Can anyone tell me the raison d'être of bund watch straps? I've heard that the pad serves to prevent the back of the watch coming into contact with the skin, but why should that be a problem?
"So no matter how intensely hot or cold conditions could get during service on the field or in the air, the wearer would suffer no consequence. A temperature-sensitive metal watch case could never scald or freeze to a wrist…thanks to that extra piece of backing."
"So no matter how intensely hot or cold conditions could get during service on the field or in the air, the wearer would suffer no consequence. A temperature-sensitive metal watch case could never scald or freeze to a wrist…thanks to that extra piece of backing."
I bought one to replace (as best I could) the extra wide strap that was originally on my Storm Contex, but which became like rocking horse poo after a few years. A bund was the next best thing visually. Kind of 70s retro vibe to it. I suppose if we are looking for a reason for them to have been invented then the temperature isolation theory is fairly plausible if we're talking about military watches for personnel deployed in extreme environments. Do they get the name 'bund' from Bundeswehr?
Edit: found this which echoes havings' theory/findings.
The bund watch strap was initially developed for the German air force in the second world war by the Federal Republic of Germany Learn about the history of the bund watch strap here.