We all know plastic straps, but we don’t know that plastic straps are also divided into three styles, so which three are they? They are silicone rubber straps, rubber straps, fluorine rubber strap.
Compared to other watch straps. the advantage of plasic strap is durability, water resistance, easy maintenance, versatility colors, price affordable, lightweight and comfortable.
Disadvantages: the plastic Strap, gave off a cheap feel and was not luxurious like normal watches straps. easy ageing. easily crack, become sticky, harden, soften and change colour.
Comparison price of silicone rubber straps, rubber straps, fluorine rubber strap; silicone strap is cheap, rubber strap is middle, fluorine Rubber Strap is relatively expensive
Today, I would like to share with you a few materials of plastic straps, or from my own actual usage feeling, please correct me if I am wrong.
First of all, I would like to talk about my own views on the strap, I relatively like the strap, skin-friendly, moderate weight, with water resistance. Compared to steel straps light weight wear more comfortable, compared to the leather strap, the plastic strap is eroded and smelly more durable when in summer after sweating. So personally I think a diving watch with plastic strap is the best choice. And personally I think a diving watch should have at least one replacement plastic strap
Why Use Plastic Watch Strap?
Plastic watch straps, also known as resin or polymer straps, offer several advantages that make them a popular choice among watch wearers. Here are some advantages of plastic watch straps:
- Durabilidade: Plastic watch straps are highly durable and resistant to everyday wear and tear. They can withstand impacts, scratches, and exposure to various environmental conditions without easily showing signs of damage. This durability ensures that the strap maintains its appearance and functionality over a long period.
- Water Resistance: Many plastic watch straps are water-resistant or even waterproof, making them suitable for water-related activities and daily wear in humid conditions. They can withstand exposure to water, moisture, and sweat without being damaged or deteriorating. This makes plastic straps a practical choice for sports watches or those worn during outdoor activities.
- Lightweight and Comfortable: Plastic watch straps are lightweight, which adds to their comfort when worn on the wrist. The lightweight nature of the strap minimizes the burden on the wrist and enhances overall comfort, particularly during extended wear periods. It makes plastic straps ideal for individuals who prefer a lighter feel on their wrist.
- Easy Maintenance: Plastic watch straps are generally easy to clean and maintain. They can be wiped clean with a damp cloth or mild soap and water. Unlike fabric or leather straps that may require specialized cleaning or conditioning, plastic straps are relatively low-maintenance, saving time and effort for the wearer.
- Versatility: Plastic watch straps are available in a wide range of colors, patterns, and designs. This versatility allows watch wearers to find a plastic strap that suits their personal style and matches their watch’s aesthetics. Whether you prefer a vibrant and bold strap or a more understated design, plastic straps offer ample options for customization.
- Affordability: Plastic watch straps tend to be more affordable compared to straps made from premium materials like leather or metal. This affordability makes plastic straps a budget-friendly choice for individuals who want to switch up their watch style without breaking the bank.
It’s important to note that the specific advantages of a plastic watch strap may vary depending on the quality and design of the strap. When choosing a plastic strap, consider factors such as the strap’s thickness, buckle quality, and overall construction to ensure it meets your desired level of durability and comfort.
Advantages of Plastic Strap
Firstly, plastic straps definitely have their inherent advantages: they are more resistant to wear and tear and water resistance than leather strap, they are flexible in design and fit perfectly in the case, and they are light and comfortable to wear.
Secondly, plastic straps are available in a wide range of colours to suit different preferences.
Finally, as plastic is completely waterproof, it is used in diving and sports watches and has excellent resistance to sweat and moisture.
Disadvantages of Plastic Strap
Firstly, when plastic was first used in watches, it gave off a cheap feel and was not as noble or luxurious as gold.
Secondly, in terms of material, rubber is very susceptible to ageing. Stronger sunlight or oxidation can easily cause it to crack, become sticky, harden, soften and change colour.
Finally, when wearing a plastic strap, needs to be care about the connection area to avoid strong pulling hard. It is also important to clean the strap with a soft cloth to remove any hard particles of dust that might scratch the surface and create small cracks, which can also effectively extend the life of the strap.
Comparison of Each Kind of Plastic Watch Straps
Plastic straps can be subdivided into: silicone rubber straps, rubber straps, fluorine rubber strap
Silicone strap
Silicone strap price: cheap
The most common type of strap on the market today is the silicone rubber strap (low end product mainly), which has the following advantages:
- Liquid silicone colours can be modulated according to needs, rich and bright colours (can be adjusted to match many colours).
- strong adsorption, silicone raw materials, environmental protection, non-toxic, odourless, no harm to human skin.
- silicone texture is uniform, elastic, with a good sense of touch, plasticity.
- liquid silicone is good for environmental, anti-slip, shockproof, anti-seepage, heat insulation, not easy to age, not easy to fade, easy to clean.
- silicone strap is durable, with a good stretch, wear-resistant, easy cleaning, and comfortable to wear.
There are advantages and disadvantages to silicone rubber: the surface is easy to stick to dust and is not resistant to dirt, and the surface will be worn if wear a long time
Rubber Band
Rubber band price: moderate
Advantages of rubber straps: the advantages are similar to those of silicone rubber, but there are some differences
- rubber straps can only be made in black color and cannot be coloured as much as silicone rubber;
- less comfortable than silicone rubber, the overall hardness is a bit;
- There will be a little smell of rubber (some factories will add some spices to adjust, but there will be some smell)
Overall, the rubber strap is easy to age. there are different degrees of fracture, hardening, softening, discolouration and other phenomena according to different temperature environment. Not suitable for wearing in winter, easy to break.
Fluorine Rubber Strap
Price of fluorine rubber strap: relatively expensive
Advantages of fluorine rubber strap: contains the advantages of the above two strap, with a higher density than the above two strap and a better quality and wearing comfort
Fluorine rubber strap disadvantages: in addition to it’s expensive price, It seems to have no disadvantages ( fluorine rubber basically have no the above two stra’s disadvantages)
Fluorine Rubber Strap VS Silicon Strap
Comparison of fluorine rubber straps and silicone rubber:
- Different material sources: one is silica, the other is fluorite
- Different density: fluoroelastomer (raw rubber) is around 1.8, while silicone is around 1
- Fluoroelastomer is oil resistant, silicone is not
- The strength of fluoroelastomer is much higher than that of silicone
Daily Maintainance of Watch Plastic Straps
- If the plastic straps is very dirty, make sure clean it right now, you can try ordinary white erasers, be sure to choose white erasers, otherwise the consequences will be more serious.
- Do not expose the watch to strong sunlight, try to avoid hard object scratches and arbitrary stretching hard break.
- It will aging in some degree when long time wearing.
- You can use a little soapy water with a soft toothbrush to quickly scrub the dirt and finally wipe it with a slightly damp cotton cloth.
- Buy a alternative straps, do not wear rubber straps very often, as they need ventilation.
Pensamento final:
The use of plastic strap in sports or diving watches is becoming more and more diverse, and many top brands are using them.Those who wear sports or diving watches are advised to match a plastic strpas of their own. For the inexpensive watch wearer, you can match with a silicone or rubber, for the higher end watch, you can buy the fluorine straps.
