Replacement Notched FKM Rubber Strap for Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/5712/5726/5980

Product Overview

Finding a Nautilus watch strap online is easy. Finding one whose end profile genuinely matches the case is the harder part, and that is what this strap was made for.

This is a two-piece replacement rubber strap for the Patek Philippe Nautilus, built for the 5711, 5712, 5726 and 5980 references — the watches that share the case architecture the strap was moulded to. Instead of a straight end that stops short of the case, the strap finishes in a notched profile that follows the case contour, so the first section of strap continues the line of the watch rather than sitting on top of it.

Three kinds of owner end up here. The original leather or crocodile strap has worn through and the watch is being kept as a daily wearer. The watch gets worn through a hot summer, at the pool or on holiday, and rubber makes more sense for those months than leather. Or the steel or gold bracelet has been put away and something lighter and quieter is wanted for everyday use. The strap goes on with the hardware the watch already has, and nothing on the case is altered.

The watches and other straps shown in the product photos are display pieces, not part of the sale. What you receive is the strap.

Notched End Structure

• A shaped end, not a straight one. The strap finishes in a notched, gently concave profile moulded to follow the underside of the Nautilus case, so it meets the case across its full width rather than only at the centre.
• Why straight ends show a gap. A flat-end band is held by nothing but the spring bar, and the Nautilus case curves away quickly behind the lug. The result is an opening and a lifted edge exactly where the eye lands first.
• Moulded, then checked at the lugs. Every custom fluororubber material watch strap here is moulded to a specific case profile rather than cut from a roll, so the two ends are identical and the profile does not need trimming or sanding to sit correctly.
• Two pieces, each shaped for its own side. The 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock sections are separate, with their own end profiles, so the strap follows a case that is not symmetrical instead of fighting it.
• No tension at the case. Because the end is shaped rather than squeezed flat, the spring bar is not loaded by the strap, and nothing presses permanently against the case edge.
• The watch still looks like a Nautilus. That is the whole point of the notch. The strap reads as rubber on a Nautilus, not as a generic band that happens to be the right width.
• A matte, low-glare finish. The rubber is finished matte, so it stays visually quiet next to a polished case and does not throw light the way a glossier band would.

Specifications

Fluororubber Material & Build

FKM fluororubber — fluoroelastomer — is the material high-end sports watches use for their rubber straps, and it is what this strap is moulded from. It behaves differently from the silicone and natural rubber that most aftermarket bands are made of, in three ways that show up on a watch you actually wear.

Sweat and salt come first. FKM is not attacked by the salts and acids in perspiration, which is what turns ordinary rubber straps shiny, stiff and eventually cracked. Sunlight and heat come second: the compound resists UV and does not go tacky in a hot car or on a beach. Chemistry comes third — sunscreen, hand cream, cleaning sprays and insect repellent all sit on a strap through a summer, and FKM shrugs them off where softer rubber absorbs them.

In daily use that means a strap that stays soft. It keeps its elasticity rather than hardening into the shape of your wrist, it does not collect dust and lint the way silicone does, and it is formulated to sit kindly on skin rather than grip it. The material is also what allows the notched end to be so crisp: FKM holds fine detail in the mould, so the case profile is reproduced accurately rather than approximately.

Expect it to outlast the leather or crocodile it replaces by a wide margin. How long it lasts depends on how often the watch is worn and what it is exposed to, but the material was chosen precisely because it does not degrade the way natural rubber does. Working in FKM is slower than working in silicone, and that is part of why most custom fluororubber material watch straps are made in smaller runs than silicone bands.

Length Options & Wrist Fit

1. Measure your wrist where you actually wear the watch, using a soft tape or a strip of paper you can mark and then lay flat against a ruler.
2. Measure the strap you use now. With the watch off, run a tape from the spring bar along the strap to the hole you fasten in — that is the length you need between the lug and the buckle, and it tells you more than the total length of the strap.
3. Compare that number with the two lengths offered here. The standard version suits the majority of wrists; the short version exists for smaller wrists and for wearers who dislike a long tail hanging past the buckle.
4. Judge it by the tail, not by the total. If your present strap leaves a long run of unused strap past the buckle, the short version will look and feel neater. If you are already fastening on the last hole of a short strap, stay with the standard length.
5. Remember that only the length changes. Whether you choose the standard or the short version of this custom fluororubber material watch strap, the width at the lugs, the taper, the thickness and the notched end are identical, so the way it meets the case is the same either way.
6. If you are between the two, say so. Send your wrist measurement with your order — it is the one number that decides the choice.

