Updated October 2026 · By the BGStraps team
Quick answer: Rolex has four main options: the three-link Oyster (sporty and toughest), the five-link Jubilee (dressier), the rubber-over-metal Oysterflex (fitted to the Yacht-Master and precious-metal Daytona) and leather on a few dress models. For most owners the best combination is a steel bracelet for everyday wear plus a rubber strap for summer.
Rolex offers a handful of bracelets and bands, and each one changes the character of the same watch completely. The Oyster is the tool-watch standard, the Jubilee dresses it up, the Oysterflex makes it sporty and modern, and leather takes it somewhere else entirely. Add the questions owners ask most — does Rolex make leather straps, which models come on rubber, which bracelet is best — and it is easy to end up confused. This guide covers all four options side by side, explains what Rolex actually offers from the factory, and helps you choose the right one for your watch, your wrist and the way you really wear it.
Oyster: the default sports bracelet
Three links, two flat outer rows and a broad centre link. The Oyster is what most people picture when they picture a Rolex, and it is the safest choice for a Submariner, Sea-Dweller or Daytona. The wide links spread weight well, which makes it comfortable on larger wrists, and the brushed-and-polished finish hides daily marks better than a fully polished bracelet. If you want the watch to look the way it left the factory, this is the one.
Jubilee: five links, dressier wrist presence
The Jubilee splits the centre into three smaller polished links, so it catches far more light and wraps the wrist more fluidly. On a Datejust it is the original pairing. On a Submariner or GMT-Master it softens a tool watch into something that works under a shirt cuff. The trade-off is maintenance: more links means more places for dust and skin oils to gather, so it benefits from an occasional clean with a soft brush, and it shows wear at the pins sooner than an Oyster.
Both metal bracelets are covered in more depth in our Rolex Submariner bracelet guide, and you can compare them in our Rolex bracelets collection.
Oysterflex: rubber that wears like a bracelet
Rolex does make a rubber band: the Oysterflex, introduced in 2015. It is built around a flexible metal blade covered in high-performance elastomer, which is why it holds its shape like a bracelet rather than flopping like a plain rubber strap. Rolex fits it to the Yacht-Master and to Daytona references in precious metals. Steel sports models are not offered on Oysterflex from the factory, which is the main reason aftermarket versions exist for the Submariner, GMT-Master and Datejust.
It is the lightest option here, it is completely at home in salt water, and the curved end links mean there is no gap at the case. Our Oysterflex-style straps recreate the look in FKM rubber in 20mm and 21mm fits. FKM is worth insisting on: it is denser and more resistant to UV, sunscreen, salt water and heat than standard silicone, so it keeps its shape and matte finish far longer.
Leather: the biggest change of character
Does Rolex make leather straps? Yes, but far more rarely than it used to. Leather has largely been reserved for dress pieces — the Cellini line, some precious-metal Day-Date references and older Datejust models. The steel sports watches most people own, the Submariner, GMT-Master, Daytona and Explorer, are not offered on leather from the factory. That is why almost every leather Rolex strap you will find is aftermarket, and why fit varies so much between them.
On the wrist, leather turns a sports Rolex into a dress watch. It is warmer in winter than cold steel, lighter, and it makes a Datejust or Oyster Perpetual look considerably more formal. The catch is water: leather and swimming don’t mix, so most owners treat it as the second or third strap rather than the only one.
The detail that makes or breaks it: curved ends
A Rolex case is rounded between the lugs. A straight-ended strap will physically fit, but it leaves a crescent-shaped gap on each side, and that gap is the single thing that makes an aftermarket strap look aftermarket. A curved end fills the space and meets the case cleanly, which is why our Rolex leather straps and rubber bands are cut with shaped ends rather than straight ones.
Quick comparison
- Toughest and most versatile: Oyster.
- Dressiest metal option: Jubilee.
- Best for water, sport and heat: Oysterflex-style FKM rubber.
- Biggest change of character: leather.
- Most comfortable in summer: rubber, by a clear margin — it is lighter and it doesn’t hold heat.
Most owners end up with two: a steel bracelet as the everyday default and a rubber band for summer, with leather added later for the office or evenings.
Sizing: 20mm, 21mm or 22mm
Whichever style you choose, the fit has to match the case. Most Submariner, Daytona, GMT-Master and Datejust references take 20mm. The current 41mm Submariner takes 21mm, and fitting a 20mm band to it leaves a visible gap at each side. Deepsea and Sea-Dweller references take 22mm. Measure between the lugs before ordering, or check the lug width guide by model. If you plan to swap between a bracelet and a rubber band regularly, a spare set of end links and clasps makes the change quicker, and our guide on removing and replacing a Rolex bracelet walks through the swap itself.
Looking after each material
Steel bracelets need a wash in warm soapy water every few weeks, working between the links with a soft brush — especially after the sea. Leather lasts longest when it gets a day off between wears, stays dry, and sees a little conditioner every few months. Rubber needs almost nothing: rinse it in fresh water after the sea or a pool, wipe it dry, and keep it away from solvents and perfume. Rotating between them extends the life of all three.
All our Rolex strap and bracelet guides
This page is the starting point. Each guide below goes deeper into one question:
- Metal bracelets: Rolex Submariner bracelet guide: Oyster, Jubilee and the Glidelock clasp
- Sizing: How to adjust and size a Rolex bracelet
- Swapping: How to remove and replace a Rolex bracelet
- Rubber: Is the aftermarket Oysterflex strap worth it? and Guide to replacing a Rolex Oysterflex band
- Leather: Why Rolex owners are switching to leather straps
- Shop: Rolex bracelets · Oysterflex-style straps · Rolex leather straps
Frequently asked questions
Which Rolex bracelet is best?
There is no single best one. The Oyster is the toughest and most versatile, the Jubilee is dressier and wraps the wrist more fluidly, and an Oysterflex-style rubber band is the most comfortable for sport and hot weather. Most owners end up with a steel bracelet for daily wear and a rubber band for summer.
What is the difference between an Oyster and a Jubilee bracelet?
The Oyster uses three links — two flat outer rows and a broad centre link — for a sporty, robust look. The Jubilee uses five links, with three smaller polished links in the centre, which makes it dressier, shinier and slightly more supple on the wrist.
Does Rolex make leather straps?
Rolex has used leather mainly on dress models such as the Cellini, some Day-Date references and older Datejust watches. Steel sports models like the Submariner, GMT-Master and Daytona are not offered on leather from the factory, so leather straps for those are aftermarket.
Which Rolex comes with a rubber strap?
The Yacht-Master and precious-metal Daytona references come on the Oysterflex, Rolex’s rubber-over-metal band introduced in 2015. Steel sports models are not offered on it, which is why aftermarket Oysterflex-style straps are made for the Submariner, GMT-Master and Datejust.
Can you put a leather strap on a Rolex Submariner?
Yes, provided the width is right and the strap has curved ends shaped to meet the case. A straight-ended leather strap will fit, but it leaves a visible gap either side and looks like an afterthought. Keep leather away from swimming and showering.
Is FKM rubber better than silicone for a Rolex strap?
For a watch of this level, yes. FKM is denser and more resistant to UV, salt water, sunscreen and heat, so it keeps its shape, colour and matte finish far longer than standard silicone, which tends to attract lint and go shiny.