NATO Straps

[kennethcooke]

It scares me, sometime when I read that NATO straps that are worn to look good, cool and hip on Rolex Oyster Sport Models, in fact, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact anyone wearing a NATO Strap on any watch with spring bars is asking to loose it which would not be a good idea especially, if you were in the middle of a covert special operations mission. aka down the pub with your mates. If you insist on wearing an NATO Strap, and personally, I cannot see why you would, then you would need to have work carried out as done during the 40's to weld the bars so that they could no accidentally spring, and as a footnote, Rolex advise against this as the watch was designed as a complete unit including bracelet and it would effect your warranty and the watches Chronometer accuracy

[joe100]

Sooooo why did rolex sell NATOs until 18 months ago? I can even get you a part number if you would like me to, but I'm sure someone will come along shortly with that answer.

Also, a NATO doesn't have anything to do with the chronometer accuracy. That's way out there

[997.2]

Whatever


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[SLS]

That is part of the reason I am partial to the drilled lugs, traditional spring bars work better with straps & NATO's. The shouldered spring bars that are used on the no holes cases can catch on the strap & get pulled out. I remember a guy who posted that he almost lost his watch in a movie theater because the NATO strap pulled both of his shouldered spring bars out. Personally I prefer the look & feel of the oyster bracelet so it is a non issue for, but it is something to be cognizant of.
Scott

[RH9900]

I wear NATOs with my SubC regularly. All you need are some shoulderless springbars, which essentially act like fixed bars without the lug holes. If you want to go back to the bracelet, then just cut them with wirecutters.

[Dan Pierce]

Some of us just enjoy life on the razors edge.
dP

[asleep]

I heard that Q forgot to weld JB's springbars and that's why he ended up wearing a Seiko.

[themaninblack]

Originally Posted by asleep

I heard that Q forgot to weld JB's springbars and that's why he ended up wearing a Seiko.

Serendipity. He ended up with a cooler watch, at least for a while.

[KenNethcole]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

Some of us just enjoy life on the razors edge.
dP

Exactly, where's the fun in life without a little danger (to our watch at least).

[Flstfirider]

Never had an issue with wearing on a NATO!

[9*9*3]

Wow, had no idea. Now I have to find that darn spring bar tool.


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[HogwldFLTR]

Some of us really cool Nato wearers aren't prone to listening to the anti Nato hype; I watched a propaganda film demonstrating the effects of Natos on the watches failure to stay on the straps and found it, frankly, misleading. Extreme force had to be placed in the center of the strap to cause the spring bar to bend. The shots on the non-Natos didn't show the same effort. Of course these were nylon Natos; how about leather ones?

[R-H]

I would think the opposite would be true, wouldn't you need to loose both spring bars with a NATO for the watch to come off, loose one spring bar with a bracelet and it's off the wrist?

[HogwldFLTR]

Originally Posted by R-H

I would think the opposite would be true, wouldn't you need to loose both spring bars with a NATO for the watch to come off, loose one spring bar with a bracelet and it's off the wrist?

There was a video showing that placing pressure in the middle of the Nato strap could cause the spring bar to bend and ultimately pop free. The concept was that all that said their Nato saved their watches were actually subject to Nato induced spring bar failure.

[NeedlessKane]

I wear my 1991 14060 on NATOs almost exclusively. Many people do the same thing.

I wear them because they're more comfortable than the standard bracelet and I enjoy swapping them out every so often to give the watch a different look/match whatever outfit/look i'm going for at the time. I'm a software developer and I constantly bang the bracelet against my desk/keyboard which causes useless scratches.


I think that some watches look absolutely silly on one. Any watch with some age/patina looks really good on a NATO - to me at least.

Also - your comment regarding the welded bars, are you referring to the 5517 that was issued during the '70s?

[Porter]

What do you think about 2 pcs NATO straps??
I particulary love cordura straps!! Full risk! Haha

[Aceldama]

Nothing

But

NATO

[RolexLover2016]

Originally Posted by kennethcooke

It scares me, sometime when I read that NATO straps that are worn to look good, cool and hip on Rolex Oyster Sport Models, in fact, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact anyone wearing a NATO Strap on any watch with spring bars is asking to loose it which would not be a good idea especially, if you were in the middle of a covert special operations mission. aka down the pub with your mates. If you insist on wearing an NATO Strap, and personally, I cannot see why you would, then you would need to have work carried out as done during the 40's to weld the bars so that they could no accidentally spring, and as a footnote, Rolex advise against this as the watch was designed as a complete unit including bracelet and it would effect your warranty and the watches Chronometer accuracy

We may loose it but it still looks good, cool and hip until we do...

