Nato Straps - whats the deal?

[AlexC1981]

I put my Amphibia on a NATO recently. It looks a lot nicer than the leather strap I had it on before.

[sjg]

My everyday divers watch lives on a NATO. Far nicer for everyday use, the buckle is lower profile but also sits around the side of my wrist so it doesn't scrape over the desk or my laptop. It came on a rubber strap that was big and had a garish table of ND times on the side so this is far more low key. I don't like bracelets and leather wouldn't last with swimming and diving use.

For smarter wear, I have a watch on a black leather strap, but for everyday they make perfect sense.

[El Guapo]

A couple of weeks ago one of the spring pins on mine let go. I was on a yacht at the time and the watch is now at the bottom of the Med. Luckily, it was fairly inexpensive, but I will definitely consider a NATO strap for my next one.

[andy_s]

I'd also consider the gasgasbones velcro/nylon straps as an alternative - same principal of holding both pins seperately.

[Ranger 6]

My beater lives on a NATO, after 8 years of being issued them I got used to the feel and style and stuck with it after leaving.

I wouldn't put my Speedmaster on one though, somehow I don't think the style suits it.

[theaxe]

I guess their main advantage in the forces is that NATO straps are waterproof, strong, light and can be resized to fit over heavy clothing.

A Rolex on a NATO is like having an Aston Martin but never washing it, there's just something cool about it...



Here's a history of them and here is a link to the military spec.

Edited by theaxe on Friday 11th September 13:12

[mel]

I never had a G10 watch with anything other than solid bars in the place of the normal spring bars so using them with anything else other than a nato strap was simply not an option, from a Diver POV when I was issued my watch on completion of course (I missed the Rolex MilSub days by several years but they were still in general circulation then) but a big part of a military divers watch is to use it on a swim board and not on the wrist, this is a compass and time board that the swimmer holds close to their face in limited visibility to time and monitor direction of swim, the swim board has got 2 slots cut in it specifically to take the G10 style of strap. Also as said earlier the double loop method of fixing is to prevent the watch dropping if a bar breaks.

[vinnie_p]

I bought a '69 pre moon speedmaster pro with a black nato strap which I thought looked very good but wanted a proper stainless bracelet instead. Recently bought one from the states for a total of about £200 ish. Got it fitted but having worn it just the once, went back to the nato which in my humble opinion looks much better and I really am a stickler for authenticity! Anybody out there want a genuine Omega stainless bracelet for their Speedmaster pro??

Vince