« The Rubber Watch Strap Conquers the Luxury Segment »
Most luxury watches are worn on bracelets made of stainless steel or gold, or on high-quality leather straps. Yet for some years now, watches with straps made of rubber or silicone have become an increasingly common sight in the luxury segment. In some cases, these timepieces are even supplied exclusively with such a strap; in others, the rubber watch strap is one of several interchangeable options. Renowned watchmakers that rely on rubber straps to a significant extent include, for example, Breitling, Hublot, Omega, Tag Heuer and Tissot. In this article, you'll learn what rubber is all about and what advantages it offers over other materials.
"Weeping Trees" – Used by Humans for Thousands of Years
Rubber is a natural material that humans have used for thousands of years. It is obtained from the milky sap, or latex, of the rubber tree. Originally native to Brazil, the tree is now also found in numerous other tropical regions. The term "caoutchouc," derived from the indigenous words "cao" for tree and "ochu" for tear, already hints at a key part of the traditional production process: to harvest the latex, cuts are made in the bark of the rubber trees, and the sap then runs out into containers placed underneath, where it is collected. In this respect, the method resembles the one traditionally used in Europe's pine forests to collect resin.
Natural rubber has been known in South America for more than three millennia. The oldest objects made of this material discovered so far date from around 1,600 BC. A well-known example of its early use is the Mesoamerican ballgame, already widespread in pre-Columbian times, which was played with a solid rubber ball. There is also evidence that indigenous peoples in Central America and the Amazon region protected various fabrics as well as their feet with rubber coatings, and were able to make various everyday items such as vessels, tubes and garments from this water-repellent material.
However, it would take several centuries before rubber could be used for a watch strap for the first time.
Europe Discovers a Fascinating New Material
After Columbus's discovery of America, rubber initially became known in Europe only to a relatively small circle of people, and it was not until the 18th century that systematic studies were undertaken to understand the production process and find new uses for the material.
From Erasers to Raincoats
Around 1770, for instance, the first eraser was made, and in 1791 a special process was developed for coating fabric with natural rubber dissolved in turpentine.
The first raincoat and the first rubber boots were presented to the public in the first half of the 19th century, but at that time the use of natural rubber still posed considerable problems. At higher temperatures the material became sticky, while in the cold it quickly turned brittle.
Vulcanization by Charles Goodyear
Only after Charles Goodyear invented the vulcanization process in 1839 did it become possible to turn plastic latex into an elastic, rubbery material. Further research in the following decades brought technological improvements and eventually the production of synthetic rubber and industrially manufactured rubber.
Incidentally, the world's leading rubber producers today include Asian countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, China and Vietnam, as well as several West African states, in particular Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria and Liberia. Natural rubber is still harvested in Latin America, too, but in much smaller quantities. Overall, around 60 percent of global rubber demand is now met by synthetic rubber produced through petrochemical processes.
Durable, Elastic and Water-Repellent – Ideal Properties for a Watch Strap
There are several answers to the question of why you should choose rubber for a watch strap. For one, the material is remarkably elastic while also being robust and hard-wearing. It is also water-repellent. It is no more affected by sweat than by moisture from outside, which is why rubber straps are especially popular for sports watches and dive watches. Any dirt can usually be washed off rubber surfaces with ease.
Add to that the excellent wearing comfort and the ability to produce the material in every color imaginable. Given all this, it's no surprise that the watchmakers who have embraced this strap material are above all those that place particular emphasis on innovative watch technology and fresh, modern design.
Tag Heuer, 
for example, recommends rubber straps to its customers as an alternative to leather straps that is better protected against wear, emphasizing the perfect balance between comfort and durability.
In addition to a silky finish, the brand also gives its straps special protection against UV radiation.
Currently, the spotlight is on the fresh colors of the rubber straps for the new TAG Heuer Connected Modular 45, which is available on request with a bright yellow, green, red or orange rubber strap.
But classics such as a Tag Heuer Aquaracer Calibre 5 or a Carrera Calibre Heuer 01 are also available on a rubber strap.
A Wide Range of Luxury Watches with Rubber Straps
Tissot's collection also shows that rubber is a particularly popular choice for straps on sporty watch models. Models such as the Tissot T-Touch Expert Solar, the T-Sport Seastar 1000 or the T-Sport T-Race MotoGP 2015 Limited Edition are available not only with leather straps or stainless steel bracelets, but optionally also with a red, orange or black rubber strap.
Hublot even elevates the elastic strap material by fitting it to numerous gold watches from the exclusive manufacturer, such as the Big Bang 41 mm Automatic or the Big Bang Aero Bang.
At Omega, dive watches built for professional use, such as the Seamaster Planet Ocean, are practically predestined to be offered on a rubber strap as well.
Oris likewise fits its Aquis Date and Aquis Date Depth Gauge with rubber straps, and from Breitling, models such as the Exospace B55, the Navitimer, the Chronomat and the Superocean are available on these robust, water-resistant straps.
The list could be extended by a whole host of other renowned manufacturers.
Rubber Watch Straps Remain a Trend
This clearly shows that rubber watch straps have long since secured a firm place in the luxury segment, not only on dedicated sports and dive watches but also on other sporty models. The fact that natural rubber can occasionally cause allergies need not worry watch enthusiasts. Just as many manufacturers today offer high-quality metal bracelets nickel-free, rubber straps are also made with a non-allergenic composition in mind, which synthetic rubber offers from the outset anyway.
