Best Straps for the Breitling Superocean

The Breitling Superocean has been Breitling's dedicated dive watch since 1957 — predating the Omega Seamaster Diver, the Rolex Submariner's commercial dominance, and the modern dive watch category as most collectors understand it. It is one of the most historically significant professional dive watches ever produced, and a watch that has been continuously developed across nearly seven decades of underwater use.

The current Superocean range spans two distinct collections — the modern Superocean and the heritage-inspired Superocean Heritage — across case sizes from 38mm to 46mm. Each collection has different strap requirements, different character, and different optimal combinations. This guide covers both.

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Breitling Superocean Strap Sizes — The Critical 2022 Change

The Superocean range has more sizing complexity than most buyers realise, and there is one specific change that causes more ordering errors than any other: the 2022 redesign changed the 42mm Superocean's lug width.

Superocean Automatic 42mm (2022 onwards, ref. A17376, A17375 and variants) — 22mm lugs. The redesigned 42mm Superocean introduced in 2022 uses 22mm — wider than the previous generation.

Superocean Automatic 42mm (pre-2022, ref. A17360, A17364, A17365, A17366 and variants) — 20mm lugs. The previous generation 42mm used the more common 20mm.

Superocean Automatic 44mm (ref. A17376211, A17375211 and variants) — 22mm lugs.

Superocean Automatic 46mm (ref. A17378 and variants) — 24mm lugs.

Superocean Heritage '57 38mm — 18mm lugs.

Superocean Heritage '57 42mm — 20mm lugs.

Superocean Heritage B20 Automatic 42mm — 22mm lugs.

Superocean Heritage B20 Automatic 44mm — 22mm lugs.

Superocean Heritage B20 Automatic 46mm — 24mm lugs.

Quick reference:

The single most common ordering mistake: buying 20mm for a 2022 or later 42mm Superocean. If your watch was purchased in 2022 or later, order 22mm. If pre-2022, order 20mm. If unsure — check the reference number or measure directly.

CNS stocks the full range at 18mm, 20mm, 22mm, and 24mm — covering every Superocean reference across leather, nylon, rubber, and elastic.

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Modern Superocean vs Superocean Heritage — Different Characters, Different Straps

The two Superocean collections have meaningfully different characters that affect strap choice.

The modern Superocean is a professional tool watch — bold, functional, with a 2000m water resistance on some references and a design that prioritises underwater legibility. It suits operational strap choices — FKM rubber, heavy nylon — more naturally than the heritage collection.

The Superocean Heritage draws from the original 1957 Superocean design — vintage-inspired indices, more elegant case proportions, and a character that bridges dive watch and dress-sport. It suits leather and sailcloth more naturally than the modern collection, and rewards the kind of vintage-aesthetic strap choices that suit the Tudor Black Bay or the Omega Seamaster in collector contexts.

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Best Rubber Straps for the Breitling Superocean

FKM rubber is the correct material for a Superocean used for its intended purpose — diving, water sports, and active outdoor use.

Classic FKM rubber in black at 22mm for the modern 42mm and 44mm, or 24mm for the 46mm — the most practical active choice. More durable and UV-resistant than silicone, appropriate for everything from pool to ocean. Available in multiple colours to match Superocean dial variants.

Tropical style FKM in black at 22mm — the most collector-appropriate rubber upgrade. The vintage basket-weave and honeycomb surface patterns reference original 1960s professional dive watch rubber — the same era from which the original 1957 Superocean emerged. Black tropical FKM on a modern Superocean creates a combination that references the watch's own heritage directly.

Brown tropical style FKM at 22mm — the most characterful combination for Superocean Heritage references. The warm brown tropical rubber against the Heritage's vintage-inspired design creates a fully coherent vintage dive watch aesthetic.

Blue FKM rubber at 22mm — for the Superocean references with blue dials and bezels. Tonal coherence between strap and dial suits the Superocean's bold, colourful character.

Cut-to-size FKM with deployant at 22mm — precision-trimmed, deployant closure. The most premium rubber option for a Superocean worn daily in smart-casual contexts.

For the 46mm references — all rubber options above at 24mm.

