Review of the 1960s Swiss-Style Divers Silicone Strap by ZULUDIVER
In the last couple of years, FKM straps have been dominating the market. Rightfully so, as the material is excellent for watch straps. So what happens when a company like ZULUDIVER offers a diver's rubber strap that is not made from FKM?
Well, silicone strikes back big time!
Nenad Pantelic • January 23, 2024
| Quality | |
| Comfort | |
| Design | |
| Durability |
The verdict: This Divers Silicone Strap by ZULUDIVER is affordable, comfortable, packed with features, and... unfortunately discontinued.
What we like?
- Build quality
- Comfort
- Almost perfect adjustability
- Cool heavy-duty buckle
- Quick-release spring bars
What we don't like?
- Strap doesn't taper
- It's not fully lint-repellent
The Distinctive '60s Design
The 1960s was a transformative period for scuba diving. Firstly, there was a surge in interest as equipment became more accessible, and diving destinations were increasingly promoted as tourist attractions. More importantly, diving equipment evolved during the 1960s. Improved regulators, buoyancy control devices, and wetsuits became more widely available, cheaper, and of better quality.
No wonder companies tried to improve the functionality and usability of dive watches (and straps), as they were primarily used as tools.
One of the most popular designs of straps was perforated straps. They enabled better adjustability and better wearability.
The design stuck, and today I am reviewing a strap that has that distinctive '60s design, but is made from a modern material. No, we are not talking about the FKM. This one is made from silicone. Let's dive in (put fully indented).
Technical details
| Brand | ZULUDIVER |
| Width | 22mm |
| Tapering | None |
| Length | 120mm + 80mm |
| Thickness | 3mm |
| Material | Silicone |
| Color | Orange |
| Finishing | Matte |
| Buckle | Brushed 316L stainless steel |
| Spring bars | Integrated quick-release spring bars |
Apart from orange, this silicone model comes in navy blue or black colors. The colors are matte, having just the right amount of vibrancy to ensure they aren't dull or monotonous.
Company and Ordering Experience
WatchGecko is awesome. They have a very good website, well-organized, with clear navigation, fantastic filtering options, amazing photos, and superlative product listing pages.
The website runs on Shopify, so the cart management and the whole ordering process are straightforward and easy. "Frictionless" is the right word to describe it.
They have a pretty cool after-sales experience as well. I've become a returning customer. You'd become a returning customer.
In my opinion, Watchgecko is the leader in the watch strap market, and if you are a brand reading this review, then please, try to be like WatchGecko.
Design and Materials
The strap is made from silicone. The material is very soft, pliable, and comfortable. The surface is not sticky but has a kind of velvety feel to the touch. Silicone material does not bite and stick to the wrist too much.
I have bought one strap in orange and one in black color. For some reason, the orange one does not attract dust, but the black one does. Dunno why that happens. 🤷
The strap has integrated quick-release spring bars. They do not feel flimsy but sturdy.
The strap does not taper at all. It is perforated with square cut-offs. The buckle is really solid, with a wide tang. Holes for the tang are optimally spaced and enable me to get a perfect fit. One of the biggest upsides of this strap.
Comfort and Durability
To reiterate the last line from the previous section: Holes for the tang are optimally spaced, and enable me to get a perfect fit. One of the biggest upsides of this strap.
Additionally, the material easily conforms to the wrist, so the overall wearing experience is great.
One downside might be the thickness, as each piece is 3mm thick. But let's be real: you won't wear this strap with a shirt and try to squeeze it underneath the cuff.
When it comes to durability, I haven't had any issues. It has held up nicely so far.
Initial Usage The strap was very soft and conformed easily. It was comfortable from the get-go. Quick-release spring bars worked well, and they were a joy to use.
Two months of use Despite having worn the strap outdoors and even having submerged it in water a few times, the color has not faded. Also, the hole for the buckle pin still looks like new. The strap is still super comfortable.
Compatibility and Pairing Recommendation
If you plan to put the watch on for water activities, or for hiking, or for other outdoor activities, then you can confidently use this strap.
It fits most sport watches, both slender and top-heavy.
Here is the showcase of the strap on multiple sport watches from my collection.
Where to buy
Unfortunately, this strap has been discontinued. I am confident that Watchgecko will have something similar soon in their offerings.
Check here to see the available rubber straps they have at the moment
My Final Thoughts & Wrap-up
I bought this model because I wanted to test how narrow buckle hole distance would help with finding the perfect fit. I was initially skeptical about the strap being made from silicone, not from rubber or FKM. My past (poor) experiences with silicone straps were the reason for my skepticism.
Boy, I was wrong. This is a really good strap. The silicone material feels great, and the wearability is excellent.
I look forward to seeing what ZULUDIVER and WatchGecko will do next. In the meantime, I'll enjoy strapping on these '60s diver straps and putting them into more frequent rotation. Silicone strikes back indeed!
