19 mm

19mm Watch Bands

19mm is one of the most specific and most underserved lug widths in watchmaking. Used almost exclusively by vintage Rolex references from the 1950s through the early 1980s, it sits between the two most commonly stocked sizes — 18mm and 20mm — which means most retailers skip it entirely. CNS Watch Bands stocks 19mm watch bands deliberately across all three materials — leather, nylon, and rubber — because the collectors who own vintage Rolex references at this width deserve the same range of options available at more standard sizes. This page covers all materials at 19mm.

Is 19mm the Right Size?

19mm refers to the lug width — the gap in millimetres between the two lugs on your watch case at the spring bar positions.

Common watches that take 19mm watch bands include:

Rolex Submariner (early references) — the 5508, 5512, some 5513 and 1680 references used 19mm lugs. Later Submariner references moved to 20mm. If you have a vintage Submariner from before the mid-1970s, your lug width may be 19mm rather than 20mm.

Rolex Datejust 36mm (select references) — some vintage Datejust references including the 1601 and certain 1603 examples use 19mm. Production varied across the run — always measure your specific piece.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual (vintage references) — select vintage Oyster Perpetual references from the 1960s use 19mm lugs.

Rolex Precision and Air-King (vintage) — various vintage Precision and Air-King models from the 1960s and 1970s use 19mm.

Other vintage references — a small number of vintage watches from Omega, Longines, Zenith, and other manufacturers at 34mm–37mm case diameter occasionally use 19mm lugs.

The most important advice at 19mm: always measure the lug gap with a digital caliper. 19mm sits between 18mm and 20mm and is visually easy to misread — a wrong measurement means a strap that overhangs the lugs or leaves a visible gap. Measure twice, order once.

19mm Watch Bands by Material

At 19mm, the watch audience is almost entirely vintage Rolex collectors — one of the most knowledgeable and most demanding buyer segments in the watch strap market. The constructions and materials that matter most are those that suit mid-century Rolex case designs with historical accuracy and aesthetic sensitivity:

19mm Leather Watch Bands

Full-grain calfskin and suede across every leather construction at 19mm — the primary material choice for vintage Rolex collectors who wear their watches daily. Leather suits the dress character of vintage Rolex references in a way that nylon and rubber rarely match, and full-grain calfskin at 19mm develops a patina that complements the aged case metal and warm dial tones of mid-century Rolex watches.

Available styles in 19mm leather:

• Vintage two-stitch — the single most important construction at 19mm. Period-correct for mid-century Rolex references and the most historically admired choice for vintage Submariner, Datejust, and Oyster Perpetual. Cognac and tan are the most widely worn tones on vintage Rolex
• Classic flat — smooth calfskin and pebble-grain, the most versatile everyday construction at 19mm. Black for formal; tan and cognac for smart-casual and everyday
• Suede — soft and casual, suits vintage Rolex references worn without formality. Tan and chocolate suede are the most natural complement to aged vintage case metal
• Non-stitch — clean surface at 19mm for vintage dress references with minimal dial designs
• Padded — for vintage sport references with deeper cases that benefit from a more substantial strap profile
• Racing/rally — perforated calfskin for vintage Rolex Daytona and chronograph references at 19mm
• Exotic embossed — crocodile and alligator pattern calfskin for vintage dress Rolex worn at formal occasions

Short lengths are available at 19mm — important for collectors with smaller wrists, who are common among buyers of vintage Rolex dress and sport references.

→ Shop all 19mm leather watch bands

19mm Nylon Watch Bands

Ballistic nylon and the full fabric range at 19mm — the practical, water-resistant alternative for vintage Rolex owners who want a casual or active strap without compromising on security or historical appropriateness.

The single-pass Original military nylon at 19mm is the most historically relevant nylon choice for vintage Rolex Submariner owners — the single-pass military nylon strap was the standard issue strap for the Submariner in the 1960s and early 1970s, before the Oyster bracelet became the default. A vintage Submariner on a navy and red striped military nylon is not just casual — it is historically correct. The CNS solid buckle construction eliminates the buckle spring-bar failure point, making it one of the most secure strap options for a valuable vintage piece.

The Bond-inspired colourways — particularly the Vintage Bond black/olive/red stripe — are among the most searched specific nylon combinations for vintage Submariner owners at any lug width.

