I love a bit of fashion history, especially when it comes to how our modern clothes came to be. Take, for instance, the high heel. Did you know it was originally designed as a riding shoe in 10th century Persia, in which the heel was made to sit in the stirrup? Or that the jockstrap was originally for “bike jockeys” to help keep things comfortable on old (and presumably not so aerodynamic) bicycles? Or that the Hawaiian shirt, now synonymous with dads at Margaritaville, was first designed using Japanese kimono fabric in the early 1900s? All of that is to say that fashion is ever-evolving and with some quite surprising origins, if you ask me.
Another accessory with an interesting – if not murkier – history is the bund strap. Some say the name comes from the word Bundesrepublik, while others say it’s from Bundeswehr (I try not to split hairs too much in German – as you know, it’s such a forgiving language). Some say the leather strap protected against discoloration of brass watch cases from skin perspiration, while others say it was to protect against the extreme temperature change of the metal for pilots. In any case, we know that a) the design originated among pilots during World War II and b) it’s a badass strap design that often doesn’t get enough attention.
Which leads me (finally) to the release of Le Forban Sécurité Mer’s Marseillaise dive watch with a bund-style strap. The French brand has taken its 1979 Monnin model as the springboard (or should I say diving board?) for the Marsellaise, with some noticeable upgrades. The brushed steel case has polished sides, a screw-down crown and caseback stamped with an octopus, and a flat sapphire crystal, all giving it a slightly updated look. Of course, all the classic diver elements remain – arrow hands, a lollipop seconds hand, a 120-click unidirectional bezel, and water resistance of up to 250m.
The Marseillaise comes in two color variations: Abyss Blue and Onyx Black. On both models, the sunburst dial, SuperLuminova, and “diver” dial all enhance legibility for those among us who are actually going to wear this in the open ocean. The blue and black options pair well against the 40.8mm 316L steel case, which houses a Sellita SW200 movement.
The real star, of course, is the strap itself. Le Forban has reinvented the classic bund in FKM rubber. This, surprisingly, has never been done before and somehow works perfectly for this particular diver. The central pad can be removed for a more traditional strap look, or swapped altogether for the optional steel bracelet. It’s a small innovation like making a bund-style strap in rubber that proves there’s still room to rethink the old favorites. Whether the same can be said for high heels or jockstraps, well, only time will tell.
All four styles of Le Forban Sécurité Mer’s Marseillaise dive watch are available now, via their website. The rubber strap is priced at 940€, while the steel bracelet is – quelle surprise! – slightly more at 990€.
Brett Braley-Palko
2025-10-09 14:00:00