3:50 I believe it is *not* glue around the holes. Nylon is a type of plastic, they burn the holes into the strap (presumably with lazers). The plastic melts around the hole which helps prevent fraying, like you see on the zulu.
Loftty OG yeah, including portions of nylon straps. welding does not need to be metal, ultrasonic processes are very commonly used on plastics. look into it, it's actually pretty interesting.
Yes, my dad used to use a simple lighter on the end of nylon rope when he cut it. Whatever the method the nylon threads fuse together for a really strong bond.
He was showing good manners and consideration, acknowledged what people would notice but don't care to mention. He showed class and moved on quickly as he should. It becomes a detriment to the quality of the video once the presenter goes on and on apologetically about the noise when nobody really cares.
@@greenweevil2021 I was paying the man a compliment. You’re seriously going to try and correct me on a comment/compliment I left 3 years ago? Get a life man.
When you told about string bar failure that reminds me, situation when I was in a raft on a river and I fell out of it, then springbar on my seiko snzk15 broke. I was so happy that a had nato strap on it.
You should never engage in any water sports activity without a NATO strap. A spring bar is notoriously unreliable. It is the weakest part of the watch.
As someone who's only ever worn bracelets and straps, this was a subject that was relatively new to me, so the information in this video was very useful. Many Thanks :)
Outstanding quality for the money. A true bang for the buck right here. Recently bought the strap featured 7:15, and I love it. Works magic with simplistic watches. I smashed it on an Orient Three Star, with white dial and black numerals. Beautiful.
Have been watching your videos and love the insights you have on watches. Partly due to your recommendation, I just bought my 'beginner' mech watch Seiko SKX009-J1. My next accessory will be NATO strap. Thanks for your advice. One thing I like about your review is that you don't despise more affordable range of watch. Many watch-lovers can be a bit of snobs but not you. Keep up the good work and this kind of video is what we need! Very novice-friendly.
R KT sarb033 is great. i know bcos i owned sarb035. i'm a watch flipper (not proud of) and have sold skx. cant remember the no but its the pepsi bezel. if u get the skx u are 'complete' with both dress and tool watches. cant beat the value. but bear in mind it cannot be hack like sarb033. and less power reserve. if u want the same movement as sarb033, get the turtle
Morning TGV Once again awesome video. You give great insight on the subjects you cover. I did buy a few straps From both Wrist Candy and Blue Shark. Have to say.. very impressed with Blue shark. Well made Great hardware..
Thank you. I didnt realise what the whole deal was with "Nato Straps" but I see the logic now. As a bodger and handyman I also appreciate the tips on thread-wear on nylon hot spots. If I find myself seeing that when using cheap nylon products at least I know a little glue or very precise melting will stave off the inevitable failure point. Appreciate the video mate.
Those areas of the strap are not glued, they are melted. You can shorten a nato strap by using two pennies as a guide to cut, then take a flame and melt the edges to seal.
+Fritz Feuerbacher Pretty much, the important thing is you get the point with regards to its quality, I have seen some nasty nato straps that had no sticking and no heat gluing whatsoever and they fall apart in not time, and these Nato straps are great. Thanks for support guys, Best regards, TGV
I have a Citizen Promaster GN-4-S dive watch that I used to wear as a beater when I went camping or running, but I never liked the rubber strap so the watch ended up lying in the watch drawer always there but nearly never worn. After watching this video I immediately grabbed the watch, headed to the nearest watch store and had a black nylon NATO fitted. It's like a brand new watch (albeit very well worn from a hard and memorable life) and the NATO strap really is very comfortable. Thank you TGV. You made my day.
Thank you introducing me to the hobby. I find the information extremely helpful and saved me a lot money. You've opened so many options to the watches I like, and I've started doing mods to personalize my collection.
Yeah I'm hooked on nato now. So comfortable. I recently got a citizen 7390 and put it on a tan nato from the Sydney strap co. Super comfortable and durable. Thanks for the advice.
Wrist Candy has poor customer service. 3 days no response, no tracking just a credit card charge. They won’t even returns emails. I do not recommend. Sorry but this is how I found them. Just FYI
Thank yo for the introduction to the Nato straps, TGV. I'm a more traditional guy when it comes to straps and bracelets. I used to wear leather bands or stainless steel bracelets. But I'm going to have a deeper look at the Nato straps. Perlon straps were very popular during the 60's to the 80's. I remember my father worn perlon straps a lot. And I got one on my first wrist watch, a Timex (!), too. And I was very proud to wear this "indestructible" time piece during the 70's. ;) Best regards and enjoy the rest of your weekend.
