Rubber B is an American company which has been known to manufacture high-quality vulcanized rubber straps for Rolex and Panerai brand watches. What separates them from the majority of other third-party suppliers is that their straps are designed to follow the shape of the case of the watch they were made for with extreme accuracy. The brand’s latest carbon-fiber-fused rubber strap is for one of Rolex‘s heftier models: the Rolex Deepsea.
You see, when it comes to the aftermarket for straps, we certainly are spoiled for options. Most of these take the form of custom leather, or any variety of nylon one-piece straps, also known as NATO straps. When picking up a rubber strap for your sport watch, (which, by the way, is a great option for summer activities), however, then things get a bit dicier.
As unassuming as “rubber strap” may sound, there actually are a vast number of options that come in ever more diverse levels of quality. Depending on where it comes from, it may actually be silicone rather than rubber, and the fit and finish may not look right against your watch. And what if your watch has a number of more unique features, as the Rolex Deepsea does with its integrated bracelet that follows the shape of the case, and its rather clever Glidelock Clasp that allows for easy adjustments? You don’t want to leave that sitting in the drawer for a plain ol’ tang buckle, do you? That, then, is where the Rubber B Rolex Deepsea Glidelock watch strap comes in.
In essence then, the Rubber B Rolex Deepsea Glidelock watch strap stands out because, thanks to its two distinct features, it feels more like something the folks at Rolex might actually offer as an option. First and foremost, the strap is designed so you can swap over your Glidelock clasp (for more about this clasp, check out our review of the Rolex Submariner). This way, you can still keep that micro-adjustment ability to tune things throughout the day. Oh, and if you don’t particularly see yourself diving, you can remove the divers extension, cutting down on some weight as well.
The other feature that makes the Rubber B Rolex Deepsea Glidelock watch strap feel more like a Rolex option is the stepped, or flared, lug design at the end of the strap. Rather than having a narrow rubber band stretching out from the lugs, the flares closely follow the curve that the case establishes. What is more is that the strap also follows the shape of the case between the lugs, mimicking the well-known look that Rolex created with the integrated end links of their bracelets.
This goes a long way towards making it not look like something from the bargain bin was slapped on the watch as a thoughtless addition. It’s not something that you see offered on a lot on aftermarket straps either. Even when I’ve discussed it with some custom leather strap makers, they’ve been hesitant to work on a stepped design, unless they actually had the watch in hand for reference.
In essence, if you’re a Deepsea owner, I think there’s a lot to like here, especially if you are wanting to give the stock bracelet a bit of a summer vacation. Oh, and should you want to save the Glidelock clasp some desk diver marks (though, I’m not sure why you’d want to stick it in a drawer), they do offer a tang buckle version as well. You can pick up the Rubber B Rolex Deepsea Glidelock watch strap direct for a price of $250. rubberb.com
