Why do rubber watch straps and luxury watches go together so well?

HORUS STRAPS

It certainly goes without saying that every watch needs a good strap. Whether it is a metal bracelet, leather watch strap, or a rubber band, every luxury timepiece deserves a suitable watch strap, and no one knows that better than us. However, what makes one watch strap better than the next, and why might a brand or collector decide to opt for one over the other.

Historically, leather watch straps and metal bracelets have long been watchmakers' main two strap options. Leather was the typical watch strap material for dress watches, while metal bracelets donned the cases of sports and tool watches. But, in the 1980s, another watch strap was introduced to the fore, the rubber watch strap. Introduced to the masses by Hublot as per their "Art of Fusion" vision whereby they mixed materials that seemingly didn't go together, their decision to put a rubber strap on a watch with luxury metals was a unique take on horological design. Today, the idea is less so out-of-the-box thinking and more so a perfectly credible method to attach a watch to its wearer. So, what did watchmakers and collectors realize, and why do rubber watch straps and luxury watches go so well together? Let's explore below. 

As rubber watch straps are a direct competitor to leather watch straps, their most obvious benefit is that they are waterproof, and easily washable. While leather watch straps are fantastic for formal occasions or when you want to dress a watch up, rubber watch straps will always be the ideal option when you want to push your watch to its limits. Rubber watch straps may have been introduced to the masses in the 1980s, but tropic rubber watch straps have a history going back into the 1960s as divers and military agencies used rubber for its affordability and waterproofness, whereas leather watch straps would quickly deteriorate if worn in water.

Longer Lasting