You definitely know your fashion, TGV! Nice straps and good coordination; it's amazing how just a strap could change the look and feel of a watch so much. I need to get a few for my speedy and seamaster, and you have given me some good ideas. thank you for the video
+Ryan S Thank you Ryan, I must be living in all these places has rubbed off hopefully. It amazes me too how they can transfer so dramatically. Thanks for the great comment, Best regards, TGV
For me the most important part is the buckle. I have one from a different maker that has a solid clasp. Most clasps are very thin and are bent around the buckle. If the buckle goes so does your watch, even without a spring bar failure. Great video just wish we got a better look at the buckle. Cheers
I think the holes are not glued. Nylon is made out of polyamide fibers if I'm not mistaken, it's just molten plastic. You can easily repair frayed edges by quickly applying some heat with a lighter ;)
About stitching. Phoenix straps which are the original Nato straps issued to MoD in UK, are ultrasonic welded. That means the parts are practically "atomized" one into another by using ultrasound waves, so is not just stitching. And Nato G10 is practically the original Phoenix and their Admiralty Grey is the official strap UK armed forced use. If you saw the new BOND black/grey strap on the SM300 in Spectre movie, (of course we all saw that) then look again at the Phoenix and see the exact same material and color nuances, they were identical. Phoenix is the secret supplier for many Swiss manufacturers for their OEM Nato straps. So, if you don't plan to spend $300 and put an Omega Nato strap on your Rolex Sub, then Phoenix black/grey is the right choice. Phoenix company owner is Mike Steward and they sell on ebay, user is mickie500 or something. I am not affiliated in anyway with them btw.
Love your videos TGV! I'm a huge fan of your videos, and personally, I am a young watch enthusiast in my teens. Always look forward to your videos, especially when I'm a bit tired from studying.
are you sure the holes are clued? as it is nylon i'd assume they are rather been burned or melted by something hot, so when the holes start to deteriorate is think you could re-melt it by heating up a nail and applying it to the hole
+ShadowBend No problem my friend, thank you for ordering from my friends at WCWC, it means a great deal to me, especially to help a new company like them, I am sure they will read this comment when I send them this video. Nice one! Best regards, TGV
Excellent video! A side note: not all NATO straps are created equal. Some companies do not use a secure buckle, they actually use a tiny little spring bar to hold the buckle on, which is a horrifying design flaw! Don't hesitate to contact the company and make sure they use a solid buckle design!
James Judy 3 My thoughts exactly. A cheap buckle will instantly ruin the security of a NATO strap. It should be a solid one piece of steel with no weak pin holding it together.
I do love a good Nato Strap, they can match and contrast an outfit so easily, changing a watches personality in seconds. A favourite of mine is the real black, red and green Bond that Sean Connery wore in Goldfinger, I fell in love with it as a kid even it wasn't wide enough to fill the spring bar.
+InoxEdge As always, excellent comment IE, I will have to hunt one down, I had that exact one too and stupidly gave it away. Will have to get it a size smaller just to be cool like bond too ;-) Best regards, TGV
TGV, just bought the WristCandy TGV tribute NATO. It's currently securing my 2006 Breitling Chrono Evolution 44 to my wrist. Looks great. Keep doing what you're doing.
+TeamLotus6365 Thank you TL, very kind. Don't worry old chap, I may be a useless at many things in life, but my Art school background and sense of color matching will not fail you! ;-) I am sure there are a ton of things you must be good at that I fail miserably at, Best regards, TGV
Great review of the G10 nato straps. I have a lot of experience with these due to being ex military. I find nato straps by Phoenix, Timefactors and Maratec thee best nato strap makers. Strong and built to last. There's so many makers of nato straps that doesn't cut the mustatd. Not all G10 Nato straps are the same buyers beware. Regards. Connell
I met a retired sas soldier in Asia and he told me that you could spot a member of the regiment by how they wore their NATO strap. First it's either British admiralty grey or black. Next is the way they wore the strap. Instead of having the under strap snug against the bottom of the watch , it actually wrapped under the wrist for a cleaner profile. Oh and the watch would either be a rolex or omega and the lucky ones wore the Tudor or sub with the sword hour and minute hands. He had a issued sub with the sword hands with perfect patina and absolutely gorgeous. "Those who dare, , wins" cheers!
Great video and great advice about the glued holes to prevent fraying. The holes are actually not glued but cut out by a hot iron (the hot iron sort of frizzle the edges). I prefer wearing nato the 'down under method' when doing outdoor and sport. The watch sits more steadily, snugly and comfortably.
Yes - being made mostly of nylon a form of plastic almost, the strap end melts with the application of heat (not too much-!) and it melts the cut ends and holes together keeping them from fraying. If you wanted to shorten a NATO strap you could mimic the rounded end using a coin and tracing the shape then cut to shape & carefully use a small flame briefly to gently melt the ends so they seal up like factory, but too much heat will give the strap a burnt look and ruin its appearance.
Thanks so much for the great video. I knew nothing about Nato watchbands 2 days ago but you changed that...I feel very knowledgeable in fact...Thanks for all the info.
Just received some NATO and perlon straps from wrist candy for my Seiko alpinist. The perlon doesn't look like much off the watch but is very comfortable on the wrist. Green strap looks surprisingly good . the NATO straps feel bulky and unwieldy to me . Don't think I'll be able to forget I'm wearing it. We shall see.
+Dave Smith I agree, backwards works best for me also. I have ZULU NATO straps on 5 of my 10 watches [the diver watches] Omega Seamaster [very nice], Seiko x2 200m, Citizen x2 200m and 300m.
thanks for this. i read comments just for this reason. i do like the blue shark brand, found them on amazon. a few dollars more, but does look better quality. maybe i am wrong, but is what i am ordering. how is the feel of this nylon on the wrist?
If you really want quality and have larger wrists: check ou Armilla. They're fairly new, and for now have only a limited but very tasteful color range.
Thank you for the information on the NATO straps, Just placed an order. Also love the Glycine combat sub, a brand I was completely unaware of until your channel. Already saving money towards the purchase.
