Rubber straps
I guess that it all starts with perception, and how to influence it. That is, at best, to translate the truth to what people think about a subject. You have to consider your rate of success here before going into action.
Rubber straps are, in my opinion, linked to water. So they are logically coupled with the Aquatimer. I may be convinced by your report that a rubber strap is very comfortable, but in my mind it would be a bit sticky, which may not be true at all. I wonder if my perception is shared by many people and should be corrected, which might be difficult.
I guess most people think for sportive activities you should use a bracelet, where steel and my favourite titanium take the honours: golden bracelets are of course something different. For luxury watches leather straps are first choice now. So, what to do with those watches when the weather is hot and humid? I think that the answer "don't wear those watches" is really not an option, so you have to consider whether wearing a crocodile strap is really that bad under those conditions. As I am working in an air conditioned office I don't mind to wear these watches, the straps are OK. When you want a strap and leather is not really acceptable you have sometimes textile straps, like for the Ingenieur. I think IWC considers there is enough choice here. But what for the Portuguese? They don't come other than with a crocodile strap. My first alternative would be textile, although I am not sure at all that this goes together very well witch such a classy watch. And rubber, I myself would not consider it with a Portuguese. So, I am stuck here with the leather strap, tough ;-)
Kind regards,
Paul, wearing a very comfy titanium Inge Automatic with titanium bracelet for these conditions
