One of the most controversial elements of a wristwatch is undoubtedly the bund strap.
Some adore it, while others strongly oppose it. A bund strap is one that expands widely behind the watch case, completely covering the case back, often extending beyond the case width. Traditionally, these straps were made of leather and were originally intended for World War II pilots to protect their wrists from extreme cockpit temperatures. Today, bund straps are rare, and until recently, I had only seen them in leather form. Personally, I am a fan of such straps: they visually enlarge smaller watches, and their appearance and comfort give me positive emotions. It seems that the creators of Le Forban Sécurité Mer from France share this opinion. Recently, the brand introduced the first-ever rubber bund strap for diver's watches, fitting it on the Le Forban Sécurité Mer Marseillaise Onyx Black model. Let's take a closer look at this novelty.
History and Revival of the Le Forban Sécurité Mer Brand
Le Forban Sécurité Mer is a revived French brand that first appeared in 1969 and produced watches until the 1980s. In 2019, the brand was restored by enthusiasts. One of the brand's main achievements was the production of watches officially supplied to members of the French armed forces. The Marseillaise model is named after the national anthem of France and is a recreation of the Le Forban Sécurité Mer Monnin 1979 diver's watch. Interestingly, this is likely the first retro remake in history that is smaller than the original. We are used to modern vintage watches often being larger than their historical prototypes, and this fact made me smile.
Dimensions and Technical Specifications of the Marseillaise Model
The original 1979 Le Forban Sécurité Mer diver's watch had a diameter of 42 mm and a thickness of 13 mm. The modern Marseillaise, though not small, is noticeably more compact: 40.8 mm wide, 12 mm thick, and 46 mm lug-to-lug. The case is made of polished and satin-finished steel. The vintage model's water resistance was 200 meters, while the new version offers an unusual value for this segment - 250 meters.
The dial is protected by a flat sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating. Surrounding the dial is a unidirectional rotating bezel with 120 clicks. Despite its functionality, the bezel is the least impressive part of the watch. It is equipped with a retro-style aluminum insert, with somewhat small font and a luminescent dot at the 60-minute mark. The bezel is stable in a stationary position but rotates less smoothly than some competitors. At the indicated price, this is not critical, but the bezel seems to be the weak link in the set.
Dial Design and Decorative Elements
I particularly liked the "old radium" color used for the text and Super-LumiNova material. This dark eggshell shade is more pleasing to the eye than white and contrasts well with the black sunburst dial. The Le Forban Sécurité Mer logo is in printed text and looks stylish, as does the cursive name "Marseillaise" and the French flag color scheme. The dial includes a date window - not everyone may like this, but it doesn't bother me personally. It would have been better if the brand chose a black date disc with old radium-colored font to harmoniously integrate it into the design.
The watch hands include an arrow-shaped minute hand, which I find appealing, though this style is not for everyone. The hour markers are in the Submariner style, but other details ensure the Marseillaise is not perceived as a direct homage to Rolex.
Case Back and Movement
The case back impresses with an embossed depiction of an octopus in a symmetrical design - an artistic and neat motif. Interestingly, it can be viewed through the opening in the bund strap, which typically covers the case back completely. Inside the watch is the Swiss automatic movement Sellita SW200 with a frequency of 4 Hz and a power reserve of about two days.
Rubber Bund Strap: Innovation and Style
Le Forban Sécurité Mer offers the Marseillaise with the same dial and a steel bracelet, which costs 50 euros more than the version with the rubber bund strap. It's hard for me to resist the character of this strap. It's important to understand that the bund attachment does not add functional value (at least, I didn't notice), but is rather a stylistic choice. The bund strap revitalizes a design that might otherwise have seemed somewhat standard for a vintage diver.
The design feature is that the bund section can be removed, leaving the watch on a textured black rubber strap. Personally, I do not intend to do this, as I already have many watches with similar straps, and the bund adds novelty and individuality. Less experienced collectors may appreciate the option to wear the Marseillaise in a more reserved manner. Special mention goes to the branded steel clasp with an anchor - it looks neat and stylish.
Who Would Suit the Watch with a Rubber Bund Strap?
If you're looking for a practical explanation for wearing a diver's watch with a rubber bund strap, then this model may not be for you. Le Forban Sécurité Mer created this strap as a purely emotional product. If it appeals to you, then you know how to wear it and pair it with clothing. If the idea of a rubber bund strap seems as strange to you as classic leather bunds, I recommend considering other models from the brand.
The price of the Le Forban Sécurité Mer Marseillaise Onyx Black is 940 euros.