Available styles in 19mm nylon:

• Original military nylon — single-pass, solid buckle, historically correct for vintage Submariner
• Ribbed nylon — textured corded nylon in exclusive CNS colourways
• Perlon — ladder-weave with micro-adjustment, an interesting choice for vintage Rolex dress references
• Canvas — woven fabric character for vintage references worn in heritage contexts
• Adjustable — micro-adjust buckle for precise fit at this odd size

→ Shop all fabric watch straps

19mm Rubber Watch Bands

FKM and silicone rubber at 19mm — the waterproof option for vintage Rolex Submariner owners who use their watches for diving or active water sports, or who want a maintenance-free active strap.

FKM rubber at 19mm is the premium dive choice for vintage Submariner owners — resistant to seawater, chlorine, UV, and heat. For collectors who want a vintage-aesthetic rubber option, tropical style rubber at 19mm is one of the most historically accurate choices available — the original 1960s tropical style rubber strap was standard issue on the Rolex Submariner before the Oyster bracelet, making a basket-weave perforated rubber strap the single most period-correct active strap for an early Submariner.

Silicone is the lighter, more flexible alternative at 19mm — better for everyday active wear and gym use where full FKM chemical resistance is not required.

→ Shop all rubber watch bands

Choosing the Right Material at 19mm

For vintage Rolex owners at 19mm, the material choice maps to the watch's use and the owner's collecting philosophy:

Period-correct collector: vintage two-stitch calfskin in cognac or tan, or tropical style rubber. Both are historically accurate for mid-century Rolex references and resonate with collectors who care about authenticity.

Daily wear and smart-casual: tan or cognac smooth calfskin or black smooth calfskin. Versatile and appropriate across the widest range of occasions for a watch worn daily.

Casual and weekend: tan suede or military nylon in navy, olive, or a regimental stripe. Both suit vintage Rolex references in casual contexts without looking incongruous.

Bond-inspired: striped military nylon in Vintage Bond colourway (black/olive/red). The most iconic vintage Submariner strap combination in watch collecting culture.

Active and diving: FKM rubber or tropical style rubber. Waterproof, secure, and historically appropriate for a tool watch designed to be used.

Most Popular 19mm Watch Band Combinations

Vintage Rolex Submariner 5512 / 5513 — cognac vintage two-stitch calfskin for heritage everyday wear; black/olive/red striped military nylon for the Bond reference; tropical style rubber for period-correct active use. Three of the most historically accurate and most admired combinations for early Submariner references.

Vintage Rolex Datejust 1601 — black smooth calfskin for formal; cognac or tan vintage two-stitch for everyday character. The Datejust's dress character suits both formal black and warm heritage tones.

Vintage Rolex Oyster Perpetual — tan suede or cognac smooth calfskin. Warm tones suit the watch's understated character.

Vintage Rolex Air-King / Precision — tan or brown vintage two-stitch calfskin. Period-correct for the dress and semi-dress references in this family.

Colour Guide for 19mm Watch Bands

Frequently Asked Questions

What watches use 19mm watch bands? Almost exclusively vintage Rolex — early Submariner references (5508, 5512, some 5513 and 1680), some vintage Datejust 36mm (1601, select 1603), vintage Oyster Perpetual, and various Precision and Air-King models from the 1960s–1970s. A small number of other vintage watches from Omega, Longines, and similar brands also use 19mm at specific case diameters.

Is 19mm or 20mm correct for my vintage Rolex Submariner? Early Submariner references (pre-mid-1970s) typically use 19mm; later references use 20mm. The 5508, 5512, and many 5513 references are 19mm. The only reliable way to confirm is to measure the lug gap with a digital caliper — the difference of 1mm is visible and meaningful on a finished strap.

What is the most historically accurate strap for a vintage Rolex Submariner? Either tropical style rubber — the basket-weave perforated rubber strap that was original issue on 1960s Submariners — or vintage two-stitch calfskin in cognac or tan. Both are period-correct for mid-century references. The Bond-inspired striped nylon is the most culturally iconic choice rather than the most historically accurate.

Are 19mm watch bands available in short lengths? Yes. CNS stocks short lengths at 19mm across leather and suede styles — important for collectors with wrists under 6.5 inches, who are disproportionately represented among vintage Rolex dress reference owners.

All CNS Watch Bands 19mm watch bands ship with quick-release spring bars where applicable. Standard delivery worldwide. 30-day return policy.