The SBDX017 rubber on my SLA023: looks amazing, feels like plastic, leaves holes in your wrist
A lovely little trinket
Something new for all you SLA and Marinemaster owners. Not new, mind, because you're all watch pervs and you'll recognise it straight away: the rubber strap from the SBDX017, the previous-generation Marinemaster, which many of you think is the only one worth having. I don't have one. I have this one, the SLA023. But I wanted to accessorise it with this lovely little trinket. I always loved the way it looked, so I went looking.
The strap it's replacing
First, the strap that comes with the new Marinemasters. It's silicone, it's well made, with a fantastic tang and buckle and a gigantic polished, brushed and bevelled metal keeper. Lightweight, extremely comfortable, and I do love wearing the watch on it. The only drawback is that it's silicone. No matter how hard we try to wipe away the stains of our past, they remain forever entrenched in our present.
Weed-smoking Dutch twerps
I found a great company in Holland called Watch Parts Plaza. They sell literally everything for Seiko: bracelets, dials, handsets, all original OEM parts. And they had this, the OEM rubber from the 017. About £44 delivered, three weeks to arrive. Then I slapped it on. Aside from its fantastic looks, it is extremely stiff. It feels like plastic more than rubber, and I was a bit disappointed. It doesn't even want to bend around my wrist.
Verdict
Everyone's opinion will differ, but I love it. It looks amazing, and it really does look the part on the 017, the 023 and any Marinemaster variant you may have. Unfortunately it's not comfortable. Wear it for any length of time and you'll take it off and see holes indented into your wrist. The original is way more comfortable, it just doesn't look the same. I'm not gonna lie and say it's amazing. But it looks amazing, and I'm very pleased I bought it. For the beeeech.
