Rolex Leather NATO?

[JustinK]

I bought this on Ebay, it was described as a Rolex promotional item from the tennis tournament Rolex sponsors. Anyone know anything about the band and if it's genuine. I figured if it were fake they would be all over the place on the Bay.

[AbsolutelyROLEX!]

Looks real to me

[crowncollection]

Probably a real thing given out at a tournament sponsored by Rolex

[JustinK]

Hopefully its the real thing then. If anyone has ever seen one or has one I would appreciate any information you have about them.

Thanks!

[77T]

Often sponsors at golf, tennis and other tourneys have special trinkets made for their hospitality tents to give VIPs. I did this for our own PGA Tour tourney for several years.

So it is very possible that it was a giveaway - but here's another angle on that possibility. I see my chachki's on eBay all the time - hats, balls, pins, golf club bags, etc. if Rolex handed these out I believe you'd see others selling them too.

So there is a stein possibility this is some skilled leather maker's handiwork. But it is a nice thing to have regardless.

[JustinK]

Originally Posted by 77T

Often sponsors at golf, tennis and other tourneys have special trinkets made for their hospitality tents to give VIPs. I did this for our own PGA Tour tourney for several years.

So it is very possible that it was a giveaway - but here's another angle on that possibility. I see my chachki's on eBay all the time - hats, balls, pins, golf club bags, etc. if Rolex handed these out I believe you'd see others selling them too.

So there is a stein possibility this is some skilled leather maker's handiwork. But it is a nice thing to have regardless.

I actually bought two from the same seller which is all he had. They were described as VIP gifts from Roland Garros but he did not know what year they were given away.

The fact I have never seen another makes me think the give away was limited or they are new fakes and will start to pop up on the Bay soon.

Thanks for the info!

[Goiguidoc]

Just a question:
The band says Monte-Carlo and not Roland Garros.
Also, why would Rolex give a NATO band to VIPs?

[JustinK]

Originally Posted by Goiguidoc

Just a question:
The band says Monte-Carlo and not Roland Garros.
Also, why would Rolex give a NATO band to VIPs?

Sorry you are right I must have got confused hearing about the French Open recently. The bands are from the Monte-Carlo.

They seemed unusual to me and looked legit so I took a chance. Hoping to find out more about them.

[JustinK]

Here is another picture.

[Goiguidoc]

The buckle looks like it has the Rolex crown. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
I have personally never seen Rolex buckles for 20mm straps.
Anyway, I find the NATO band very nice

[zama]

Not the type of item likely to be faked I would have thought. Nice collectors piece but unlikely something to float many people's boat if you ever wanted to sell, but like always you only need to find one buyer if you ever want to sell

[crowncollection]

Can you take a photo of the buckle if it indeed has Rolex markings I would love to see them. I have the leather band catalogue it is not in it, I think it's promotional but interesting.

[DinoD]

Picked one up as well

Here are the buckle shots







Leather defiantly feels old and needed to be oiled.

Can take pics of the straps if needed.

Also the buckle size is 18mm

[tjbender]

Look like these keep showing up. They look legit but a bit skeptical that one seller keeps sourcing a fairly unique item. Anyone else have thoughts here, are they legit or suspect?

[Swiss_Time_Watches]

This was posted on the vintagerolexforum recently, seems the straps are semi official with (fake?) Rolex buckles added after the fact to sex them up a bit.

VRF Member
83.77.205.5
Yes, they came with another buckle February 5 2015, 5:25 AM

I have two of those as well, both with unsigned steel buckles.

I believe it was in the 70s when they used these straps for the Rolex Masters in MC. Like any other strap, it was not produced by Rolex themselves, but it was certainly ordered by Rolex' sponsoring partner and certainly not against their consent. Therefore I would call this genuine Rolex merchandise.

[tjbender]

thanks for chiming in, almost pulled the trigger.

[Ramess]

Originally Posted by SuperDanX

This was posted on the vintagerolexforum recently, seems the straps are semi official with (fake?) Rolex buckles added after the fact to sex them up a bit.

This person is inside the watch industry (I believe because it is on the instagram always with luxuary watches , straps and cars) and also have 2.

http://instagram.com/p/snh3dsAAhr/?modal=true

In the photo is with one Cartier Metal strap. Is one person with BIG money. In description indicates had rolex buckle but then take it out for other rolex watches

This more recent photo. He had with Rolex Buckles...
http://instagram.com/p/ykxpSIgAgJ/?modal=true

I am just trying to say is "rare" but not first time we see it. There are other persons in the watch industry with some of them.
There is nothing really strange, and like user crowncollection said Probably a real thing...

[Swiss_Time_Watches]

I emailed the seller and asked where they had got the straps? This is the reply I got.

Hi
From luxury auction house in Barcelona. Both sell watches, paintings, Chinese art.etc... Then have cheaper but rare things like these bracelets, ashtray monte carlo, monte carlo umbrella, etc ... I have 2 shops in Portugal. I am just new on ebay. with these bracelets also bought two paintings and some rolex.

About the strap I had to purchase one pack. Not one or 2...

They are rare but on internet there are USA people with them. When I purchase other 2 persons in Swiss purchase also some packs (its not only straps, but watches and suveniers). But is souveniers . This type of items (souveniers) exist many ....I have inclusive umbrela from 4 or 5 swiss watch brands...IS very usual and not so rare some of them...

Make of that what you will.

[JustinK]

These straps are listed on Ebay again. Different user name but still from Portugal The Ebayer I bought from was from Portugal but is no longer a registered user.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321683792894...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by JustinK

These straps are listed on Ebay again. Different user name but still from Portugal The Ebayer I bought from was from Portugal but is no longer a registered user.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321683792894...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Does not ship to HK

I wouldn't mind trading six or seven regular natos for one of these.

[bondtoys]

Hello Adam,

do you want me to get you one of the Rolex Natos and bring it over in April?

[Old Expat Beast]

Thanks, pm sent.

[Ramess]

In the other forum there is more information

" I also have one. Autentic

In my case my wife is from Nice and was a gift after purchase a used Rolex Datejust in one "used watchstore".
There is many of this type of items from events ... Mine had rolex buckle.
I have one T shirt also with Rolex and monte carlo Logo... No strange at all I supose... "

and other user


"
Like have told user Mark.z this type items are ordered by Rolex' sponsoring partner and certainly not against their consent.
This make item original.

What I supose is for example Rolex ask to made 500 and they normally made some extra more.
But that is very usual in all business. Its autentic. There is one "famous" Celebrity "watch man" in Instagram with that strap.
Someone from the hight end luxuary industry in USA I think

He inform have it with Rolex Buckle for some of is friends and Fans (open messages instagram).
Because this for me is 100% OK. This guy know more about this then 99,99% of us
"

[NERVOUS PASSENGER]

I just got one on eBay from a seller based in, you guessed it, Portugal.
I can't be sure but heart tells me it's a fake.
I care not... It's a well made and beautifully considered.
Instead of putting it on my old sub I've been wearing it as a piece in it's own right.
It's a lovely thing.

[crowncollection]

Show us pics of the inside of the clasp and band