BB58 Blue - "Soft touch" strap question.

[JasChCh]

Yesterday I picked up a lovely BB58 Blue as a present for my wife, who loves to wear my watches so it's also a present for me as I can have a watch back!

The one she loves is on the so called "Soft Touch" strap (as opposed to the bracelet or woven fabric strap options).

It's a very comfortable strap which looks and feels great - my question is what is it made of and is it something that can be worn in the water?

I intend to pick up a Vanguard strap for her but in the interim period it would be great to find out more about this one - if anyone here has experience & knowledge about the "Soft touch" strap it would be appreciated.

[kieselguhr]

Leather.

I don’t advise exposing or submerging in water.

The vanguard rubber strap would be a perfect option for the watch if worn during water activities.

Alternatively, you could also use fabric NATO straps that are cheap and easily washed, or replaceable.

[AAAAAlex]

Originally Posted by kieselguhr

Leather.

I don’t advise exposing or submerging in water.

The vanguard rubber strap would be a perfect option for the watch if worn during water activities.

Alternatively, you could also use fabric NATO straps that are cheap and easily washed, or replaceable.

It's very much not leather. It's a woven fabric. I haven't used it in the water but I don't imagine it would stay nice for long with heavy water use.

[Krash]

Originally Posted by AAAAAlex

It's very much not leather. It's a woven fabric. I haven't used it in the water but I don't imagine it would stay nice for long with heavy water use.

I never thought it was leather because if it was, it would say so on the website. Right?

I wouldn’t go swimming with it if we’re mine.


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[kieselguhr]

Originally Posted by AAAAAlex

It's very much not leather. It's a woven fabric. I haven't used it in the water but I don't imagine it would stay nice for long with heavy water use.

Originally Posted by Krash

I never thought it was leather because if it was, it would say so on the website. Right?

I wouldn’t go swimming with it if we’re mine.

It’s suede....

https://millenarywatches.com/watches...bay-58-79030b/

[TheDude2940]

I own this exact watch with the soft touch strap.

It is made of some sort of synthetic material on both sides. The top feels like suede, but it is not actually suede. The inside feels like leather, but its not actually leather. You can take it in the water with no issues per my experience.

[Lew Archer]

When I bought the same watch, also with the soft strap, I ordered a NATO, the one offered by Tudor. It took awhile, but recently put it on and it's a great combination, and clearly designed for extensive aquatic use. It's very much a "dive watch" setup.

I don't know how the soft strap, a synthetic, would hold up, if used extensively in the water. Someone else will have to experiment with that. When I bought the watch, the salesman at the AD was skeptical it was really suitable for that. But, it's a fairly new product, I don't think he was speaking from the experience of receiving customer complaints and so forth.

You might simply contact Tudor and ask whether extensive use in water is recommended for that strap.

[AAAAAlex]

Originally Posted by kieselguhr

It’s suede....

No, it isn't suede. It's a manmade material. Tudor's version of Alcantara.

[dnd2984]

I bought mine on Soft Touch too. I did the vanguard strap and it works with the Tudor clasp. https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=818434

[RyanO]

Originally Posted by kieselguhr

It’s suede....

https://millenarywatches.com/watches...bay-58-79030b/

Am I reading that correctly? $801 for a suede strap? Is it really that costly?


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[kieselguhr]

Originally Posted by AAAAAlex

No, it isn't suede. It's a manmade material. Tudor's version of Alcantara.

Vegan leather is also man made material. You wouldn’t swim with it would you? In any case if it’s Tudor’s proprietary Alcantara as you say, it would still make it marginally more durable than leather against water.

My advice still stands. I wouldn’t swim with it and just wait for the vanguard strap to come in.

[JasChCh]

There is a fabric strap option that comes with the bracelet, just as with a BB41, but this is the 'soft touch' strap and is very different from the fabric.

[pedersenkl]

Recently picked up a BB58 Blue on the 'soft touch' strap. Love the watch and the comfort of the strap!

Re-tapping this older thread. Like others, I cannot seem to find a definitive statement on whether the soft touch strap is 'water friendly'. It doesn't appear to be leather.

While I wouldn't plan to swim in it (will buy and swap to a Nato)....but can this soft touch strap at least take a splash from rain and/or a handwashing?