There are all sorts of ways to wear your watch. With a plethora of watch strap options you can opt in for leather, nato, steel bracelets, and even gold bracelets, but one of my personal favorites is the rubber strap, a common oversight for watch collectors. A lot of rubber-strapped watches are overlooked. Either because your first connotation is a chunky, digital watch with a bulky rubber strap or something kind of cool but too sporty for your lifestyle. We don’t blame you. Rubber straps are typically paired with a watch for a utilitarian reason – they’re not so much in the business of looking great as they are keeping the watch in place.
With that being said, there are some rubber-strapped watches that have caught our eye recently. What we loved about this handful here was that while they have a hint of that utilitarian feel, these watches can be sported by the everyday watch wearer while looking surprisingly sharp.
The Everose Rolex Yachtmaster
Okay, we’ll admit, a Yachtmaster is inherently sporty. But the ref. 268655 with a slick rubber strap just looks oh-so-good, doesn’t it? The contrasting 18k pink gold against the jet black face, bezel and strap really give this 37mm Yachtmaster a contemporary look – making it feel a whole lot more elegant than athletic.
Of course, this Swiss-made automatic calibre 2236 is going to perform just as good as its looks suggest – boasting a 55-hour power reserve, water resistance up to 100m, scratch-resistant sapphire and luminescent hour markers., this watch is a no-brainer. It’s a great piece if you want something stunning but relatively muted as well as durable but not so sporty. This watch will be easy to spot peeking out from under your suit jacket sleeve – and it’s sure going to look great on the beach or deck enjoying a drink.
Royal Oak Offshore Diver Funky Colors Khaki
This isn’t your typical rubber-strapped watch. In fact, the AP Royal Oak Offshore Diver isn’t your typical watch at all. With its distinct case featuring prominent screws and eye-catching colors – this watch is anything but basic. While the brand likes to make their Royal Oak watches sophisticated and elegant, they decided to have some fun. With two of this year’s ‘funky’ colors being neutral beige and this khaki green, we can really see this colorful rubber-strapped watch as an everyday timepiece for someone with distinct style and a discerning eye.
Attached to that wonderful khaki rubber strap is the iconic watch itself – featuring an automatic in-house caliber 3120 inside that distinctive 42mm octagonal stainless steel case. While this oversized watch does have a sporty feel (and features like 300m water resistance) the beautifully finished case and neutral colors make it feel elevated yet casual. Pair this watch with jeans and rolled-up button-up or t-shirt – clocking in at over $20k this watch is supposed to be more special than sporty anyways.
Longines Hydroconquest L3.782.4.76.9 in Sunray Gray
This might be a high-performance timepiece, but it’s equally elegant. The ‘sunray gray’ dial and matching ceramic dial perfectly match the 43mm stainless steel case – giving it a totally uninformed and surprisingly contemporary look. With this all-gray aesthetic, it’s only fitting Longines has brought this look full-circle with a gray rubber bracelet. We love how this one has been given a beaded, almost woven, texture. It really elevates the rubber strap so that it will look just as good on your wrist in the boardroom as it will playing a pick-up game.
Now, if you’re wondering just how ‘high performance’ this watch is – the automatic caliber L619/888 boasts a 64-hour power reserve, has an anti-reflective coating on the sapphire crystal and will withstand depths of up to 300m. If you’re looking for a watch that looks great and has the durability to withstand daily wear, this rubber-strapped watch is a great choice.
Hamilton Khaki Field Day Date Full Black
Can you even tell that’s a rubber strap? We love that this slick all-black watch is finished off with this killer rubber strap that’s been given a wonderful triangle-textured finish. This Hamilton Field watch is a modern take on the traditional black rubber strap – giving this sporty, masculine watch an elevated feel with sheer durability.
What’s attached to that black rubber strap is just as impressive. This 42mm Swiss automatic watch is constructed with a stainless steel PVD coated full black case, black luminous hands and hour markers as well as a day, date and hours, minutes and seconds features. This all-black watch is going to look just as good on your wrist on your next adventure, running errands or Friday night at the bar.