Great opening teaser to your video blog!! Ive just gotten into watch collecting and having so much fun picking out NATO straps! Have a great day and holler form San Marcos, Texas!! PS thanks for the tips on color pop!! Us ladies love NATO straps too =) !!
The first watch in space was a Sturmanskie worn by Yuri Gagarin. The Sturmanskie (Navigator in Russian) was fabricated by the Poljot factory and wasn't initially sold to the public, it's sole purpose was to be given to pilots, astronauts and high patents in Russia. Now anyone can buy one, as I did quite recently and I'm very proud and happy to have one :)
One of my favorite types of straps! as a surfer and sailor, leather strap doesn't fit well with the sea so i leave it to wear on the land I like using Nato straps on my Casio watches that have thermometer feature located near the back plate, because the warmth from my body interferes in the temperature sensor so I need to wait for about 20 minutes before I can read the ambient temperature accurately, the nylon strap being located between my wrist and the metal back plate solves that problem =)
Phoenix supply the MOD with their straps and have done so for around 30 years so in my opinion you cannot get any more authentic, quality is supurb too and you can buy them on Amazon.
AFAIK, and commensurate with the NATOs I own, the buckle holes are NOT glued. They are heat fused as are the ends of the strap. The worn and frayed strap you can be refreshed by poking the hole with a cheap electronics soldering pencil. If there are any stray strands coming out between the holes, rather than binning the strap, you can carefully pass a lighter close to the band. I have some cheap nylon stapes that have metal eyelets in the holes, but I have need seen a NATO with them
The red, gold, black striped NATO band is popular on Speedmasters because of the 007 series of movies. James Bond has always had the coolest and most stylish watches in film.
Lex, actually, Connery wore a nylon dive strap; black and olive stripes with red trim. This is known as the Bond strap. Craig wore a similar design; black and gray stripes. Also called a Bond strap.
Thank you, TGV. I seem to learn something every time I watch (see what I did there?) one of your vids. I did not know about these straps before today. After seeing this, I went ahead and bought a NATO "Bond" strap for my ultra-cheap Swiss Army Brand quartz. I'm hoping the colours of both the watch and the strap will really coalesce. If so, I will send you a pic, if you are interested. Cheers, J.
The NATO spec MOD watch to go with the strap specifies that the "Strap bars are to be inserted into holes drilled completely through the case lugs. The bars are to be hard soldered intoposition". This makes it even harder to lose the watch if the strap breaks as there are no weak spring bars. I have two CWC watches to this spec. Actually the case lugs on the 3 o'clock side are drilled right through but the 9 o'clock lugs are not. The lugs at 3 are visible if you look carefully.
You can pre-treat your soiled NATO straps with Clorox 2 Color Safe Bleach prior to washing, then it add to the washer as well an they’ll come out bright and clean again. Especially noticeable with the bright colors like the orange which I wear as well with my SKX.
thanks for the video TGV. Living in UK i could not buy Nato strap from your recommendation of wrist candy but i have found a good alternative. Sniper Bay. The straps have sewn in buckles and heat treated ends and strap holes and available from amazon at good price.
Would be very nice if ytou would add the watches name in the description in your videos , often i see really beautifull watches in your videos , but its hard to tell or find out sometimes wich pieces they are , thanks and keep up the great work!
You can fix that worn Zulu strap by pushing through the holes a metal rod, heated up to ~240°C. The metal rod (an Allen screw driver for example) has to fit very snug in the hole you want to repair. After this is done, trim the remaining frays around the hole (you can use the flame from a gas cigarette lighter, a normal one not the wind proof types). I suggest you try this process at first on a strap you no longer need. If the metal rod is to hot, you could end up enlarging too much the hole in the strap.
Hey Tristano, First of all I wanted to thank you for your great content that really helped me! So after long researching about a new beater watch, I am now planning to buy a Seiko SNZH55K1. Best regards, Thomas
Excellent channel let me start by saying. I was in the mind to get some Nato straps for my Seiko 5 7S36. I am happy to have seen this review when I did. I purchased 2 straps form WCWC. They are splendid! If supple can be a good adjective then these nylon straps are supple. They are thinner and lighter then I had imagine, supple yet very well made. Thank you for the review.
Excellent video TGV. It would also be great to actually see you changing springs with the spring bar tool and how you do that. I hate doing it as there is always the tiniest of scratches on the back of the case because that cannot be avoided I guess. This is a great video!
+vdenich Thank you my friend. Funnily enough, I have shot a video exactly on that subject. Its in the que and should be up, if not this week, the next. Stay tuned. Best regards, TGV
+The Urban Gentry Awesome! By the way I ordered the Oppermann Blue Wallet and I have a coupon code I can send you as well. I will be on the lookout for the spring bar video!
+rich mika Exceleltn question, I would have to say Nato all the way. The extra rings help fold away the strap neatly and extra strap under the watch gives an unbeatable comfort, well for me at least. I like the simplicity of the Zulu, but for me, the Nato wins hands down every time. Thank you, Best regards, TGV
Tip: if the tang holes aren't glued or if they start fraying, get a soldering iron with a needle tip, heat it up and CAREFULLY use it to melt the nylon a little. It'll bind the fibres and stop the fraying.
Great review, thanks for sharing. Based on your review I just ordered two nato straps. A "Bond" black and gray and a "vintage Bond" blue, green, red. I'll let you know how they do! Thanks again.
