View source for Talk:Corfam

The comment above that there is no reason to use Corfam because it decays over time is nonsense.  Leather also decays over time - faster.  For a collector, there is nothing like the real thing.  Corfam® rally straps are light and comfortable.  
 
                                    Corfam® History 
The right to produce, market and sell Corfam® watch straps, famously used in the late 60s and 70s by Omega, Heuer, and others on sport and futuristic watches, was acquired by Bill Shaine in 2024. The first straps have been reintroduced this year. https://corfam.net/ they are now available in plentiful supply at a reasonable price.
 
Corfam® watch straps were popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s, made from DuPont's poromeric synthetic leather, which resembled patent leather and offered high water resistance and durability compared to real leather. Brands like Omega and Heuer used Corfam for racing-style straps on sports and chronograph models, though DuPont eventually stopped production around 1972 due to poor performance in the high-cost shoe market. Since then, leather racing-style straps often draw inspiration from the look and feel of these original Corfam bands.  Remaining original Corfam watch straps can fetch astounding prices.
Now, because of Bill Shaine's efforts, it is possible to purchase the originals at a reasonable price.

History of Corfam
•	Introduction:
DuPont introduced Corfam, a high-tech, poromeric synthetic leather, in the early 1960s. DuPont’s moto was: "Better Living Through Chemistry".  The 1960s was the "Space Age", and many Sputnik and Jetsonesque products were made, including this "Spaceman" watch with a modern Corfam® watch strap.
             
 
•	
•	Popularity in Watchmaking:
The material was used to create durable, water resistant, and stylish racing-style straps, particularly for sports watches. 
•	Key Brands:
Brands like Omega, with its Dynamic range, and Heuer used these straps extensively on their chronograph and sports models. 
•	Demise:
Corfam's large-scale production was costly and ultimately unsuccessful for DuPont in the shoe market, which demanded high volume. The company ended Corfam production in 1972, although watch straps continued to be made from existing stock for longer.
Corfam Watch Straps
•	Characteristics:
Corfam offered a high-gloss appearance, great resistance to water and wear, and a unique "turned" construction where the strap folded over itself at the lug ends. 
•	Why it was used:
The high-tech nature and performance characteristics of the material made it a popular choice over traditional leather for racing-style and futuristic straps in the era. 
•	Legacy:
The "Corfam style" strap, with its characteristic perforated design and distinctive look, remains a favorite among vintage watch collectors and inspires modern strap designs. Corfam® straps continue to be highly collectible and provide originality and enhance collectability and value in historic watches.