Bund Watch Straps - what's the point?

[factormax]

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?

 

[havings]

Hang on, let me use a search engine to find out what a bund watch strap is...

 

[culcreuch]

I would suspect it is offering metal allergy protection

 

[havings]

I found the following here:

"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."

It sounds feasible??

 

[OrangeSport]

They can also give a smaller watch more presence on a larger wrist and

 

[factormax]

I found the following here:

"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."

It sounds feasible??

That makes sense. Thanks.

 

[hotmetal]

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 History Of Bund Watch Straps

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.

www.watchobsession.co.uk