I don’t know why, but I have always been particularly enamored with the Rolex Oysterflex rubber bracelet. Indeed, I really have always had an affinity for rubber bracelet watches in general. Naturally, I have always found Rolex’s execution to be the best. There is something in the way they combine the elegance and casual nature together in their Oysterflex that just cannot be beat. It’s really quite remarkable and special.
Of course, the thing that makes it most special is not just the quality, but specifically the clasp. Namely, it uses the same (or very similar) clasp that the regular Oyster Rolex bracelets use, which is not something you usually see on a rubber strap — which usually has a standard clasp, the sort you would see on a leather strap. Now, there is nothing wrong with such a strap, but, again, there is something so elevated and special about the nicer clasp on a high-end rubber band that has always appealed to me, in particular.
Alas, the Rolex Yachtmasters and Daytonas these straps usually appear on are, shall we say, financially out of reach for me. I am lucky enough to own a Tudor Black Bay 58, which I love, but, fittingly, have been searching for a nice rubber strap for. Sure, I love the steel bracelet it comes on, and have some NATO straps as well (a topic for another time), but I always wanted to find that ideal rubber strap to go with this watch and, perhaps to some extent, replicate the Oysterflex situation pictured above.
My requirements are simple enough: it should be high quality deserving of the Black Bay, ideally be fitted to the case, and have a deployment style clasp (versus the standard clasps described above). Setting out with these requirements, there appeared to me to be only really a handful of options.
The Vanguard strap on a Tudor Black Bay 58
If I wanted fitted to the case there was Vanguard and Everest. From everything I read online, there was no major quality difference between the two justifying the higher price of Everest, and so I purchased and tried out the Vanguard strap. It was very nice, perfectly integrated to the watch, and the rubber was indeed quite nice. However, it had just a standard clasp and thus never quite felt nice enough to my taste despite me giving it a fair shot. (There are one or two other brands out there too that make integrated rubber straps for the Black Bay in a high quality rubber, but none seem to have the clasp style I want.)
This led me to StrapsCo, a seemingly well-known “depot” for cheaper watch straps, especially ones for higher end watches. They don’t offer a fitted strap in rubber for the Black Bay, but they did have a straight edged one which I picked up to try. Of my 3 requirements, the integrated style was the one I was most okay with compromising on. The problem with the rubber strap from StrapsCo was that, well, how to put this mildly… the quality was poor. The rubber felt super cheap, and the clasp felt even worse. The whole thing felt like junk, and likely to break at any moment. It felt sacrilegious to put a strap like this on a watch like my Tudor. I don’t mean to bash what seems to be a fine company (their customer service was quick and responsive), but why anyone would put a strap like this on a high end watch (they have watches specially fitted for Rolex’s!) is far, far beyond me.
So where does this all leave me? I suppose right back where I started. With a great watch, on a great steel bracelet, on the hunt for the perfect rubber strap to add to my collection.