Excellent video and great timing as I'm thinking of getting a few NATOs for my CW Trident. Thanks for the advice!JohnPS - I see Squale has made the "big time" - they have a full page ad in the latest WatchTime magazine.
Thanks for this video. New to this type of strap and now looks like I'm buying that great olive green-orange one and try it on my Asus Zenwatch 2. Wanted a strap that would handle all the sweat when walking the summer months in he south.
I think the holes are made with a hot hole press/punch. This would melt the edges of the hole, sealing the nylon and prevent any fraying. (Same principle as whipping a nylon rope)
The price of the extra security is comfort. On many different NATO"s I have and tried, the extra ring digs into the wrist, or protrudes enough to cause discomfort from external contact. No trouble with that and ZULU straps. This is the reason Bertucci uses ZULU, and instead compensates for the security with welded lugs...the best of both worlds, keeping in mind, a true 'field watch' is ultimately a functional tool, and therefore, security already isn't an issue if you're using removable lugs, whereas 'fashion' is a priori rationale with a NATO. Even the British W10 issue has welded lugs.
FYI the 'glue' you suggested is applied to the holes, isn't glue, nor is it applied. It's merely a melting (a cauterizing if you will) of the nylon during the laser-cutting process.
Love the Heritage on that sand NATO!! Fantastic combination. Looking forward to the video on perlon straps. Haven't had any experience with those, either.
Excellent stuff, tremendously helpful; now i know that are many choices for a NATO other than just the omega straps which are beautiful but god awful expensive!!! thanks for review of ur 'Speedy' as well i have been stressed and anguished for some time over the speedy and so i went for the sapphire crystal and sapphire case back version (brand new)manual wind that comes with big black briefcase box - OMG amazing timepiece! thanks a mil. Paul
Everyone always lists the spring bar failure as a reason why nato straps have the over/under pieces, but if the spring bar fails, a zulu would do exactly the same thing... Is the extra strap really just for looks?
I just purchased a gold coin (1 oz) and tied it to a NATO strap to show my wealth. Much more elegant. I use my phone for accurate time. I get compliments all the time on my gold coin.
Thanks. I couldn't keep ignore the smart ass on my should. The "gentleman" on my other shoulder quietly agreed with him... but doesn't voice his opinion as brutally honest as Mr. Smart.
Moment in Time If you think He's a snob then you don't know he also recommended watches that cost between 10 to 100 dollars. Being a smartass is easy on youtube, being an actual smart smartass? I don't think you passed the test.
You can reseal the holes on that old zulu by just holding it to a lighter flame for a second and then pinch it between two fingers. I do it all the time on my old Nato/Zulu's.
The best thing to do to a NATO strap is to cut off the extra strap piece, to change it to a single pass through. I just put on a "bond type" NATO strap on my dive watch, after I cut off the extra strap piece. Single pass-through bond type straps are hard to find.
+EMKWAN TV - vlogs from Abu Dhabi & Dubai Thank you Em, if you want I can get you a bunch and send them to you. They should have international shipping soon. Best regards, TGV
3:50 I believe it is *not* glue around the holes. Nylon is a type of plastic, they burn the holes into the strap (presumably with lazers). The plastic melts around the hole which helps prevent fraying, like you see on the zulu.
Its usually ultrasonic welding
Daquan Jr. I'm no expert, but isn't that used to *weld* two things together?
Loftty OG yeah, including portions of nylon straps.
welding does not need to be metal, ultrasonic processes are very commonly used on plastics. look into it, it's actually pretty interesting.
Yes, my dad used to use a simple lighter on the end of nylon rope when he cut it. Whatever the method the nylon threads fuse together for a really strong bond.
Thats correct
You shouldn't worry about or apologize for city noises while recording. I find them to make your videos more authentic and unique. Cheers.
David Gunther I find it quite classy. You shouldn’t tell him what he should do, but just enjoy the show.
He was showing good manners and consideration, acknowledged what people would notice but don't care to mention. He showed class and moved on quickly as he should. It becomes a detriment to the quality of the video once the presenter goes on and on apologetically about the noise when nobody really cares.
@@catlady8324 aren’t you doing exactly what you just told me not to do?
@@greenweevil2021 I was paying the man a compliment. You’re seriously going to try and correct me on a comment/compliment I left 3 years ago? Get a life man.
@@davidgunther1282 Perhaps, but doesn’t that mean that you’re doing what I told you not to do what you were doing in the first place?
When you told about string bar failure that reminds me, situation when I was in a raft on a river and I fell out of it, then springbar on my seiko snzk15 broke. I was so happy that a had nato strap on it.
You should never engage in any water sports activity without a NATO strap. A spring bar is notoriously unreliable. It is the weakest part of the watch.
As someone who's only ever worn bracelets and straps, this was a subject that was relatively new to me, so the information in this video was very useful. Many Thanks :)
So glad to hear, I hope you will get a ton of new enjoyment form new combos, I know I have,
Enjoy, thank you
Best regards,
TGV
Outstanding quality for the money. A true bang for the buck right here. Recently bought the strap featured 7:15, and I love it. Works magic with simplistic watches. I smashed it on an Orient Three Star, with white dial and black numerals.
Beautiful.
