B and R Waterproof Black Watch Strap – Blue Stitching
June 22, 2018
It should come as no surprise to my readers that I really like the feel and texture of a nice leather strap. But it is Summer here in Texas and that means a few truths must be dealt with. It is going to be hot, and it is going to be humid. While there exists a handful of leather straps can deal with this environment, the vast majority do not take kindly to high levels of moisture. I am always on the hunt for a good high quality waterproof strap that also adds a bit of style to the equation. While most any watch can be put on a NATO strap (which would satisfy the waterproof requirement), I wanted an option that would still be acceptable in a more dressy environment as well as in the pool with the family and other sporting activities. Now I realize that it is quite a bit to ask of one strap, but I think looking for what amounts to a luxury level water proof strap opens up the door for a wide variety of uses and makes the strap and the watch it is attached to far more versatile. That is my hope anyway. I am not sure I nailed the luxury portion of the equation, but I did find a great strap that checks quite a bit of boxes. Today I am reviewing the B and R Black waterproof Watch Band – Blue Stitch. While the name may not conjure up images of exploring the deep, it is a very accurate description of a very classy and sporty strap. To put more literary meat on the bone, here are the words from B and R:
Highly versatile, it’s easy to see why our Waterproof watch bands are a customer favorite. With its super stealthy, “sailcloth” style finish, you’ll instantly experience the transformation your watch undergoes with one quick strap change. Extremely flexible & durable, you can enjoy the benefits of a really comfortable strap without compromising its longevity. As its name states, this strap is fully waterproof and can be enjoyed in the pool, shower & all other outdoor activities. The clean contrast stitching enhances the sport/dive theme.
Let us get to the usual discussion and see if this strap delivers
DIMENSIONS
I bought the 20mm strap and like other reviews, I feel obligated to state that all measurements taken are from that model. I would be remiss if I did not mention that this is available in a 22mm size as well. The strap comes in at 20.0mm at the lugs as advertised and 17.8mm at the free end, for a nice universal sporty taper. The strap is 4.7mm thick at the lugs and tapers nicely to 2.7mm at the free end and the buckle which is again a nice sporty and still casual size for a strap that should not be overpowering to thinner watches, and not left to look meek to thicker ones. Overall a very nice shaped strap. Also a note, some straps have dramatic taper from the lugs to about half way down the length of the strap then go straight. I am happy to say that this strap hides that transition from 20mm to 17.8mm very well and seems to seamlessly blend its dimensions. I really like this in a strap, as a sudden taper looks forced and somehow less elegant. The length of the strap comes in at 120mm for the free end and 80mm for the buckle end. On my 6.75” wrist that means that I am on the second to last hole for a snug fit and a 3rd to the last hole for a lose fit.
DESIGN
Before I get too much into the design of this strap, It must be pointed out that this is not a sailcloth strap, but rather a sailcloth pattern on the strap. So that bets the question, what is sailcloth? Lets explore that.
Since the time when it was thought worthy to record what things were made of, sails of ships were made of very organic fibrous materials like Linen, or hemp, or cotton (this includes canvas) as they were available and renewable and folks knew how to work with these materials. But like all things organic they had limiting physical properties and degraded over time. In modern times these organic materials have given way to synthetic fibers like nylon and polyester (just like clothing). The benefits to mariners meant increased life and wear resistance to elements and cheaper production. The sailcloth watch straps benefit from these same benefits.
This particular watch strap, however, is made of polyurethane which is another man-made material and is present in paints, varnishes and luckily foams. This watch strap has all the durability and feel of a very soft foam product with a durable layer on the outside that resists wear and abrasion while sporting an attractive weave like pattern. Usually you can see the layers of material on a strap and figure out its construction. This one is not easy to read. The textured pattern is seamless from the top of the strap to the sides to the back. No separation of layers is present and to me this gives the strap a very high tech and modern appearance. The stitching is purely there for aesthetic reasons as far as can tell, as I see no layers which need to be held together. This Monoblock style of construction serves to aid in resistance to delamination that other multi-layer leather straps are often subject to. The strap has some give when you squeeze it like a very soft rubber would and bend and flexes without any fuss.
Looking more at the aesthetics, it has some attractive blue stitching on it which is visible on the front and back of the strap. It is executed well with even spacing and sits almost flush with the surface of the strap. The strap looks identical on the bottom side and the top side as there is no inner liner against the skin. To the touch the strap feels like a cross between rubber and canvas and it behaves much the same way. In the light the texture of the strap shines with a satin sheen and the pattern is noticeable but not blingy or cheap looking.
KEEPER AND BUCKLE
The B and R Waterproof Black strap with blue stitching has a standard 2 keeper system. The first is fixed and the second is floating to accommodate the free end of different lengths. No fancy adornment is assigned to the keepers, but they are made of a thin layer of the same material the strap is made of. The floating keeper as a single blue stitch to hold it together that matches the stitching in the strap. The buckle is a nicely done brushed piece. It is not embossed but the edges have seem nicely smoothed over and the shape has had some thought put into it. The pin on the buckle is flat rather than just a pionte tang. I think this adds to the rugged nature of the design. Another nice design istThe buckle has some molded edges that conform to the strap it sits on top of. These edges hold the strap free end perfectly in place. This is a wonderful detail overlooked by most strap manufacturers that let you know B and R are thinking of is final user. In all product design, good and great are separated by details, this is true in watch straps as much as it is in the watches they hold.
HOW DOES IT WEAR
The B and R waterproof watch strap wears quite nicely. Even when I wore it a bit snug for extended periods of time, it conforms to the wrist nicely without being uncomfortable. I would not say this strap has stiff leg syndrome (condition where it holds the watch at weird angles off your wrist due to inflexible material) but I think bending it a bit before you install it would all but eliminate the need for break in on the wrist. The material does not conform like a soft pliable leather, but will need its stiffness worked out of it a tad. I found it to be very comfortable after only 1 hour on the wrist but I worked it quite hard before I even touched the spring bars. I can say that the weave pattern, while small, still breathes very well. The material never made my wrist sticky or itchy in the slightest. I washed dishes with this on and washed my hands many times during the day and I purposely got this strap wet without any negative effects. Time and use will confirm its ultimate durability, but I have no reason to think it would not last quite a long time.
Some fabric straps have tendency to get dirty and even pick up and hold orders after a while necessitating a good wash. I have not had this strap long enough to really test this completely, but so far it has been completely maintenance free and has dried quickly after each use.
WHERE CAN I GET IT
The only place I can recommend and probably the only place they are available is on the B and R website:
http://www.bandrbands.com/black-waterproof-watch-band—blue-stitch.aspx
SUMMARY
Trying to find a waterproof strap that is not 1) simple rubber and 2) not a NATO can be a challenge. This offering by B and R is impressive in its construction and looks worthy of watches solidly in the 4 figure range. There is absolutely no hint of cost cutting or cheapness in the material or construction and the watch strap presents itself very well for its modest price ($34.99). Stitching is available in black, white, orange and Red as well as blue presented here so any water going watch should be able to be paired nicely.