Rubber Watch Straps

In an era before advanced materials, plastic straps were the standard watch band option. Especially for scuba diving, these straps had to be robust enough for wet usage but also soft on the wrist. With the emergence of vulcanized rubber, these straps offer a better comfort and durability while still delivering a sporty look to your watch.

The first CNS Watch Bands Rubber Collection was developed by Carlo Crocco of Hublot in order to find a soft and stylish alternative for his sports watches. The tropic straps were available from other Swiss brands, but the vulcanized rubber version of this model offers a more subtle recollection to the original tropic strap from 1967.

Rubber Watch Straps: The Best Options for Divers and Athletes

Rubber is a polymer that can be shaped and coloured for different strap styles, but it is notoriously sticky and prone to attract lint. The quality of rubber straps can vary widely between manufacturers as they may adopt different formulation or even use a synthetic rubber (e.g. PVC). However, most rubber watch bands are designed for use in a wet and sporty environment so these qualities are not necessarily a drawback. The main advantage of a rubber watch strap is that it is durable and easy to clean.