Have been watching your videos and love the insights you have on watches. Partly due to your recommendation, I just bought my 'beginner' mech watch Seiko SKX009-J1. My next accessory will be NATO strap. Thanks for your advice. One thing I like about your review is that you don't despise more affordable range of watch. Many watch-lovers can be a bit of snobs but not you. Keep up the good work and this kind of video is what we need! Very novice-friendly.
Jas Hoo I bought a SARB033 after his recommendation but I am also smitten with the SKX your model number. How are you liking it?
R KT sarb033 is great. i know bcos i owned sarb035. i'm a watch flipper (not proud of) and have sold skx. cant remember the no but its the pepsi bezel. if u get the skx u are 'complete' with both dress and tool watches. cant beat the value. but bear in mind it cannot be hack like sarb033. and less power reserve. if u want the same movement as sarb033, get the turtle
I just did almost the exact same thing, except the k2 model, absolutely stunning!
Morning TGV
Once again awesome video. You give great insight on the subjects you cover. I did buy a few straps
From both Wrist Candy and Blue Shark. Have to say.. very impressed with Blue shark. Well made
Great hardware..
Thank you.
I didnt realise what the whole deal was with "Nato Straps" but I see the logic now.
As a bodger and handyman I also appreciate the tips on thread-wear on nylon hot spots.
If I find myself seeing that when using cheap nylon products at least I know a little glue or very precise melting will stave off the inevitable failure point.
Appreciate the video mate.
Those areas of the strap are not glued, they are melted. You can shorten a nato strap by using two pennies as a guide to cut, then take a flame and melt the edges to seal.
+Fritz Feuerbacher Very useful tip, thank you for sharing,
Best regards,
TGV
The hot cutting and hole punching machine melts and seals the nylon
I suppose you can consider the melting as a type of glueing. Anyway, your right about it being a sign of quality.
+Fritz Feuerbacher Pretty much, the important thing is you get the point with regards to its quality, I have seen some nasty nato straps that had no sticking and no heat gluing whatsoever and they fall apart in not time, and these Nato straps are great.
Thanks for support guys,
Best regards,
TGV
Great tip! Many thanks!
I have a Citizen Promaster GN-4-S dive watch that I used to wear as a beater when I went camping or running, but I never liked the rubber strap so the watch ended up lying in the watch drawer always there but nearly never worn. After watching this video I immediately grabbed the watch, headed to the nearest watch store and had a black nylon NATO fitted. It's like a brand new watch (albeit very well worn from a hard and memorable life) and the NATO strap really is very comfortable. Thank you TGV. You made my day.
I have to say, it's insane how there are big youtubers with small community strength, but with the urban gentry, I hear about this channel everywhere!
Thank you introducing me to the hobby. I find the information extremely helpful and saved me a lot money. You've opened so many options to the watches I like, and I've started doing mods to personalize my collection.
Yeah I'm hooked on nato now. So comfortable. I recently got a citizen 7390 and put it on a tan nato from the Sydney strap co.
Super comfortable and durable. Thanks for the advice.
I really enjoy your videos and advice/reviews on watches. I'm quickly learning that collecting watches becomes expensive :)
Wrist Candy has poor customer service. 3 days no response, no tracking just a credit card charge. They won’t even returns emails. I do not recommend. Sorry but this is how I found them. Just FYI
Thanks for the link to this website. I was tired of buying cheap NATO straps from eBay. Love these guys. Thumbs up to you and them.
Thank yo for the introduction to the Nato straps, TGV. I'm a more traditional guy when it comes to straps and bracelets. I used to wear leather bands or stainless steel bracelets. But I'm going to have a deeper look at the Nato straps. Perlon straps were very popular during the 60's to the 80's. I remember my father worn perlon straps a lot. And I got one on my first wrist watch, a Timex (!), too. And I was very proud to wear this "indestructible" time piece during the 70's. ;)
Best regards and enjoy the rest of your weekend.
You definitely know your fashion, TGV! Nice straps and good coordination; it's amazing how just a strap could change the look and feel of a watch so much. I need to get a few for my speedy and seamaster, and you have given me some good ideas. thank you for the video
+Ryan S Thank you Ryan, I must be living in all these places has rubbed off hopefully.
It amazes me too how they can transfer so dramatically. Thanks for the great comment,
Best regards,
TGV
I love your videos, it’s because of you I bought my first seiko skx007 and 6 years later it’s still May favorite watch in a collection of 42
For me the most important part is the buckle. I have one from a different maker that has a solid clasp. Most clasps are very thin and are bent around the buckle. If the buckle goes so does your watch, even without a spring bar failure. Great video just wish we got a better look at the buckle. Cheers
I took your advice, ordered a black and grey striped one and fit it to my new seiko 5 SNZH57J1..love it. Thank you for the recommendation sir. 🙂🙂👍
I think the holes are not glued. Nylon is made out of polyamide fibers if I'm not mistaken, it's just molten plastic. You can easily repair frayed edges by quickly applying some heat with a lighter ;)
About stitching. Phoenix straps which are the original Nato straps issued to MoD in UK, are ultrasonic welded. That means the parts are practically "atomized" one into another by using ultrasound waves, so is not just stitching.
And Nato G10 is practically the original Phoenix and their Admiralty Grey is the official strap UK armed forced use.
If you saw the new BOND black/grey strap on the SM300 in Spectre movie, (of course we all saw that) then look again at the Phoenix and see the exact same material and color nuances, they were identical. Phoenix is the secret supplier for many Swiss manufacturers for their OEM Nato straps.
