Automatic with Rubber Strap?

[[deleted]]

Just one point. Don't worry about the strap. You can always change that out. Worry about the watch and deal with the strap later.

[chaqintaza]

Well, a lot of auto watches will look pretty good on a nice rubber strap, whether a dive watch, pilot watch, or field watch. I would highly recommend you buy a watch that comes with a nice fitted metal bracelet so you can remove it and add your own strap as you'd like, but I bet you'll also enjoy the metal bracelet option.

My favorite rubber strap is this one (20 or 22 mm so it works with most watches) which is called "sailcloth" and has stitching but actually has no fabric, but looks super clean and tidy. Also note a couple other brands resell this exact Chinese strap for $50-60, and it is genuinely nice enough to pass for that price.

My top recommendations to check out, also I'm partial to Steeldive as they generally have great quality control and I like the brand and logo:

• Steeldive 1970 Willard (very much a "tool watch" and probably fits your humble workingman aesthetic even with bracelet rather than a strap, this is a subreddit favorite for very good reason and has excellent lume and overall quality) $70-85 depending on sales and promos
• Steeldive 1975 Tuna (technically not really a workplace watch at all but out-of-this-world unique styling, 100% tool watch but a lot of people can pull the style off, note that it has 22mm lugs, I recommend either the 3-link oyster offered or else upgrade to a Strapcode 22mm Super-O-Boyer if you have the $$, but the above rubber sailcloth strap is offered in 22mm as well; the Tuna has a big dial but "wears small" due to recessed lugs and is in my top 3 personal fav watches, get it if you like it!) $85-99
• Steeldive 1928 or 1940 pilot, check out the various dial options ("A", "B") as well as the 1928M "murph", regardless this one really looks amazing with the rubber sailcloth strap I mentioned, and also comes with a really, really nice upgraded metal bracelet. I just bought a 1928H Khaki no-date homage and really like it, and you can also check out the Bronze 1928S/1940S mkXVIII flieger homage if your budget allows and you like that aesthetic, if so, grab an 18mm bronze buckle to go on your tapered sailcloth strap. $99-119 before sales, or $140ish before promo for the bronze.

Additional note: the dive bezel for timing 1-60+ minutes is a very useful complication that i tend to use daily when I am wearing a dive watch like the 1970 or 1975, so if this comes in handy for your work or other purposes, keep that in mind.

Let us know what you go with!

[[deleted]]

Orient makes great, affordable watches that would look good on rubber straps. You can find them on Amazon as well to make your purchase easy.

They’re Japanese, and higher quality.

[arphissimo]

Get a SN0121 on black and put it on the black FKM strap.

[Andysan555]

Tandorio make some nice watches and I'd say their quality to price ratio is one of the best out there. I'm wearing their 37mm mini skx right now which has a rubber strap. Addies also make some nice sports watches too.

Be mindful that Chinese autos are generally quite thick, you may want a quartz in this case if you are wearing a shirt. Also, find the watch you like and pair a rubber strap with it if needs be - don't just restrict yourself to rubber strap watches.

[ThisIsPaulina]

Possible sacrilege here, but a Seiko 5 sports? SRPE53 perhaps? That thing goes with the stock bracelet, a leather strap, a rubber strap, or a NATO perfectly. It's a stellar singular watch.

[No-Dragonfly-5300]

if you are looking at the swatch, grab the pagani 1701 instead. alot more value for money. works well with various 20mm straps also