiful and truly comfortable, of course, as the name suggests, it is also ideal for use in the water.
It is available in 20mm, 22mm and 24mm widths, and is available in a range of stitching colors to match any sports watch flair. We found the white stitched version to be very adaptable. The steel buckle measures 80mm on the short end and 120mm on the long end to fit most wrist sizes. These soft, flexible polyurethane straps provide a variety of wearing conditions and are suitable for a variety of watches and situations.
The “waffle strap” (technically known as the ZLM01) is a Seiko invention and the first dedicated diver’s strap developed by the brand in 1967 (Seiko divers occasionally wore the Tropic before the release of the 62MAS). Looking at the waffle stripe, it’s easy to see where the nickname comes from: there’s a distinctive waffle iron shape at the top that’s hard to miss. As with the Tropic, old-school waffle straps are prone to cracking and breaking, so finding one in good condition today without spending a lot of money is difficult.
The Uncle Seiko Black Edition Wafers come in a variety of styles and sizes: the 19mm and 20mm models measure 126mm on the long side and 75mm on the short side and feature 2.5mm thick spring bars, while the 22mm version is available in two variants . styles. Sizes including shorter version (75mm/125mm) and longer version (80mm/130mm). You can also choose a 22mm wide version with a single or double buckle, all in brushed stainless steel.
As with the Tropic strap, it’s hard to argue that there aren’t more modern and ergonomic designs out there, but if you’re looking for a retro look, the Waffle is a great choice. What’s more, Seiko’s Uncle version has gone through two iterations, meaning that customer feedback has allowed the second version to be improved, making it even more comfortable and wearable.
The Hirsch Urbane natural rubber strap is a thoroughly modern strap with a size and taper very similar to a leather strap, with a complex shape that thickens and widens at the lugs. Urbane is resistant to water, tear, UV, chemicals and extreme temperatures. It’s also great for people with sensitive skin, Hirsch says. It’s a soft, very comfortable rubber strap with built-in floating clips and precision edges that looks more elegant than technical.
Urbane is made of high quality natural rubber (unvulcanized rubber) and is approximately 120mm long. In any option, you can choose buckles: silver, gold, black or matte. While the Urbane works great as a dive strap, it is also a good choice for people with sensitive skin who are looking for a rubber strap instead of a leather strap or alligator/lizard strap on their business watch.
Given that Shinola’s advertising focuses on American manufacturing, it is not surprising that even Shinola’s rubber straps are made in the United States. Specifically, these straps are made in Minnesota by Stern, a company that has been making rubber products since 1969 (see the Shinola Manufacturing Process promotional video for more information and even some of the straps).
Made from vulcanized rubber, this strap isn’t thin; it’s thick, making it ideal for a rugged dive watch or tool watch. The design features a thick ridge in the middle, a textured underside for a secure wrist grip, and details such as an embossed Shinola zipper on the long end and an orange buckle on the underside. It comes in the traditional rubber band colors of black, navy and orange, and in 20mm or 22mm sizes (the blue 22mm is sold out at the time of writing).
Historic Everest Strap is one of the few companies that exclusively produces rubber straps for Rolex watches. Company founder Mike DiMartini was ready to quit his old job to begin producing what he believed to be the most comfortable and well-designed aftermarket Rolex sports model straps, and after millions of straps produced, it has proven that his decision was a wise one. The Everest curved ends are specially designed for use in Rolex cases, so they have a special curvature and feature ultra-strong Rolex-style spring bars. Simply select your Rolex model on the Everest website and you will see strap options for your watch.
Everest straps are made in Switzerland and are available in six custom colors. Everest’s vulcanized rubber straps make them hypoallergenic, UV resistant, dustproof, waterproof and chemical resistant. Their length is 120 x 80 mm. The rubber is very comfortable, and each strap features a durable 316L stainless steel buckle and two floating clasps. The strap comes in a thick plastic envelope with two Velcro closures, which itself comes in an envelope with a replaceable spring bar.
Rolex has a variety of quality aftermarket rubber straps, such as the Rubber parts (only some Rolex models currently come with the company’s proprietary elastomer Oysterflex strap), but the Everest’s quality and attention to detail make them, even at their premium price, competitive.
Of course, rubber straps aren’t just for water activities. Do you sweat profusely during physical activity, like during an impromptu basketball game or an impromptu fight with your brother over who had the TV remote control that night? So, do we have a belt for you?
Various natural and synthetic forms of rubber (see below for the differences between rubber and silicone) can provide superior comfort and sporty style. It’s the perfect sweat-wicking material and the easiest type of band to clean—while you can certainly submerge a BD SEAL band in water, waiting for it to dry in anything other than 90 degrees can be fun. We also don’t recommend putting a $150 belt in your drink.
Is there a difference between rubber and silicone? Is there one better? Should you care? They share some common advantages, but their relative merits are hotly debated among watch enthusiasts. We’ll combine them together in this guide, so it’s good to know their pros and cons.
Rubber and silicone are not specific materials themselves, but rather types of materials, so not all straps made from them are created equal. The debate about rubber vs silicone in watch straps often focuses on a few properties: the softness and comfort of silicone versus the durability of rubber, but unfortunately, it’s not that simple.
Silicone straps are generally very soft, flexible and comfortable, even in the budget segment. While a silicone watch band may not be as durable (and tends to attract dust and lint), it’s not flimsy and isn’t particularly prone to damage—unless you’re doing something that could also seriously test the watch’s durability. We have no hesitation in recommending the silicone strap for everyday wear.
On the other hand, straps called “rubber” straps come in many variations. There is natural rubber (you know, from the real rubber tree), also called raw rubber, and a number of synthetic rubbers. You will see the term vulcanized rubber, which is natural rubber that has been hardened by heat and sulfur. When people complain about rubber watch bands, it’s usually because they’re too stiff—many watch enthusiasts even recommend boiling rubber bands to make them come loose more easily. Some rubber watch bands are known to crack over time.
But high-quality rubber bands are soft, comfortable, and durable—an overall great choice, but you’ll usually have to pay more for them. It’s best to see the band in person before purchasing, but if you’re shopping online, be sure to read reviews or get recommendations (like the ones above).
Post time: Sep-15-2023