No matter what region of the world you travel to, one thing most people can agree on is that someone who is “well-dressed” is likely to be sporting some form of wristwatch. While the wristwatch was initially believed to be a form of jewelry and, thusly, primarily worn by women, the onset of World War I would cause men around the world to rethink that premise. Today, both genders proudly wear wristwatches, and many people around the world are passionate about collecting them, especially if the piece comes from a luxury watchmaker of some sort.
Technological advances have radically transformed our world within the last several decades, and no industry has been exempt from this fact – even the storied legacy brands within the world of horology, a world which sometimes can be a bit slow to the idea of embracing change. Smartwatches have become very popular with the under 40 set, and have cornered a considerable part of the market share that was once previously occupied by well-known premium watchmakers, which means that these brands must now adapt to these changes or risk going out of business themselves.
Some companies, however, were fortunately able to see some of these changes coming on the horizon and were able to plan for them accordingly. As a result, they are now leading the way when it comes to being innovators in the world of horology, seamlessly combining modern technological innovations with a sense of old-world luxury and style.
One of these companies is Rubber B, a Swiss enterprise which was founded in 2010 by entrepreneur Arnaud Benjamin. The company specializes in crafting extremely high-quality custom rubber watch bands for a wide variety of watches from luxury manufacturers, including Rolex. In fact, Rubber B was the first company to ever craft a rubber watch strap that was compatible with a Rolex watch.
One of the watch straps that the company has become well-known for producing in recent years is the Rolex Yacht-Master, which is notable for a number of reasons. First and foremost among these is that, due to the size of the Rolex Yacht-Master, as it is a rather large watch, it is somewhat challenging to find replacement watch straps for this timepiece at all.
Thus, the fact that Rubber B even produces a replacement strap for the Rolex Yacht-Master is something to be commended and speaks to their deep knowledge of the horological marketplace and the collectors who comprise it. Furthermore, their highly durable products, which are hand-crafted exclusively in Switzerland, are made completely of vulcanized rubber.
This allows them to not only withstand the wear and tear and everyday usage that comes from wearing a watch, but also exposure to the elements as well, even up to and including ocean water. Rubber B is sure to continue to be a leading pioneer in the production of custom rubber watch straps for years to come, and is most certainly a company that watch collectors and experts should be keeping an eye on.
Where to find? Check out www.rubberb.com or visit us at, 605 Lincoln Rd, Suit 230, Miami Beach, FL 33139 (By Appointment only)