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Best Nylon Straps for the Breitling Superocean

Single-pass nylon is historically appropriate for the Superocean — a professional dive watch with 65 years of operational heritage sits naturally on the same military specification nylon strap tradition.

Single-pass nylon — Original at 22mm with the CNS solid buckle. Most appropriate Superocean colourways:

• Black — the most operational and most versatile
• Navy — for blue dial and bezel references
• Olive / khaki — for the most military dive watch aesthetic
• Black and grey — the collector combination referencing the dive watch nylon tradition

Marine Nationale elastic at 22mm — the most comfortable Superocean strap for sustained active wear. The elastic construction conforms continuously and suits the Superocean's substantial case weight better than any non-elastic strap. Navy for the blue references; black for maximum versatility.

Paratrooper elastic at 22mm — the most comfortable daily-wear option.

Sailcloth at 22mm — particularly appropriate for the Superocean Heritage given its nautical aesthetic. Navy sailcloth on a Heritage reference creates a coherent nautical-heritage combination.

For the pre-2022 42mm — all nylon options at 20mm. For the 46mm — all nylon options at 24mm.

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Best Leather Straps for the Breitling Superocean

Leather is more appropriate on the Superocean Heritage than the modern Superocean — the Heritage's vintage character and dress-sport proportions suit leather more naturally than the modern collection's tool watch identity.

Vintage two-stitch calfskin in cognac at 22mm — the most characterful Heritage combination. The warm cognac tone and period-correct construction reference the original 1957 Superocean era directly. On a Heritage B20 with a vintage-inspired dial, cognac two-stitch creates a combination that reads as historically informed and deliberately chosen.

Dark brown padded calfskin at 22mm — the most substantial everyday leather. The padded profile suits the Superocean's 12-15mm case thickness proportionally.

Classic black calfskin at 22mm — the most formal combination. Black leather on a Superocean Heritage suits smart-casual and business contexts.

Tan suede at 22mm — for the Superocean Heritage '57 references where the vintage character of the watch suits the soft, relaxed texture of tan suede perfectly.

For the 20mm Heritage '57 42mm — leather options at 20mm. For the 24mm 46mm references — padded dark brown at 24mm.

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Recommended Combinations by Reference

Modern Superocean 42mm (2022+) — black FKM rubber for diving; black tropical FKM for collector aesthetic; navy Marine Nationale for daily comfort. All at 22mm.

Modern Superocean 42mm (pre-2022) — same combinations at 20mm.

Superocean Heritage B20 42mm/44mm — cognac vintage two-stitch leather for heritage character; brown tropical FKM for vintage rubber aesthetic; navy sailcloth for nautical character. All at 22mm.

Superocean Heritage '57 42mm — cognac vintage two-stitch or tan suede for the most period-correct combination; black single-pass nylon for casual active wear. All at 20mm.

Superocean 46mm — black FKM rubber or Paratrooper elastic at 24mm.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What size strap does the Breitling Superocean take? It depends on the reference and year. The current 42mm Superocean (2022 onwards) uses 22mm. The pre-2022 42mm uses 20mm. The 44mm uses 22mm. The 46mm uses 24mm. Always check your specific reference number before ordering.

Did the Breitling Superocean lug width change? Yes — the 2022 redesign of the 42mm Superocean changed the lug width from 20mm to 22mm. This is the most common source of ordering errors for Superocean strap buyers. If your 42mm Superocean was purchased in 2022 or later, order 22mm. If pre-2022, order 20mm.

What is the best rubber strap for the Breitling Superocean? Black tropical style FKM at 22mm for the most collector-appropriate combination; classic black FKM for the most practical active choice. Both are more durable and UV-resistant than the factory rubber strap.

What leather strap suits the Breitling Superocean Heritage? Cognac vintage two-stitch calfskin at 22mm for the Heritage B20 references — the warm cognac tone and period-correct construction reference the Heritage's 1957 design origins. Tan suede for the Heritage '57 references.

What size strap does the Breitling Superocean Heritage B20 take? The Superocean Heritage B20 Automatic 42mm and 44mm both use 22mm lugs. The B20 46mm uses 24mm. The Heritage '57 42mm uses 20mm.