Rolex, loved by almost all watch enthusiasts and shunned by a very few, incorporate some of the most stringent regulations in the watch industry. One question that frequently comes up in the watch community is whether or not Rolex makes their own rubber straps, and if they do – are they available for purchase by just anyone?
The quick answer to this is certainly yes, Rolex has been manufacturing their own variation of a rubber strap that they call the Oysterflex since 2015. The Oysterflex is a very sophisticated take of a generic rubber strap, so much so that Rolex does not even consider them “rubber straps”, but refers to them as bracelets and often times even referring to them as “metal bracelets”.
Their are many aftermarket brands making regular rubber straps for nearly all Rolex references both vintage and modern. None of the aftermarket strap companies have come close to the quality and detailed engineering that Rolex has implemented into an authentic Oysterflex.
Sourcing a Rubber Strap from Rolex
If you’re a Rolex owner and you want to buy one of the original rubber straps directly from Rolex there is unfortunately a couple hoops to jump through first. Rolex does not sell just any variation of their rubber straps to anyone, you actually need to own a specific model that was originally offered on the Oysterflex. There’s a couple reasons for this, one being that not all Oysterflex straps will fit on all Rolex watches, and the other being that Rolex maintains a very tight brand image and they don’t want to dilute their design prowess by allowing customers to mix and match their rubber straps onto models that weren’t originally meant for them.
The only time you’ll actually be able to source a rubber strap directly from Rolex is if you’re the owner of a Rolex reference that was originally offered on a rubber strap. If that’s the case for you then you simply need to visit an authorized dealer and request a servicing for your watch that includes some kind of bracelet swap or repair request. You’ll most likely need to prove that you own this watch, and often times you’ll need to actually leave your watch with the AD for them to send it in to Rolex on your behalf.
If you feel so inclined to mix and match models that were never originally offered on rubber, and you’re having issues sourcing from the AD – you do have the option of buying from the grey market.
Design and Materials
Now that we’ve figured out the specifics on sourcing one of the coveted rubber straps from Rolex lets take a look at how the strap is designed and manufactured, and what sets it apart from generic after market straps.
Rolex makes some of the most beautiful utilitarian and iconic watches in the world. Their regular metal bracelets; the oyster, jubilee, and presidential are considered second to none, and often are recognized as superior to even haute horology brands like Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet. The Rolex Oysterflex rubber strap is carrying on that legacy by implementing the same characteristics found on the all metal variants. The Oysterflex is incredibly comfortable to wear on wrist for long periods of time, and it’s also highly durable and able to withstand some of the harshest conditions.
Rolex famously produces some fun adverts displaying the rigours of their strenuous testing on their watches and bracelets. The materials they chose to create their rubber strap are able to withstand extreme heat, cold, various chemicals and all kinds of conditions that one of their watches and rubber straps might be exposed to in the real world.
The Rolex rubber strap is manufactured using a high-performance elastomer that’s been over-molded on-top of a flexible titanium and nickel alloy blade. The use of metal on the interior of the strap is incredibly innovative and marks a first for the watch industry, it’s also part of the reason why Rolex refers to their line of rubber straps as bracelets. This excessively high quality construction is vastly different from generic aftermarket rubber straps who generally use silicone or vulcanized rubber to manufacturer their straps.
Of course the Oysterflex from Rolex is waterproof and is perfectly suited for under water use, matching the water resistance of the watches they’re offered on. Another engineering feat implemented on their Rolex rubber straps is found within the clasp mechanism, as Rolex uses an Oysterlock safety clasp for their rubber options. This special clasp prevents accidental opening and also includes a Glidelock extension feature for quick and easy adjustments – which has proven to be extremely useful for me during the summer on my Submariner.
Compatibility
As explained above, not all Rolex rubber straps are compatible with all Rolex watch variants. There aren’t so many models that are available on the Oysterflex but Rolex appears to be releasing them on more watches each year. Let’s take a look at some of the models that are currently offered on the Oysterflex here:
- Yacht-Master 42 (Ref. 226659): 42mm in white gold.
- Yacht-Master 40 (Ref. 126655): 40mm in Everose gold.
- Yacht-Master 37 (Ref. 268655): 37mm in Everose gold.
- Cosmograph Daytona (Ref. 116515LN, 116518LN, 116519LN)
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