Nearly every watch brand, from entry-level luxury to haute horologie, has a rubber strap in its catalog. The material, once merely a practical choice for divers and other hearty tool watches, has since become a widely accepted option for all watch types, including dressier timepieces and even those in precious metal. It’s celebrated as a more durable alternative to other non-metal options, such as leather, and has taken on many rather intriguing forms in the decades since the earliest rubber straps first hit the watchmaking scene. However, offerings from the likes of Rolex, Hublot, and Audemars Piguet are more than just simple rubber straps. They’re thoughtfully designed to match each brand’s distinctive identity. Let’s break down a few of the best rubber watch straps in the business.
Hublot Rubber Watch Straps
What better way is there to start our list than with one of the first brands in the industry to pair rubber with gold, Hublot? The bold watch house, whose philosophy is deeply rooted in the “Art of Fusion,” introduced the then-controversial pairing of materials in the 1980s alongside the pioneering Hublot Classic Original. That innovative design ethos remains a pillar of the Hublot catalog and has since inspired an entire watchmaking movement. Whether you like it or not, rubber straps are here to stay, and we partially have Hublot to thank for that.
One of the most well-known Hublot watches is the Big Bang, which includes several sub-models, all available on natural rubber straps. Customers have their choice of several types of “structured” rubber patterns, from those with vertical patterns to those with canvas or tire-like textures. Modern Hublot rubber straps are carefully engineered to taper nicely from the lugs. On many editions of the Big Bang, the rubber strap pops securely into the case with the brand’s push-button release mechanism. While convenient, this design can potentially limit the type of straps the wearer can swap out with their watch.
Read More About Hublot:
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Patek Philippe Tropical Composite Strap
The Patek Philippe Aquanaut, released in 1997, is heavily inspired by the massively successful Nautilus, even featuring a similar, octagonal-shaped bezel and embossed dial. However, the collection, which Patek often markets as the young and hip sibling of the slightly more refined Nautilus, is sold on a sporty tropical rubber strap, compared to the Nautilus, which is primarily paired with metal bracelets to match the case. Furthermore, the Aquanaut features a different pattern on the dial to match the square-shaped design of the bracelet.
The Patek “Tropical” straps are a composite material heralded by the brand as being incredibly resilient to constant wear and exposure to the elements, such as sunlight and salt water. Newer models have integrated straps for a seamless transition from the strap to the case, a nice upgrade to look for while shopping the grey market. However, Aquanaut straps still need to be cut to size to ensure that the accompanying clasp sits perfectly centered on the underside of the wrist.
Read More About the Patek Philippe Aquanaut:
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Omega Structured Rubber Watch Strap
The Seamaster is Omega’s signature maritime collection, housing the legendary Seamaster 300M, Planet Ocean, and Aqua Terra. Browsing the current production catalog, the Seamaster 300M and Planet Ocean have a more utilitarian rubber strap, while the Aqua Terra embraces a more refined, buttoned-up aesthetic with a structured rubber strap decorated with a striking woven texture and visible stitching. It feels perfectly at home on the dressier Aqua Terra, which, as its name suggests, was developed for both land and sea.
Modern Omega Aqua Terra rubber straps feature an integrated metal end link to match the case, a nice touch that adds a bit of a sportier flair to the watch. A side note for those who own older Aqua Terra models and are curious: after scouring various forums, it does appear that it is possible to fit the newer straps with integrated links onto older-generation watches, but it can be a bit tricky and is best left to a professional watchmaker. Last but certainly not least, the underside reveals a traditional, ridged design to allow the wrist to breathe during the hotter seasons or while in the water.
Read More About Omega:
What is the Price of an Omega Seamaster?
A Guide to Omega Dive Watches
Rolex Oysterflex Bracelet
In a somewhat surprising move, Rolex officially joined the growing rubber strap craze in 2015. Its clever “Oysterflex” strap debuted alongside the Everose Yacht-Master and has since expanded to the Sky-Dweller and Daytona collections. Each model currently only pairs rubber with precious metals like Everose, white gold, and yellow gold. It seems leather, which was once a staple of the Rolex lineup, has been replaced by more contemporary Oysterflex.
As it always goes with everything Rolex does, Oysterflex isn’t just a typical rubber bracelet. It’s an innovation that effortlessly marries all the benefits of a metal and a rubber bracelet by encasing flexible titanium and nickel blades in sleek black elastomer. It has the robust feel of a metal bracelet and the resilience of a high-performance rubber strap, secured neatly by Rolex’s celebrated Oysterclasp and Glidelock extension.
Rolex has also given the underside of the strap a comfortable “longitudinal cushion system” to allow the wrist to breathe and keep the case squarely on the center of the wrist. Aftermarket rubber watch straps from brands like RubberB and Everest have become popular among Rolex enthusiasts in recent years, and those are indeed good products. But the Rolex Oysterflex bracelet is a cut above, and is arguably the best rubber watch strap in the industry right now.
Vacheron Constantin Interchangeable Rubber Strap
Vacheron Constantin refreshed the entire Overseas collection in 2016, equipping the third generation with new in-house mechanical movements and a patented interchangeable strap system. Furthermore, its overall design was refined to bring it into the modern era, replacing some of the bulkier design elements of the 2000s with a more elegant aesthetic.
More important were the straps, which could now be removed in seconds, thanks to a more sophisticated and easier-to-use interchangeable strap system than similar offerings made by other top brands. Each model comes with three bracelets: metal, leather, and, you guessed it, rubber. Like the rest of the 2016 Overseas evolution, VC rubber is quite exceptional, featuring a dynamic texture on top and vertical groves along the underside of the strap.
Read More About the Vacheron Constantin Overseas:
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Breitling Rubber Straps
Unlike the other luxury watch brands discussed here, Breitling offers rubber straps on almost every line of watches it produces. These include the Chronomat, Endurance, Emergency, and Avenger. Even if you have a Breitling that originally didn’t come on leather, your local Breitling dealer will be happy to order any strap you want for it, as long as it fits. But the Breitling model most at home on rubber is arguably their SuperOcean line.
The original SuperOcean was released in 1957 amid the golden era of early dive watches. Since then, the company has produced countless expressions of the watch in several different case sizes, metal finishes, dial colors, and even bracelet types. The SuperOcean operates like a typical dive watch, boasting a 60-minute bezel, water resistance up to 300 meters/1,000 feet, and a legible dial with luminescent hour markers and hands.
Breitling has created many rubber straps for its iconic diver over the years, from those that recall the texture of the classic mesh-link bracelet to those emblazoned with the brand’s logo. Our favorite is the sporty half-textured strap from the SuperOcean Automatic line. Each is flexible and outfitted with a folding clasp with a micro-adjustment system that adjusts up to 15mm to fit the watch easily over the sleeve of a wetsuit rash guard–perfect for anyone with an active lifestyle.
Read More About Breitling:
History of Breitling
The Best Breitling Watch
The average wearer will likely only ever take their rubber strap for a dip in the pool or ocean, at best. But the same can be said for dive watches themselves. Collectors rarely test their underwater limits; instead, they are sought-after for their inherently durable and sporty dive watch aesthetics. This list merely scratches the surface of the many incredible rubber straps produced by renowned luxury watch brands. Was your favorite on the list?