The Benefits Of Putting A Strap On A Rolex

Sadly, the horological news is getting more and more often taken over by stories of people getting their Rolexes snatched in public. Whether strolling downtown on a sunny Sunday afternoon or eating at a restaurant, these horrible events can sometimes turn violent. The reaction we hear from the watch community is this: stop wearing a Rolex outside of your house. While this advice makes sense, I find it a little extreme. Although we are each responsible for what we do with our watches, perhaps there is an alternative solution to simply not wearing a Rolex. And that could be by swapping the Oyster bracelet for a strap, something that comes with a few added benefits which we will discuss below. 

A Strap Makes a Rolex Inconspicuous

As a watch person, I spend a lot of time watch spotting on the street. I’m always curious to see what people wear, how their watch matches their fashion style, and how it might tell a story about who they are. Honestly, I can spot a Rolex from a mile away because the combination of the iconic Rolex design and bracelet is easily recognizable from afar. Similarly, I can spot an Omega Speedmaster and Seamaster from a distance for the exact same reason. However, I find this exercise more difficult if said Rolex or Omega is paired with a strap. Not only does a strap instantly change the way a Rolex looks, but it also makes it look less like a Rolex in the eye of the non-expert. 

For some mysterious reason, a stainless steel watch paired with a stainless steel bracelet looks fancy. This is even more true looking at watches and bracelets made of precious metals and Jubilee and President style bracelets. I would add that the latter two instantly make a Rolex look like a Rolex because of the way these bracelets reflect light. There is perhaps not a more recognizable Rolex model as a Datejust on a Jubilee bracelet. It’s classic, elegant, and we all know that Rolex created this style of bracelet. So, more often than not, a watch paired with a Jubilee is a Datejust. Which means, at last, that swapping the bracelet for a leather or rubber strap will make any Rolex look more inconspicuous. 

Source: www.rolexforums.com

Certain Straps Are Better for Hot Weather 

There is no better time than now to put your favorite Rolex on a strap. Even the best engineered bracelet will feel uncomfortable in hot and humid weather, regardless of how loose you could make it in the morning. A bracelet will eventually feel tighter and uncomfortable on the wrist and that is when you would want to swap it for a strap. I find that leather works well in many situations and especially in everyday settings, because it is lighter than steel and softer on the skin. If I were to own a Submariner right now, I wouldn’t hesitate putting it on this quality leather strap from Everest Bands. Not only does it make the watch look inconspicuous, but it also makes sense during the summer. 

However, you might be like me and not be crazy about the fact that leather absorbs sweat and that it doesn’t do well submerged in water. This is not ideal when wearing the same watch for a long period of time in hot climates. In this case, there is no better option than a rubber strap like this one. Rubber is a material known for being sweat and waterproof, dust proof, and the natural rubber used in Everest bands has the added benefit of being hypoallergenic. A fitted rubber strap comes with the added benefits of fitting your favorite Rolex perfectly to preserve its legendary wearing comfort while toning down its luxurious nature.

Swapping Straps To Match Your Changing Style 

The third advantage of putting straps on your Rolex is that you can easily dress it up or down as well as match the way it looks to your activity. For example, put a rubber strap on at the beach, the pool, or when golfing for the benefits rubber comes with. Then, you can swap the rubber for a leather strap for fancy dinner or a cocktail party. Given that Everest offers straps made of different materials and of different colors, you can literally match the looks of your Rolex to your style and activity. Although the Rolex bracelets are of outstanding design and quality, they basically only have one look. 

Final Thoughts 

It would be a shame for you to stop wearing your favorite Rolex because it attracts the wrong kind of attention. Although I would say that you should  live your life as you see fit, you can choose to make it a little easier on yourself by swapping a Rolex bracelet for a quality Everest strap. So instead of wearing a GMT Master II on a Jubilee bracelet while riding the New York City subway, perhaps you could swap the bracelet for a leather or rubber strap. This won’t affect the quality of your watch and simply help make it less visible in certain situations. And as mentioned above, wearing a leather or rubber strap comes with a few benefits which bracelets don’t have.