ACIf you know someone who’s into watches — dive watches, in particular — then chances are they’re also into straps. The reason for this is easy enough to fathom: a strap change offers a quick, inexpensive way to change the look of a watch, and even better, it’s a do-it-yourself proposition. Yet, while most switch straps for aesthetic reasons, there is option for those dedicated to preserving practicality while embracing style. Enter the ISOfrane.
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By Adam Craniotes
So, what is ISOfrane? Simple, ISOfrane ($99-$139) is an iconic rubber dive strap from the 60s, which, like so many contemporary dive watches, has been resurrected and improved for duty in the 21st century. The name derives from isoprene, which was the rubber compound used to create the original straps, though today a new, proprietary hypoallergenic compound designed for increased strength and wearing comfort takes its place. Originally worn by the likes of Jacques Cousteau in conjunction with iconic watches such as the Omega PloProf, the basic ISOfrane design has proven its mettle time and again in some of the most demanding underwater environments imaginable.
Of course, you don’t have to be a globe-trotting underwater adventurer to reap the benefits of this singular strap; desk divers and backyard commandos alike, will appreciate its purpose-built nature. Designed to wear comfortably when wet, the ISOfrane shrugs off water and sweat with equal aplomb thanks to subtle ribbing underneath and generous venting throughout; and, from an aesthetic standpoint, its square-shouldered, “just-the-facts-ma’am” design lends itself to modern dive watches just as easily as it does to vintage pieces. What’s more, ISOfrane has seen fit to update the Henry Ford-inspired color palette with orange and blue, as well as offer two distinct buckle options in a variety of finishes. Now, there’s no excuse not to find the perfect complement to your dive watch.
Bottom line: regardless of whether you’re a daring aquatic explorer, or the furthest underwater you venture is the deep end of the community swimming pool, the ISOfrane offers comfort, durability and looks in spades.
