With smartphones so ubiquitous nowadays, many question the necessity of wearing a watch to begin with. However, in the right setting and in the right style, a watch can function like any other part of an outfit — a finishing touch that sets the tone for an outfit, or a standout accessory in its own right. Building a basic, essential watch collection can be tricky, especially when so many expensive models are out there. And there are certain types of watches that definitely fit in different situations, making things even slightly more confusing.
While a great dive watch is exceptionally versatile — wearable with jeans and a t-shirt as well as a suit when styled right — it’s always nice to give your timepieces a break. And, shaking things up on the wrist is as beneficial a style move as rotating shoes or other items of clothing. That’s where a great rubber strap watch can come into play. But not the sporty, digital iterations worn to run races or anything like that. Think of the right rubber-strap watch as another casual watch to wear with simpler outfits, like the Timex Weekender (seen here as part of a Budget Style Guide).
The Stuhrling Aquadiver Manta Ray watch. Perfect for soaking up some, uh, rays.
That’s why this past Christmas, I was pretty pleased when Santa showed up under the tree with the Stuhrling Aquadiver Manta Ray watch. Now, the title on the Amazon link is quite a mouthful, but within just two days of wearing this timepiece, it’s clear that it’s quite the watch.
Yes, the watch is a quartz, meaning the battery will eventually have to be replaced. Although there’s quite the debate about quartz watches versus automatic varieties, the important thing about this timepiece is that it, well, tells time and runs well regardless.
Pure function aside, the great thing about this piece is its versatility. It would work in exactly the same scenarios as a Timex Weekender —for example, with an Oxford cloth button-down, sweater and jeans (as paired with on Christmas in cold New Hampshire) or with a polo and shorts (as worn in Florida during part 2 of a vacation trip). The color of the dial is a cool black with white symbols along the outer ring — no outlandish dial or strap here. And because of that rubber strap, there’s a durability aspect that a stainless steel watch doesn’t bring all the time — you needn’t worry about serious scratches or major damage all the time with this watch. Additionally, because the rubber strap is more casual than even a stainless steel strap, you don’t have to worry about matching the strap color with your belt all the time (honestly! Look closely here for an example).
The Stuhrling watch in action. Note the contrast on the bezel.
The watch’s bezel actually works, as it rotates. The contrast between the numbering on that outer ring (as seen below) is a nice visual touch, as well. The stainless steel case is 42 millimeters in diameter, and it wears about that size — not overwhelmingly large, but slightly bigger than the average watch. It’s waterproof to 300 meters, making it very suitable for actual diving, and the watch feels sturdy overall. The screw down crown feels durable, too.
The area where the rubber straps attach to the watch case itself also feels sturdy — there’s a reinforcement aspect to those pressure points that’s reassuring if this watch is going to see some serious work. Most importantly, this watch (at least according to its Amazon page) is a serious, serious bargain when bought at the right time. It really embodies what great style should be about — it’s versatile, durable, well-built and extremely affordable. Not a bad job by Santa this year, in short.
If you’ve had any experience with Stuhrling watches in the past, leave it in the comments!
The Style Guide 
[…] Product Review: Stuhrling Aquadiver ‘Manta Ray’ Watch […]
[…] will become a go-to timepiece (namely, because I personally enjoy wearing brown shoes so much). As a fan of the Stuhrling brand too, the quality seems on-point. Now, pricewise, it’s no Omega, but when you can grab it on […]
[…] a sturdy rubber-strap watch is the perfect mix of sporty and casual — the Stuhrling option shown has the bulk to take a […]
[…] Stuhrling Aquadiver Manta Ray Watch […]
[…] a larger collection, as you can see in the photos here — a brown-leather watch from Stuhrling, a black-rubber casual watch also from Stuhrling, a Timex Ameritus Sport watch with interchangeable canvas straps (seen in this […]
[…] Do you have your summer watch game down yet? My buddy Joe over at Dappered takes a look at 10 summer watches that can withstand some fun in the sun. (My own pick for a durable warm-weather watch can be found here). […]
[…] something that’s durable and tough — the Stuhrling Original Aquadiver (full review here) stands up to the test and doesn’t look too much like a digital sports watch. On the other […]
[…] few everyday carry accessories, like a handy pair of American-made sunglasses, my black rubber Stuhrling Aquadiver watch, my stainless steel Invicta dive watch and my new Daniel Wellington Classic Bristol watch will […]
[…] options to pair with white denim or my Taylor Stitch chinos. On the accessories front, my black rubber strap Stuhrling watch was a sporty choice to pair with my sweatshorts and sneakers for strenuous shore excursions, and my […]
[…] the other items here, has indeed been featured on this blog quite a bit (read the original review here). But, there might not be a better (or quicker-shipping via Amazon) rubber strap watch out there. […]
[…] And although it’s a black herringbone pattern, that texture on the strap makes it more like a black rubber-strap watch — as long as you wear it casually, it can be paired fairly freely with black and brown […]
[…] news, for sure). I brought along a sturdy Invicta stainless steel dive watch and a more casual Stuhrling Original rubber-strap watch to round out my watch game, while an Owen & Fred brass money clip and Issara leather card case […]
[…] be tough sometimes, but this is one instance where it’s definitely OK to go more casual. A rugged rubber-strap watch can survive all sorts of spring and summer activities beyond just watching a ballgame, but in this […]
[…] unexpected way. Plus, the combination of easygoing layers and durable casual essentials (like that rubber-strap watch or the vintage ballcap) should come in handy throughout tons of other spring style […]
[…] By far the most casual and least expensive watch on this list, perhaps the Stuhrling Aquadiver is what you had in mind when thinking “casual watch.” A rubber strap watch is certainly the most rugged and dependable among this group, and it even performs just as a stainless steel dive watch might — that is, you can rock it in the water, on land and everywhere in between. It’s a heck of a steal for under $50, and my personal timepiece is still going strong after more than two years of use (read the full review here). […]
[…] it can take a beating and still look good doing it, namely. It’s not nearly as laidback as a sporty rubber-strap watch, but that means it should look more natural next to a slim spring polo and lightwash jeans. This […]
[…] of reasons (particularly if you’re playing some Olympic-inspired backyard games), and the Stuhrling Aquadiver Manta Ray is a personal favorite that’s held up very well over […]
[…] you already own, you could always reach for a straightforward, durable rubber-strap watch like the Stuhrling Aquadiver Manta Ray (a longtime Style Guide favorite) — you lose the functionality of a sports watch, but gain […]
[…] in triumphant fashion. Although it’s tough to top a sturdy, stylish dive watch (and even a rugged rubber strap watch has its merits), the Huckberry Combat B33 GMT Watch is truly one-of-a-kind in terms of toughness […]