[vman]

Originally Posted by kennethcooke

It scares me, sometime when I read that NATO straps that are worn to look good, cool and hip on Rolex Oyster Sport Models, in fact, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact anyone wearing a NATO Strap on any watch with spring bars is asking to loose it which would not be a good idea especially, if you were in the middle of a covert special operations mission. aka down the pub with your mates. If you insist on wearing an NATO Strap, and personally, I cannot see why you would, then you would need to have work carried out as done during the 40's to weld the bars so that they could no accidentally spring, and as a footnote, Rolex advise against this as the watch was designed as a complete unit including bracelet and it would effect your warranty and the watches Chronometer accuracy

+1

Takes balls to state this with fewer than 20 posts on the forum. Yet, I thank you.

[SpaceWanderer]

Originally Posted by vman

+1

Takes balls to state this with fewer than 20 posts on the forum. Yet, I thank you.

Why does the number of posts matter? It's like saying somebody who talks all the time must know what they're talking about while somebody who rarely speaks has no credibility.

[withthesword]

to each their own.

i respectfully disagree with the assertion that natos are weaker.

i wore my sub on a grey nato strap all through basic training, soldier qualification, and military occupation training. besides adding a few beauty marks to the case, and staining the nylon, it was perfectly safe.

[jt-]

Originally Posted by SpaceWanderer

Why does the number of posts matter? It's like saying somebody who talks all the time must know what they're talking about while somebody who rarely speaks has no credibility.

While I agree with you that sometimes there can be, in very rare cases on this forum, people who feel that they are more important than those who don't comment often, I don't think that was how it was intended in this instance. I've been around for a number of years, yet I rarely post. Still, I am not made to feel as though I have no credibility.

Once someone has established a profile and engaged in the forum for a good period of time, they become a member of the community, and as such, I would argue you are more accountable for the things you type. If you've spent time as a member of the "TRF family", you wouldn't want to say something offensive (and I'm not suggesting the OP was offensive, although I do disagree with him) as you would get called out by your peers. When you only have a handful of posts, you are essentially anonymous and can say whatever you want. Who cares if you just need to create another account right?

I think that's all that was meant. And again, I think the OP just has strong opinions against NATO's, that's fine with me. I've been known to share my dislike of certain models in the past too. For the record though, I love NATO's, especially on the more "tool like" models from the past.

[J!m]

No one mentioned so I will...

If your spring bars are in good condition, this is not an issue.

I like the idea of old "holy" spring bars on a non-hole case...

But to loose the watch, BOTH bars have to fail (or be un-hooked by the strap???), whereas with any other bracelet, you can loose it if only one fails.

My Tag Heuer hit the concrete due to a failed spring bar (only one of them!) with the factory bracelet. If it was on a NATO band, it would have flopped away from my wrist a bit, but not hit the floor.

[AJMarcus]

If it was good enough for 007 it's good enough for me

[silverbullet818]

Can someone please recommend a good place to buy these NATO straps??!!

[WS9D]

Love my natos. If I lose a watch, good think I have a nice insurance policy on all of them. about the only think my policy does covering is "damage or loss caused by a nuclear bomb, nuclear war, or other similar device." lol sorry, found that amusing.

I have also seen and read threads where others have lost their watch because a spring bar came undone while on an oyster bracelet. The point is, there is no fool proof way to wear a watch and ensure it's safety, so just enjoy them.

[WS9D]

Originally Posted by silverbullet818

Can someone please recommend a good place to buy these NATO straps??!!

I like crown & buckle

[Sublovin]

Originally Posted by kennethcooke

It scares me, sometime when I read that NATO straps that are worn to look good, cool and hip on Rolex Oyster Sport Models, in fact, nothing could be further from the truth.

It's okay, don't be scared...

[silverbullet818]

Originally Posted by Ks6pd

I like crown & buckle

Thanks.

This brand works well with Rolex I trust?

[WS9D]

Originally Posted by silverbullet818

Thanks.

This brand works well with Rolex I trust?

yes, just make sure you get a strap for the correct lug width. most modern rolex are 20mm.