One of the most consistently eye-catching combinations is a stainless-steel watch case with a bright rubber strap. Colours like red, blue or vivid orange instantly energise the silver colour of the watch case, creating contrast that draws the eye. Sport and dive watches benefit most from this approach, an orange strap on a black diver, for example, is not only stylish but rooted in functionality, as orange remains highly visible underwater. The result is a look that balances practicality with personality, much like it would with red.
The advantage of red is that many brands use bits of red colour on their dials and bezels as it helps for legibility. Take the Omega Seamaster Diver 300 M with its red ‘Seamaster’ lettering and second-hand tip, or Tudor black bay 58 with its red triangle dot to mark the 12 o’clock position on the bezel. A red ZEALANDE strap would perfectly tie the colours together and give you a fantastic striking look.