Strap, band, bracelet, dear child has many names, but all these terms refer to the bracelet that straps a wristwatch onto the wrist for convenient mobility.
There are many different types of watch straps. They can be made of widely different materials including leather, plastic, silicone rubber, cloth, nylon or metal, and even the closures can be very different depending on the type of strap.
This time we will try to answer the question: What Is a Rally Watch Strap?
What Is a Rally Watch Strap?
A Rally Watch Strap is usually made of leather and is characterized in that the widest part of the strap is perforated with a series of circular or oval holes.
The classic variant has 3-4 circular (or oval) holes of different diameters on each strap part with the largest hole located closest to the lugs and the smallest furthest away from the lugs.
Another variant has large holes of equal diameter located along the strap on the middle section and smaller holes located on each side along the edge of the strap.
A third type has many small holes of equal size evenly distributed over the entire strap surface.
The Origin of Rally Watch Straps
As the name suggests, the Rally Watch Strap is inspired by the branch of motorsport known as “rally” that nowadays takes place on public or private roads with modified or specially built road-legal cars.
When automotive racing started in the late 1890s the car engineers’ primary task was to make the vehicles as fast as possible (it still is!) and as cars were still at a very early stage of development, weight became one of the most important parameters to optimize.
A widely used way to reduce the weight of the car was by drilling holes in carefully selected metal parts.
Because the car now weighed less, the released engine power could instead be converted to higher speed and at the same time the heat from the engine could be more easily dissipated from the vehicle.
This kind of perforation is also known from driving gloves that made its appearance around the time when rallying started becoming popular.
Classic driving gloves are usually made of soft leather and feature open knuckles and back for maximum flexibility and holes punched in fingers and palms for ventilation.
When comparing a rally watch strap with a pair of classic driving gloves it is easy to see the association.
Producers Manufacturing Models With Rally Watch Straps
There are those who believe that an Invicta watch is something close to the best purchase you can make when weighing price against quality and when judging from Amazon ratings, there is no doubt that the buyers are generally satisfied.
Model 16009 is a rugged, quartz regulated chronograph equipped with rally strap in brown leather and with a diameter of 48 mm it is a reasonably large watch, so it is important to make sure that it will fit well on the wrist before buying.
The watch is water resistant to 100 m, which indicates a watch case made both strong and solid. Case and bezel are made of stainless steel.
Other features: White metal dial with gunmetal luminous hands and black hour markers (notice the “S1” in the 1 o’clock position), 24 hour, 60 minute and 60 second sub dials, mineral crystal, tang buckle and push crown.
Measurements: 48 mm x 13.5 mm.
Price Range: $75 – $100.
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Yet another beautiful example of a quartz regulated chronograph with a rally watch strap.
The strap is made of genuine calfskin leather and perforated with small holes evenly distributed on the strap.
The Eco-Drive concept is a different way of thinking solar powered watches as the light-capturing cells are virtually invisible behind the dial, enhancing the appearance of the watch.
The stainless steel case is only 44 mm in diameter and 12.1 mm thick, so it will fit smaller wrists better compared to the Invicta 16009.
This stunning watch is water resistant to 100 m and since it is solar driven it will never need a battery replacement.
Other features: Mineral crystal, date window, denim blue dial, blue aluminum plated bezel, 1/5-second chronograph measuring up to 60 minutes, 12/24-hour time and tachymeter.
Measurements: 44 mm x 12.1 mm.
Price Range: $200 – $250.
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