Skip to content
Dial&Lug
Water droplets beaded on a brushed metal surface

Dive watch straps

Best dive watch straps

A dive watch is built for water, and most straps are not. The right one is the part of the watch that gets wet most often and fails first.

By Sawyer V. · Published

The short answer

The ZULUDIVER AquaWave is the dive strap to buy: HNBR rubber, a saltwater-resistant 316-grade buckle and ten holes across a 108-195mm range. Barton's Elite Silicone covers the odd lug widths — 19, 21 and 23mm — and Erika's MN strap is the traditional elastic Marine Nationale answer.

Dive watches spend more time wet than any other kind of watch, and the strap takes the worst of it: salt water, sun, sweat and sand. Leather dies within a season. The four straps below are the ones built for it, compared on the specifications their makers actually publish.

Two of them — the MN and the NATO — are military patterns with decades of use behind them. The other two are modern rubber and silicone. For the NATO pattern in depth, see best NATO straps.

On prices: we publish no figure we have not verified today, so every buy button reads "Check price on Amazon". Service prices on this page are the manufacturers' own published figures.

How we picked

We have not worn these watches. What follows is what we checked instead, on documents you can open yourself — the same criteria, in the same order, on every roundup on this site. The full method is on the methodology page.

  1. 01Material in salt water

    Leather dies in water. Rubber, silicone, elastic nylon and nylon do not — and the maker should tell you which compound you are getting.

  2. 02Buckle grade

    316 and 316L resist salt water. A plated buckle is the first part of a dive strap to look finished.

  3. 03Fit range

    Wrists swell in heat and shrink in cold water. More holes, or an elastic strap, keeps a dive watch secure through both.

  4. 04Quick release

    Tool-free bars mean the strap goes on for the beach and off for the office in seconds.

  5. 05Width

    Most divers here are 20mm or 22mm. The odd widths are where the choice narrows.

Disclosure · Some links below are Amazon affiliate links. If you buy through one we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not decide what goes on this page or in what order — here is exactly how that works.

01

ZULUDIVER AquaWave Rubber Strap (MKII)

Best for: The dive strap to buy first

Watch strap

ZULUDIVER

A 1960s tropic-pattern dive strap in HNBR rubber, on a 316-grade buckle.

Check price on Amazon

#ad Affiliate link · We publish no price we have not verified today

ZULUDIVER states both of the things that decide how a rubber strap ages — the compound (HNBR) and the buckle grade (saltwater-resistant 316) — which most rubber straps leave you to guess.

Ten holes across a 108-195mm fastened range is the widest adjustment on this page, and the perforated tropic pattern lets a wet wrist dry. 20mm and 22mm, with quick-release bars fitted.

Ten holes across a 108-195mm range is the most adjustable fit on this site, and a perforated tropic pattern lets a wet wrist dry. ZULUDIVER states the buckle grade and the rubber compound — two things most rubber straps leave you to guess.

Published specifications for the ZULUDIVER AquaWave Rubber Strap (MKII)
MaterialHNBR (hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber)
Widths and taper20mm tapering to 18mm; 22mm tapering to 20mm
Thickness4mm tapering to 2.4mm
Length130mm long side, 80mm short side, ten holes; fastens between 108mm and 195mm
HardwareSaltwater-resistant 316-grade stainless steel buckle, 2mm tongue; standard, IP black or antique bronze
Quick releaseQuick-release spring bars fitted
WarrantyNot stated on the product page

Specifications read from ZULUDIVER product page, AquaWave (MKII).

02

Barton Elite Silicone Quick Release Strap

Best for: Odd lug widths, and the most sizes

Watch strap

Barton

316L hardware, quick-release bars and every width from 18 to 24mm, odd sizes included.

Check price on Amazon

#ad Affiliate link · We publish no price we have not verified today

If your diver has a 19mm or 21mm lug width, this is one of very few quality straps stocked in your size. Barton makes every width from 18 to 24mm, each tapering 2mm to the buckle.

A 316L brushed buckle with a solid tang, integrated quick-release bars, and two lengths of the hole-side strap in each box. Barton treats the silicone so it does not smell or attract dust.

The 19, 21 and 23mm widths are the quiet reason this strap matters. Odd lug widths are where strap shopping gets expensive and slow, and several watches this site rates well have one — a stocked silicone strap in the right odd size removes the problem.

Published specifications for the Barton Elite Silicone Quick Release Strap
MaterialHigh tensile silicone, chosen by Barton after testing across the Shore A durometer scale; treated so it does not smell or attract dust
Taper2mm on every width — 18 to 16mm, 20 to 18mm, 22 to 20mm, 24 to 22mm
Hardware316L stainless steel buckle, solid tang, brushed finish
Quick releaseIntegrated quick-release spring bars
Widths18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24mm
LengthsStandard fits 5-8in wrists; long fits 7-9in; two lengths of the hole-side strap in each box
GuaranteeBarton states a money-back guarantee on fit

Specifications read from Barton Watch Bands, Elite Silicone design features.

03

Erika's Originals MN Strap

Best for: The traditional dive strap, and the most comfortable

Watch strap

Erika's Originals

The elastic Marine Nationale pattern, made to your wrist measurement rather than to a hole.