So, if you don't plan to spend $300 and put an Omega Nato strap on your Rolex Sub, then Phoenix black/grey is the right choice.
Phoenix company owner is Mike Steward and they sell on ebay, user is mickie500 or something. I am not affiliated in anyway with them btw.
These look great, I've been searching for quality NATO straps for a while now. Thanks TGV!
Great review. I never had a Nato strap on a watch. Planning to get one soon.
I get mine from nato strap co. Both leather and fabric ones :)
Love your videos TGV! I'm a huge fan of your videos, and personally, I am a young watch enthusiast in my teens. Always look forward to your videos, especially when I'm a bit tired from studying.
The intro is a killer. Great job, TGV.
are you sure the holes are clued? as it is nylon i'd assume they are rather been burned or melted by something hot, so when the holes start to deteriorate is think you could re-melt it by heating up a nail and applying it to the hole
I just saw your video and ordered a grey NATO for my Black Bay. forgot to add a note to say your video brought me there. Keep up the great reviews.
+ShadowBend No problem my friend, thank you for ordering from my friends at WCWC, it means a great deal to me, especially to help a new company like them, I am sure they will read this comment when I send them this video. Nice one!
Best regards,
TGV
+ShadowBend thanks for the order! It'll look great on your BB!
Excellent video!
A side note: not all NATO straps are created equal. Some companies do not use a secure buckle, they actually use a tiny little spring bar to hold the buckle on, which is a horrifying design flaw! Don't hesitate to contact the company and make sure they use a solid buckle design!
James Judy 3 My thoughts exactly. A cheap buckle will instantly ruin the security of a NATO strap. It should be a solid one piece
of steel with no weak pin holding it together.
Good vid, thanks! They don't glue it, they heat it a little since nylon (like plastic) melts. Works fine.
you have literally every video I need, I love this channel!
Great vid. Love the various colors/styles! They really enable you to create entirely different looks and options to tweak your collection.
I do love a good Nato Strap, they can match and contrast an outfit so easily, changing a watches personality in seconds.
A favourite of mine is the real black, red and green Bond that Sean Connery wore in Goldfinger, I fell in love with it as a kid even it wasn't wide enough to fill the spring bar.
+InoxEdge As always, excellent comment IE, I will have to hunt one down, I had that exact one too and stupidly gave it away. Will have to get it a size smaller just to be cool like bond too ;-)
Best regards,
TGV
1:48 "I'll just give it a quick wipe"
*proceeds to put thumb on the crystal*
Be nice
Zajec haha thought that as well
Lord Sathanus Whaa.
TGV, just bought the WristCandy TGV tribute NATO. It's currently securing my 2006 Breitling Chrono Evolution 44 to my wrist. Looks great. Keep doing what you're doing.
So glad to hear, feel very honoured.
Thank you! :D
Best regards,
TGV
I never really had much experience with NATO straps. Thx for the info 👍🏻😁
Just got the Seiko skx009 after doing research that mostly consisted of watching your videos, thanks!
I must admit I've got zero ability or confidence in coordinating colors. As such I am eternally envious of your bold choices. Well done man.
+TeamLotus6365 Thank you TL, very kind. Don't worry old chap, I may be a useless at many things in life, but my Art school background and sense of color matching will not fail you! ;-)
I am sure there are a ton of things you must be good at that I fail miserably at,
Best regards,
TGV
Great review of the G10 nato straps.
I have a lot of experience with these due to being ex military.
I find nato straps by Phoenix, Timefactors and Maratec thee best nato strap makers.
Strong and built to last.
There's so many makers of nato straps that doesn't cut the mustatd.
Not all G10 Nato straps are the same buyers beware.
Regards.
Connell
I met a retired sas soldier in Asia and he told me that you could spot a member of the regiment by how they wore their NATO strap. First it's either British admiralty grey or black. Next is the way they wore the strap. Instead of having the under strap snug against the bottom of the watch , it actually wrapped under the wrist for a cleaner profile. Oh and the watch would either be a rolex or omega and the lucky ones wore the Tudor or sub with the sword hour and minute hands. He had a issued sub with the sword hands with perfect patina and absolutely gorgeous. "Those who dare, , wins" cheers!
Interesting story. What was his name if you don't mind me asking. Thank you, Best regards, TGV
Great video and great advice about the glued holes to prevent fraying. The holes are actually not glued but cut out by a hot iron (the hot iron sort of frizzle the edges). I prefer wearing nato the 'down under method' when doing outdoor and sport. The watch sits more steadily, snugly and comfortably.
Thank you Dusan
Best regards,
TGV
Yes - being made mostly of nylon a form of plastic almost, the strap end melts with the application of heat (not too much-!) and it melts the cut ends and holes together keeping them from fraying. If you wanted to shorten a NATO strap you could mimic the rounded end using a coin and tracing the shape then cut to shape & carefully use a small flame briefly to gently melt the ends so they seal up like factory, but too much heat will give the strap a burnt look and ruin its appearance.
Thanks so much for the great video. I knew nothing about Nato watchbands 2 days ago but you changed that...I feel very knowledgeable in fact...Thanks for all the info.
I enjoyed the video, and some other videos you have made. I'm your new subscriber... Love from Mexico/US
The nato on the speedy really compliments the watch well.
