Richard Mille

So I was finally able to get the vented rubber strap for my RM005.

I was glad I could go and get it in person because I discovered while I was there that the standard length strap was waaaay too long for me.

I have a 6.5 inch wrist and with the standard length strap, even on the top most hole, the strap was a little too loose for me.

My AD was super accommodating and had a shorter strap waiting for me in a matter of 30 mins or so.

So since straps and strap quality has always been somewhat of a topic here, I thought I would also share my own opinions on this strap.

Let me first premise this with the long history of different strap variants I've had with this watch.
1st strap was the fitted rubber coated leather strap that was frankly not very good. The way that that leather wrapped around and the materials that were used to bind the slotted plastic part with the strap were a complete disappointment for a watch of this caliber.
Fortunately this strap was swapped out FOC by my AD when the connector basically started to come away from the strap itself.

2nd Strap was the 2nd gen rubber/leather strap which was a little better (on the tang this time) but although the strap seemed better quality, the ajoining piece was still subpar even from day one, I could see that the fit and finish was not all there.

3rd Strap was the black kevlar strap which started to get better in quality. This time RM has switched out the plastic connector part with some sort of metal - I think it may have been Ti, and the strap fit much better into the watch. The only downside with this strap is the case tapers down on the sides but when it connects to the strap, the strap looks very odd and thin compared with the thickness of the case on the side profile.

Finally we get to this rubber strap which I had seen in pictures on other RMs but I guess only recently became available on the RM005/RM023 case size.

First observation is that the strap seems to pick up oils and dirt very easily. It could be because it has a very high concentration of actual "rubber" in it. Many rubber straps that I have on my other watches feel different. I think the compounds that other manufactures use have more synthetics or nylon in them so they end up being more "shiny" and more plastic feeling. The RM rubber strap is the total opposite of this...it basically feels like car rubber tire material. I wonder if Mr Mille and folks worked with tire compound company to come up with this mix. The most similar thing in terms of rubber to it are also the side stems from my Tag Heuer sunglasses which apparently use F1 tire compound.



Next, the rubber isn't scented with the usual vanilla scent or anything else. It actually smells kind nasty when you first get it out of the package. A couple of rinses with soapy water gets rid of the initial smell...but it doesn't try to be anything else but rubber.

Finally - got to pay kudos to the RM folks - they really got this one right in terms of fit and finish. The rubber is now tapered in both width and thickness as it comes down from the case to the tip. There's also a groove that cut into the side of the rubber that continues the line from the side profile of the watch and weaves it into the flow of the strap - very neat feature. Metal slots (I think they may be ti) is the internal connector material and they're really bonded to the rubber so it creates a tight fit no budge seem when mounted with the case.




The details are finished with the first of the rubber keepers containing the Richard Mille text.



This is finally a strap that RM should have had was back then. Although the cost of the strap is pretty high, I am very glad that RM listened and observed all the faults and gripes people had with the older straps and has evolved the newer ones where they are now.

It's given new life to my RM005.




-Sam

my 005 Masa

..and pretty spot on, I do think the vented rubber is the strap best suited to give synergy between the case & strap join. Definatley the best looking strap on the sporty RM5. I have one on my RM10, and only issue I have is that the strap seems to have got a bit more shiny & become more brittle feeling, its about one year old. I do recall when I got it thinking how nice & soft & rubbery it was ( oh er ), but I am thinking now it will be interesting to see how long it lasts, beacuse if it continues to get brittle over the next couple of years I could see it splitting close to the buckle ( deployment ).

Anyway we shall see how it lasts, but definatley asthetics wise its a great strap indeed...enjoy your watch

Hey Chris,

You have the advantage of living with your strap for much longer than me. Have you "conditioned" it at all?

I was just thinking that if it's like a car tire rubber compound, wondering if using something like a rubber protectorant would help keep the strap softer?..

Just a thought - wondering if any of the RM moderators could pass this comment along to the folks over at RM to see if we can get an official answer on this.

-Sam

You probably just want to call your local RM AD or the distributor in your country for that info.

I know I've seen white and I obviously have the black. I think I also recall seeing brown, but your local AD should be able to give you a better idea on inventory.

I'm guessing you want either yellow or gray?....that would look killer on the 005FM

Good luck

-Sam

always hoped RM would make a vented strap for a 005 and they're finally here!

how resistant is it to wear & tear?

...I've had mine for about less than a week and it's still nice and new.

I think Chris4 has some concerns about the condition of the rubber after about a year of use.

At least in it's "new" form, the strap is very comfortable, grippy and soft.

-Sam

That strap is truly the best option for the titanium 005. For white gold, I prefer the crocodile straps nowadays. Thanks for the pictures and summary of your strap experience!

... Nope I havent used any sort of rubber protecter on mine at all, in fact it has been nicely abused really, well when I say abused I mean used in the way a rubber strap should be used. It has been in & out of swimming pools/water parks/sea constantly in dubai for two weeks, covered in mud on wet Yorkshire Mountain bike rides and generally seen the whole myriad of differant weather over the year.

I have just wahsed it using whatever soap is in the bathroom, sometimes hotel shampoo or just handwash. Maybe thats not the best thing to do to a rubber strap, dont know, but as far as I am concerned that is the point of a rubber strap ie can jump in a pool or the sea and simply chuck your watch in the sink to clean it off...thats what I have done with numerous other 'holiday' watches such as Panerais & IWC's

It does seem this has taken a toll on my strap, it is slightly shiny now and as I said feels a little brittler than it did when it was new. I will be checking it regularly for signs of any splits or further wear, but I am just hoping that it is just cosmetic and the strap does have longevity, becuase to put no finer point on it, for what these things cost I expect it last a lot longer than a couple of years.

Keep us posted Sam if you get any info on how your supposed to look after your strap.

THanks

Great story - and glad it all worked in the end and that the strap breathed new life into your journey with the RM005.  Admittedly, RM being such a young brand has to proceed on a 'trial and error' in some respects.  While every effort is made to get a product to market that is perfect from the first instance, RIchard is rarely satisfied with any product as it is and continues to experiment so that new iterations are always in the pipeline.

Glad this journey ended at a happy juncture...

Andrew H