In the early days, the usage of pure rubber was abundant, but there was a long list of issues with the products made from pure rubber. As you may have experienced this first-hand, normal rubber tends to harden during winter and break, and the opposite in summer, where it starts to melt and become sticky.

In the 18th century, German chemist Friedrich Ludersdorf and American inventor Nathaniel Hayward discovered that adding sulfur to natural rubber eliminates the stickiness and improves the rubber. Around the same time, American Chemist Charles Goodyear accidentally discovered the Vulcanization Process by dropping the sulfur-introduced natural rubber on a hot pan. To his surprise, the mixture became more firm and firm instead of melting further as usual. The end result was a far more superior product, which is now known as Vulcanized Rubber.

Materials like steel and leather have been the common choice for watch companies for their straps until the mid-20th century. In the 1950s, major watch brands started to make rubber straps, which became a hit amongst watch lovers in the 1960s.

In today’s world, Vulcanized Rubber is preferred for its high strength, weatherproof property, elasticity, and non-sticky feature. It has also been reported that vulcanized rubber can stand temperatures above 350 °C or 662 °F and can easily retain its quality from −80 °C to +250 °C or -112 °F to 482 °F.

10 Years of The Ultimate Rubber Strap - Make Yours Memorable

In Switzerland, a watch strap manufacturing company called Rubber B is famous for its vulcanized rubber straps for luxurious watches. Though it is Swiss-based, it is headquartered in Florida, US.

The company started its journey in 2010 by producing the first “T” integrated design for Rolex watches. Since then, it has released numerous watch straps with vulcanized rubber as the primary material. Apart from it, Rubber B also uses other high-quality materials and processes like Titanium, Carbon Fiber, and even its patented VulChromatic Technology which allows them to mold the second piece of vulcanized rubber within the strap window, resulting in a second color without using any coloring agents.

Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of Rubber B, realized the potential of his brand and spread it quickly across the world as the straps gained attention for being durable and vegan without compromising the appeal of the watches. The straps are also known for their fat-repellent and waterproof properties.

Rubber B manufactures straps for various models from top brands like Rolex, Tudor, Patek Philippe SA, Panerai, Audemars Piguet, Breitling SA, Omega, Apple, and others. It also offers universal sizes and caters to both women and men.

The straps are manufactured with extreme precision to match the original straps’ fitting. They undergo different processes, some of which are solely carried out by Rubber B. The brand sells worldwide through its website but also in high-end stores, like Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue.

The target audience is customers who want to experiment with something new with their watch straps at ease. They get to choose from a variety of colors and styles for reasonable prices. Another reason to switch to using Rubber B straps is that they are lightweight and feel better compared to their original steel or metal versions.

Coming back to Vulcanized Rubber, apart from Sulphur, there are a few other chemicals used to vulcanize the natural rubbers, like Peroxides and Metallic Oxides. The use of this superior rubber varies from industry to industry, but in general, it is not an uncommon material around us.

The most common use is unarguable in the tire industry. Most of the vehicles are equipped with tires made from vulcanized rubber, and some are even treated with carbon black for further greater strength. In 1898, American inventor Frank Seiberling founded the famous tire brand Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, named after Charles Goodyear.

Due to its great properties and easy production, Vulcanized Rubber will remain one of the best choices for various businesses out there. It allows them to capture the new markets, as they can be toxic and allergen free, among many…