Many thanks, great suggestions, especially about dressing down or up watch with suitable strap.
Just received some NATO and perlon straps from wrist candy for my Seiko alpinist. The perlon doesn't look like much off the watch but is very comfortable on the wrist. Green strap looks surprisingly good . the NATO straps feel bulky and unwieldy to me . Don't think I'll be able to forget I'm wearing it. We shall see.
I recommend Watch Obsession UK it's a good place to get high-quality nato straps for around a tenner.
Good video. I actually install my NATO straps backwards, because they seem to ride on my wrist better that way. Buckle to the bottom.
+Dave Smith Interesting, of course there is no right or wrong so what ever works for you.
Thanks for the comment,
Best regards,
TGV
+The Urban Gentry I do the same, easier for me to get the strap on and its dosen't get cought of things as I wear it.
+Dave Smith I agree, backwards works best for me also. I have ZULU NATO straps on 5 of my 10 watches [the diver watches] Omega Seamaster [very nice], Seiko x2 200m, Citizen x2 200m and 300m.
You should try the down under method. Works and fits even better imho
I do that sometimes as well, but basically you're just wearing a Zulu strap with a bulky underside...
Blue Shark nylon nato straps are way much better than your recommended Wrist Candy nylon straps. Tried both of them and there is no comparison.
thanks for this. i read comments just for this reason. i do like the blue shark brand, found them on amazon. a few dollars more, but does look better quality. maybe i am wrong, but is what i am ordering. how is the feel of this nylon on the wrist?
de N5XTC which size do I need for an explorer II POLAR?
must be 20mm
Nice to read this. I ordered my first strap from BS a couple of days ago. Waiting for the delivery. Cheers
If you really want quality and have larger wrists: check ou Armilla. They're fairly new, and for now have only a limited but very tasteful color range.
Thank you for the information on the NATO straps, Just placed an order. Also love the Glycine combat sub, a brand I was completely unaware of until your channel. Already saving money towards the purchase.
I wear NATO’s on most everything since they easily fit my 8.5” wrist. Wrist candy is great and so is Nato Strap co.
Great opening teaser to your video blog!! Ive just gotten into watch collecting and having so much fun picking out NATO straps! Have a great day and holler form San Marcos, Texas!! PS thanks for the tips on color pop!! Us ladies love NATO straps too =) !!
The first watch in space was a Sturmanskie worn by Yuri Gagarin. The Sturmanskie (Navigator in Russian) was fabricated by the Poljot factory and wasn't initially sold to the public, it's sole purpose was to be given to pilots, astronauts and high patents in Russia. Now anyone can buy one, as I did quite recently and I'm very proud and happy to have one :)
Just ordered the black/grey/orange NATO to go with my new Citizen Navihawk (black/orange) - they deliver to the UK now!!!
thanks for the recommend
Really enjoyed the vid TGV, love your color choices too, you have a knack for picking just the right strap for the watch.
+Mike Fitzpatrick (Liquid Audio) Thank you, very kind of you to say.
Best regards,
TGV
TGV, a little correction, the "glued" look is actually the result of laser-cutting. The heat melts the surrounding Nylon material thus the glued look.
The material on these looks really nice and soft compared to all of the other natos I've tried. I really like the hardware on the BluSharks.
One of my favorite types of straps! as a surfer and sailor, leather strap doesn't fit well with the sea so i leave it to wear on the land
I like using Nato straps on my Casio watches that have thermometer feature located near the back plate, because the warmth from my body interferes in the temperature sensor so I need to wait for about 20 minutes before I can read the ambient temperature accurately, the nylon strap being located between my wrist and the metal back plate solves that problem =)
The holes and edges are melted not glued. You are correct about it stopping the frays
Phoenix supply the MOD with their straps and have done so for around 30 years so in my opinion you cannot get any more authentic, quality is supurb too and you can buy them on Amazon.
Great selection of NATO straps. The squale and omega look fantastic!!
+David Michienzi Thank you David, Speedys are just made for it!
Best regards,
TGV
AFAIK, and commensurate with the NATOs I own, the buckle holes are NOT glued. They are heat fused as are the ends of the strap. The worn and frayed strap you can be refreshed by poking the hole with a cheap electronics soldering pencil. If there are any stray strands coming out between the holes, rather than binning the strap, you can carefully pass a lighter close to the band. I have some cheap nylon stapes that have metal eyelets in the holes, but I have need seen a NATO with them
The red, gold, black striped NATO band is popular on Speedmasters because of the 007 series of movies. James Bond has always had the coolest and most stylish watches in film.
Lex, actually, Connery wore a nylon dive strap; black and olive stripes with red trim. This is known as the Bond strap. Craig wore a similar design; black and gray stripes. Also called a Bond strap.
I have the black/grey strap on a Russian Vostok, which is really my favorite watch.....even more so than my Seiko.
another superb video, love watching you faff adjusting there positioning on the desk top total o.c.d. love it !
+facebiter LOLOLOL, Thank you :D
Best regards,
TGV
Thank you, TGV. I seem to learn something every time I watch (see what I did there?) one of your vids. I did not know about these straps before today. After seeing this, I went ahead and bought a NATO "Bond" strap for my ultra-cheap Swiss Army Brand quartz. I'm hoping the colours of both the watch and the strap will really coalesce. If so, I will send you a pic, if you are interested. Cheers, J.
