Omega Rubber Strap Odor

[PhilLynott]

I bought a used Omega and it came with a few straps, an Omega nato as well as the pictured rubber Speedmaster. I love both straps but they both have an odor. It's not an awful one but kind of smells like when someone has too much cologne on and it's a bit overwhelming (which makes me wonder if the previous owner was one of those people and it soaked into the straps).

I ran the nato through the wash and it got better and is just faintly there now so I'll probably put it through another wash and think it will be fine. The rubber one I don't want to damage since I know they're not cheap. I used water + dishwasher soap and scrubbed it with a toothbrush. That didn't do a lot so I soaked it in the soap/water for a bit then scrubbed again. It definitely got a little better but is still there. Any other suggestions - is it okay to run through the wash as well or maybe run through the dishwasher? Should I just soak it all day in the dishwash soap/water bowl?

Appreciate any help. I've tried googling around and most recommend the soft toothbrush method and don't say anything beyond that if it doesn't work.

[anonymousmoose]

Could you use some sort of disinfectant like Glen20? But I don't know if it will ruin the strap.

I had a badly stained Tag Heuer rubber strap and Mr Sheen fixed it up.

[Michigan_State]

Hmm, maybe a pungent odor? Just wondering, might be the rubber itself (NBR?).

[PhilLynott]

Originally Posted by anonymousmoose

Could you use some sort of disinfectant like Glen20? But I don't know if it will ruin the strap.

I had a badly stained Tag Heuer rubber strap and Mr Sheen fixed it up.

Yeah that's what I'm unsure of too is if certain products may not be good for it.

Originally Posted by Michigan_State

Hmm, maybe a pungent odor? Just wondering, might be the rubber itself (NBR?).

It's definitely not the rubber itself because the odor is identical to the nato strap that came with it so it was either from the way they were stored or potentially cologne that was sprayed on them over time since that's the kind of odor it is like someone has too much cologne on.

I wore it on the rubber strap yesterday and it was so strong I had to take it off I was getting light headed. Today I'm wearing it with the nato strap that I put through the wash and can only faintly smell it close up it's not noticeable from afar like yesterday so that's good at least.

[enjoythemusic]

Total guess, like with rubber tires, maybe there's a 'release agent' used when the strap goes into/out of the strap mold? Odds are over time the smell will dissipate. Dawn hand soap might help. My wife has some Bed Bath and Body girly smell foaming soap that seems to remove certain odors (and replaces it a bit with that girly smell... until that dissipates). Hope this helps.

Perhaps just shower with it daily as i do my timepieces. Odds are after a few weeks the smell will be gone.

[Gdoc26]

leave it out in bright sunlight for a couple hours. The heat will cause any dissolved gasses in the rubber to exit and the UV exposure will oxidize and chemical residue.

[PhilLynott]

Originally Posted by Gdoc26

leave it out in bright sunlight for a couple hours. The heat will cause any dissolved gasses in the rubber to exit and the UV exposure will oxidize and chemical residue.

This is a good idea I'll try this next.

I ended up soaking it in water/dish soap for a few hours last night then mixed some baking soda in water to make a paste and spread that on for a bit. It helped a bit it's still faintly there but I think I could probably at least wear it now

[Patton250]

Volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) offgassing from the rubber. It will go away.

[mobster600]

Heat will help. Throw it over your vents or heat source in your place. Heat will do wonders in releasing whatever is in the strap