Hands-On The Straum Jan Mayen Titanium, Now Featuring The Brand’s First Integrated Rubber Strap

It should also be disclosed that I have not been a big fan of titanium until I bought a Ming last year, and my flip-flopping has now been confirmed. By offering a titanium case, Straum doubles down on comfort with a proprietary integrated strap that answers a difficult question. What do you do when you like a watch design with an integrated bracelet, the style du jour, but prefer leather or rubber? The answer is often compromised, as is the wearability, and let's not even get into the numerous fiddly quick-connect systems out there. How does the new Straum Jan Mayen rate, and why does the brand insist on showing us beautiful images of Arctic exploration when this is an elegant, even dressy sports watch?

Straum can be considered fairly established on the small-brand watch scene, with regular appearances at enthusiast watch events worldwide and a solid fan base. James had a look at their volcanic red Jan Mayen LE back in 2023, and this appears very similar, but refined. And for me, this is a key word. Sure, it's a sports watch, and in this new titanium grade 5 guise, it's lighter and seriously comfortable. But I confess to babying my watches, so I'd leave the exploring to a more, ehm, toolier watch. That said, being based in Norway, I feel a natural draw to the crisp arctic inspiration and Straum's mindset. 

This Arctic Blue version is inspired by the vast Arctic Ocean that surrounds the island of Jan Mayen. If you're of a seafaring inclination, its ferocious, icy currents are not for the faint of heart. So, yes, for me, this is a sports watch, but in the same category as a Grand Seiko, with a robust and comfortable build. But with polished details and an artful dial that makes me want to wear a fine knit t-shirt rather than a Patagonia windbreaker.

With today's watches trending towards small sizes, the 39mm Straum is now considered mid-sized, but we all know that lug-to-lug is where it's at. Brand founders and designers, Lasse Roxrud Farstad and Øystein Helle Husby (Lasse and Øystein), both with a design background not involving watches, have nailed it at 45.8mm, with a dramatic downward lug angle as a bonus. Though it doesn't have lugs per se, this is a classic integrated case format à la Nautilus or the Royal Oak, but contemporary in execution. It is a slim case, measuring 11.3mm, and the 'lug' end angles down as the fixed end links become an extension of the case, ending a few millimeters below the caseback. Straum's steel Jan Mayen model wears well, but the lightweight titanium and supple FKM rubber strap deliver a dramatic boost in comfort.

The titanium case is bead-blasted to a soft satin finish with a subtle texture, and I am glad Straum didn't opt for a completely matte finish. Sure, this is a matter of taste, and a full bead-blasted case would look even more contemporary. However, the extra cost and numerous supplier prototypes required to perfect broad, polished bevels on the dark titanium make a significant difference. There is a hint of compact Hublot Classic Fusion elegance, but that's where the similarities end. The smooth titanium, paired with the suave sparkle of polish, underlines the mature case design and its strong personality. The La Joux-Perret G101 movement remains unchanged from the steel models and has proven itself to be a solid alternative to an ETA 2824, ticking at 4 Hz and offering a respectable 70-hour reserve.

The soft-touch titanium case frames a vivid dial with a deep, lacquered allure, encircled by blade-like indexes with clean blue-emitting Grade A Super-Luminova applied. The radial pattern is similar to some we have seen from Grand Seiko, featuring a deep blue that transitions to a dark midnight tone with a fumé effect, underscored by a white minute track. This is pleasantly distorted by the gently rounded double-dome sapphire, which, to me, adds charm to the spectacle. The bold dials of Straum have become their trademark and are an excellent choice for this modern design language. The process involves stamping in multiple stages, with increasing detail. Dials are then treated and painted in several stages, including the final fumé effect. The broad sword hands and indexes are applied and polished, filled with grade A Super-Luminova lume that emits a blue glow.

Sketching up my outline for this story, I set aside as much space for the new FKM rubber strap as for the case and movement. This says a lot about the science behind this new integrated strap, which Lasse of Straum tells me required at least a year of development. Developing a rubber strap for a watch that originally featured an integrated bracelet, the design du jour, is a minefield. Adding the market's increasing demand for flexibility and strap-changing ease to the fact that titanium is more difficult to machine than steel makes this result impressive. FKM is the best on the market in terms of suppleness versus resilience and doesn't have the magnetic effect on dust that silicon has. The width exceeds 24mm at the case, tapering dramatically to a slim 18mm where the rectangular tang holes are located. The strap features a blocky, ridged design, not dissimilar to that of cult brand Laventure, and sits perfectly flush against the case sides. The quick-release system demonstrates how much can be achieved when the founders of a brand come from a design background rather than the watch industry and easily surpasses many offerings from bigger brands.

As we often see, the first middle link of the bracelet serves as the connecting part, here fitted with a remarkably slim, smooth push-button at the rear, requiring just a fingernail's pressure to open. This is bead blasted with a broad arc of polish to each side, and in fact, clamps onto the spring bar. Two flat steel 'hooks' moulded into the strap slot into the end link and feel solidly secure. The push-button-equipped end links are designed to be as unobtrusive as possible, improving the already compact comfort. This adds to three other winning details, making it one of the better options out there for an integrated strap upgrade.

The back of the strap features scalloping for enhanced heat dissipation on warmer days, and the buckle end is adjustable with three preset positions. These will fit a large-size wrist uncut and are marked 'medium' and 'small' for owners to cut before refitting the titanium buckle. The pièce de résistance is a feature I haven't seen before: a tapered, rounded strap end. Only beaten by the genius slip-under design of Ming, it is moulded with a distinct curve, making it follow the curvature of the strap around your wrist. Bravo, Straum.

Who is the buyer for the Straum Jan Mayen in grade 5 titanium? With a fairly accessible price of under $2,000, it appeals to two distinct demographics. A first-time buyer looking for something that stands out with its modernity, and the studied collector with a taste for interesting and value-forward independents. With the newfound comfort of the integrated rubber strap and lightweight titanium case, everyday wear is exemplary, and the 100 meters of water resistance make it a capable sports watch. The sometimes cliché term 'punching above its weight' applies to multiple details that add up to a winning recipe.

The new Straum Jan Mayen Titanium will be available in Moss Green, the Arctic Blue featured in this story, as well as the monochrome Black Sand and Glacier White. Seven colours of FKM rubber can be specified upon ordering, with the option to add extra straps. The retail price is $1,930 (excluding duties), and pre-orders will open on June 26th. In addition, Straum is also bringing back the charming dial from the Fratello LE in cherry red on their site, limited to orders until July 3rd. Straum assures me that the steel version of the Straum Jan Mayen will also be made available with the same choice of FKM rubber.

For more information, visit Straum online.