Vintage Aquatimer black rubber strap broken

Dear IWC Forum members,

I am using my Vintage Aquatimer since 2009 August. I have also pilot's watch chronograph so i am not using it everyday. I just recognised that black rubber is having a tear from the back part. I am little bit disappointed as rubber straps should be more long lasting. I never used it for diving or any sport activity. What do you recommend? I will take it to service and probably they will suggest to replace with a new one. I am worried to have again the same problem with this model strap but i really love this design too. I will be appreciate for your comments and help.

Please find below the links for the pictures.

Thanks in advance,

Emre.
imageshack.us/photo/my-images/823/imagepoyd.jpg/

imageshack.us/photo/my-images/89/photofit.jpg/

Oh no, sorry to read/see this. I, myself, have been eyeing the Vintage Aquatimer, mainly for the rubber strap as well. So this topic is of interest to me as well.

Hope someone will offer some good tips/advice/experience on this thread

Hi

Cant advise on the IWC rubber strap, but my Tissot T Touch strap has lasted a decade of severe wear and has only gone shiny.
(working in Brazil and various other places on machinery, skiing, rowing, swimming)

Suggest that you maybe wearing it too tightly or perhaps caught it on something?

regards

john B

Hi Emre,
Most watch companies will only guarantee a strap for about a year. Whether tree derived like rubber or animal derived like aligator, they are natural products and subject to enviromental deterioration.
The main causes of hardening or cracking of rubber straps are:
UV light,e.g. Frequent exposure to sunlight;
Chemical contact,e.g. Frequent contact with cleaning products or strong medication perspired through the skin;
Regular flexing, e.g. When the overhanging end of a closed watch strap is too long and gets caught and bent backwards.
Looking at your photos,I think the last point may be appropiate in your case. This always happens to me with standard length straps.
You should think about ordering the short version strap(Ref.IWA29816)from your AD.
The dimentions would be 105mm X 65mm instead of your current 115mm X 75mm.The price would be the same as a standard length but it might be better to order it in advance of your watch service as not being a regular size,it may take a little longer to arrive.
Leo

Instead of overly bending the strap when puting the watch on or off, I pull the strap a bit extra in a straight line, while tring to find the hole for the pin, or trying to extract the pin out of the hole. This causes only minor temporary discomfort to my wrist, which lasted my whole life until now, while preserving all my pin straps.

Kind regards,
Paul