Colour & Hardware Choices

• Black. The one most owners choose, and the easiest to live with. It disappears into the case, works with steel, yellow gold and pink gold alike, and hides dust and wear better than any other colour.
• Blue. A fluororubber material watch strap in blue reads as a deliberate choice rather than a default, and it sits naturally with blue-dial Nautilus references and with steel cases.
• Brown. The closest thing to the leather or crocodile you may be replacing. Warmer and slightly dressier than the other four, and particularly good against a gold or rose-gold case.
• White. Clean and summery, and the one that makes the case look larger. Choose it when you want the strap, rather than the dial, to carry the bright note.
• Green. The least common of the five and the most contemporary-looking. It works well against steel and gives a well-worn Nautilus a noticeably different character.
• Match the tone to the metal. Each colour is offered with a silver, gold or rose-gold tone option, so the metal that shows can be lined up with the watch — silver on a steel case, gold on yellow gold, rose gold on pink gold.

Fitting & Daily Care

1. Work over a soft cloth with the watch face down, so the crystal is not resting on anything hard and the case cannot slide.
2. Release the strap you are removing with a spring bar tool. The product photographs show the tool being used on this strap — it is the only tool the job needs.
3. Seat the notched end into the lug, then compress the spring bar and let it click into both lug holes. Press the strap gently towards the case as you do it, so the shaped end finds its own position rather than being forced.
4. Check both ends before you put the watch on. Run a fingertip along the join between strap and case; each custom fluororubber material watch strap should sit flush, with no rocking when you press it lightly.
5. Fit your buckle. Thread it on and re-set it at the notch that gives you the fit you already know. If you would rather use a pin buckle, tell us before ordering so the tail and the holes suit it.
6. Rinse it with fresh water after swimming, heavy sweat or a day at the beach, then dry it with a soft cloth. Salt and sunscreen left sitting on any strap are what age it fastest.
7. Keep it away from solvents. Acetone, paint thinner, neat cleaning products and some insect repellents are what will mark or soften rubber; wiping with mild soapy water is all the cleaning it needs.
8. Store the watch with the strap relaxed. A strap that spends months coiled tightly in a drawer will take a set; laid flat or loosely around a cushion, it will be as it was when you put it away.

Compatibility Notes

It is worth knowing, before you order a watch strap online, that Nautilus watches do not all come with the same arrangement at the lugs.

If your watch came on leather or crocodile, this strap is a direct replacement. The notched end is made for exactly that mounting, and the original spring bars and buckle carry straight over.

If your watch came on a steel or gold bracelet, the bracelet's end links — the small metal pieces that bridge the case and the strap — are often reused between the case and the rubber strap, and the notched end is cut to work with them. In some configurations a separate pair of end links is needed instead. That is the one thing worth checking before you order, and it is easy to check: look at which strap your watch came on, or read the reference number from the case back or the papers.

This strap is made for the four references listed for this model. Other Nautilus references use different lug and end arrangements, so if your watch is not one of those four, ask before you buy rather than assuming the fit.

Ordering & Delivery

• Send your reference with your order. The reference number decides everything else, and it is the quickest way to avoid a return.
• Tell us the length and the colour. Standard or short, and which of the five colours with which metal tone.
• The buckle is not included. The strap arrives on its own. If you would rather have a buckle supplied with the strap, ask before ordering and we will confirm what is available for your colour.
• Add end links if your watch came on a bracelet and needs them. Ordering them with the strap keeps everything in one shipment and avoids a second wait.
• Ask about availability and timing. Colours and lengths are not held in equal numbers, so confirm the lead time for the exact combination you want before you place the order.
• Packing suits the way you buy. Straps go out in protective packing as standard; if you need retail-ready presentation, say so on the order.
• Buying more than one? If you are stocking a shop or want several colours at once, tell us the quantities and we will confirm terms.
• Need something not listed? If you are looking for custom fluororubber material watch straps for another reference or in a colour that is not shown here, send the details and we will come back to you with what is possible.
• Shipping is confirmed with your order. The method and any duties depend on the destination, and we will set them out before you pay.

Technical Support & Model Matching

FUERMAN has been supplying watch parts and accessories from Huadu District, Guangzhou since 2010 — 15+ years in the trade, a 60-strong team and a deep ready stock held in China. Our technical team, which includes technicians with 30+ years of watchmaking experience, matches items to your watch by brand, model or reference number before you order, so you know it will fit. Send a photo or a measurement if you are unsure: we will confirm the right choice, talk you through fitting, and stay with you afterwards — troubleshooting, replacement parts and after-sales help long after your order arrives.

FAQ