Sold direct by Erika's Originals

We earn nothing on this link. Erika's Originals sells it directly.

The MN pattern is elastic, so it stretches over a wetsuit sleeve and settles back, and it is cut to a stated length rather than fastened at a hole. On a heavy diver in heat, nothing here is more comfortable.

Erika's states a 12-month warranty and offers titanium, DLC, bronze and brass hardware. Sold direct only; we earn nothing on it.

Every other strap here fits your wrist to the nearest hole. This one is elastic and cut to a stated length in millimeters, which is why it is the one that works on a heavy watch and a hot day. Sold direct only — we earn nothing on it.

Published specifications for the Erika's Originals MN Strap
MaterialIn-house woven elastic nylon webbing over a latex-free Spandex core
AdjustmentElastic and micro-adjustable — no holes to choose between
Hardware optionsBead-blasted titanium (20, 21 and 22mm), black DLC, solid bronze and brass, each a paid upgrade
Widths18 to 24mm
Lengths150mm to 230mm, plus custom sizing
MadeHand assembled in Valencia
Warranty12 months; 3 months on straps made from vintage or second-hand materials

Specifications read from Erika's Originals product page, Original MN strap.

04

ZULUDIVER 1973 British Military Watch Strap

Best for: The military dive pattern, published in full

Watch strap

ZULUDIVER

The actual MoD G10 pattern, published stitch by stitch, in sewn rather than welded form.

Check price on Amazon

#ad Affiliate link · We publish no price we have not verified today

A NATO passes under the case, so a failed spring bar cannot drop the watch — which is why military divers wore them. ZULUDIVER publishes the original specification it works from, down to the stock number.

Nylon soaks up water and dries more slowly than rubber, which is the one trade against the straps above.

This is the only maker here that publishes the standard it is working to, down to the stock number and the shade of gray. If you want to know what a NATO strap is supposed to be before you buy one, read that page first and buy second.

Published specifications for the ZULUDIVER 1973 British Military Watch Strap
PatternThe British MoD Standard 66-47/2 strap, NATO Stock Number 6645-99-124-2986
Original specificationZULUDIVER publishes it in full: straight cross-weave nylon, 20mm wide, 1.2mm thick, 280mm long, admiralty gray, shade 18B25
ConstructionSewn — ZULUDIVER states it uses sewn rather than the original heat-welded construction, having found sewn more durable
Original hardwareThe 1973 specification called for a one-piece chromium-plated brass buckle with no spring bars
MadeDesigned and assembled in Britain

Specifications read from ZULUDIVER, 1973 British Military Watch Strap specification page.

The materials, as their makers describe them

MaterialOn this pageWhat the maker states
HNBR rubberZULUDIVER AquaWavePremium HNBR, saltwater-resistant 316-grade buckle
SiliconeBarton Elite SiliconeHigh tensile silicone, treated not to smell or attract dust; 316L buckle
Elastic nylonErika's Originals MNIn-house woven elastic webbing over a latex-free core
NylonZULUDIVER 1973The MoD 66-47/2 pattern, 1.2mm nylon, sewn
FKM rubberNot picked hereZULUDIVER describes its FKM straps as having excellent temperature resistance and high chemical stability

Are silicone watch straps any good?

A good one is. The silicone straps with a poor reputation are the unbranded ones that attract lint, smell after a summer and use plated buckles. Barton addresses all three on the Elite Silicone — a treated surface, a 316L buckle and a stated material — which is why it is on this page. The honest trade against FKM and HNBR rubber is feel: silicone is softer and slightly tackier.

What we would not buy

  • Leather on a dive watch. It will not survive a season of salt water, whatever the listing says.
  • A rubber strap with no stated compound and no buckle grade. Those are the two things that decide how it ages.
  • A strap too narrow for the lugs. A 20mm strap on a 22mm watch leaves the spring bars taking side-loads they were not designed for.

Questions people actually ask

What is the best strap for a dive watch?

A rubber strap with a stated compound and a 316-grade buckle — the ZULUDIVER AquaWave is our pick. Barton's Elite Silicone covers odd lug widths, and an elastic MN strap is the most comfortable in heat.

Are silicone watch straps good?

A good one is. Look for a stated material, a treated surface and a 316L buckle, as on Barton's Elite Silicone. The poor reputation belongs to unbranded silicone with plated hardware.

Is a NATO strap good for swimming?

It is secure — the strap passes under the case, so a failed spring bar cannot drop the watch. Nylon absorbs water and dries slowly, so rubber is more comfortable if you swim often.

Can I wear a leather strap on a dive watch?

On dry land, yes. In water, leather absorbs it, stains and weakens within a season. Keep a rubber or nylon strap for the beach and use quick-release bars to swap in seconds.

Sources

Every specification and figure on this page came from one of these documents. Where a manufacturer does not publish something, the page says so rather than filling the gap.

Read next

An assortment of leather watch straps laid out

Best NATO straps

Four military-pattern straps compared on nylon thickness, steel grade and length.

A diver's wristwatch resting on a wet dark surface

Dive watches

200m cases, screw-down crowns and timing bezels — the most durable style, ranked.

An assortment of leather watch straps laid out

Best quick release watch straps

Tool-free straps compared, and the odd lug widths that make them hard to find.