The NATO spec MOD watch to go with the strap specifies that the "Strap bars are to be inserted into holes drilled completely through the case lugs. The bars are to be hard soldered intoposition". This makes it even harder to lose the watch if the strap breaks as there are no weak spring bars. I have two CWC watches to this spec. Actually the case lugs on the 3 o'clock side are drilled right through but the 9 o'clock lugs are not. The lugs at 3 are visible if you look carefully.
You can pre-treat your soiled NATO straps with Clorox 2 Color Safe Bleach prior to washing, then it add to the washer as well an they’ll come out bright and clean again. Especially noticeable with the bright colors like the orange which I wear as well with my SKX.
thanks for the video TGV. Living in UK i could not buy Nato strap from your recommendation of wrist candy but i have found a good alternative. Sniper Bay. The straps have sewn in buckles and heat treated ends and strap holes and available from amazon at good price.
Just ordered two NATO straps from Wrist Candy. Thanks for your review.
Hooray!!! Sure you will love them.
Thank you,
Best regards,
TGV
Would be very nice if ytou would add the watches name in the description in your videos , often i see really beautifull watches in your videos , but its hard to tell or find out sometimes wich pieces they are , thanks and keep up the great work!
Great in depth video; thank you for showing us what to look out for in a quality band.
+Johnmark James Thank you Johnmark, very kind of you to say.
Best regards,
TGV
You can fix that worn Zulu strap by pushing through the holes a metal rod, heated up to ~240°C. The metal rod (an Allen screw driver for example) has to fit very snug in the hole you want to repair. After this is done, trim the remaining frays around the hole (you can use the flame from a gas cigarette lighter, a normal one not the wind proof types). I suggest you try this process at first on a strap you no longer need. If the metal rod is to hot, you could end up enlarging too much the hole in the strap.
I bought a couple Nato straps from Wrist Candy, and while I do love them one has begun to fray (in-between the holes) after a month's use.
Heat up a pin and melt it
Hey Tristano,
First of all I wanted to thank you for your great content that really helped me!
So after long researching about a new beater watch, I am now planning to buy a Seiko SNZH55K1.
Best regards,
Thomas
Excellent channel let me start by saying.
I was in the mind to get some Nato straps for my Seiko 5 7S36. I am happy to have seen this review when I did. I purchased 2 straps form WCWC. They are splendid! If supple can be a good adjective then these nylon straps are supple.
They are thinner and lighter then I had imagine, supple yet very well made.
Thank you for the review.
So happy to hear, I love WCWC, well as you know and can now see why. Enjoy them!
Thank you Michael,
Best regards,
TGV
Excellent video TGV. It would also be great to actually see you changing springs with the spring bar tool and how you do that. I hate doing it as there is always the tiniest of scratches on the back of the case because that cannot be avoided I guess. This is a great video!
+vdenich Thank you my friend.
Funnily enough, I have shot a video exactly on that subject. Its in the que and should be up, if not this week, the next. Stay tuned.
Best regards,
TGV
+The Urban Gentry Awesome! By the way I ordered the Oppermann Blue Wallet and I have a coupon code I can send you as well. I will be on the lookout for the spring bar video!
By far, my favorite intro
Great video TGV and love the color selections you chose! Quick question, do you prefer NATO or ZULU straps and why?
+rich mika Exceleltn question, I would have to say Nato all the way. The extra rings help fold away the strap neatly and extra strap under the watch gives an unbeatable comfort, well for me at least. I like the simplicity of the Zulu, but for me, the Nato wins hands down every time. Thank you,
Best regards,
TGV
@@theurbangentry The sand strap is outstanding with that watch! Do you still have it mate?
Tip: if the tang holes aren't glued or if they start fraying, get a soldering iron with a needle tip, heat it up and CAREFULLY use it to melt the nylon a little. It'll bind the fibres and stop the fraying.
Thanks TGV, I loved this video! It's almost as if you knew I wanted to see a video like this ;). As always, have a good one.
Great review, thanks for sharing. Based on your review I just ordered two nato straps. A "Bond" black and gray and a "vintage Bond" blue, green, red. I'll let you know how they do! Thanks again.
Speedy looks great on the striped nato, very envious!
+Jon Rout Thank you, very kind.
Best regards,
TGV
Excellent video and great timing as I'm thinking of getting a few NATOs for my CW Trident. Thanks for the advice!JohnPS - I see Squale has made the "big time" - they have a full page ad in the latest WatchTime magazine.
So annoyed my Aquaracer has a 21mm lug size... Limits the heck out of options 😫
Ordered the navy blue NATO strap from Wrist Candy. Thank you for your recommendation!
I seen this video. And it's been 2 years how is the quality of your NATO now. I just ordered 2 for my submariner.
Thanks for this video. New to this type of strap and now looks like I'm buying that great olive green-orange one and try it on my Asus Zenwatch 2. Wanted a strap that would handle all the sweat when walking the summer months in he south.
Thank you James, from the sound of it, a nato will serve you well there! Enjoy.
Best regards,
TGV
I love Nato and Zulu straps. So man different colours and combinations of colours to choose. Buying NATO and swapping out straps gets addictive.
I think the holes are made with a hot hole press/punch. This would melt the edges of the hole, sealing the nylon and prevent any fraying. (Same principle as whipping a nylon rope)
good catch there
The price of the extra security is comfort. On many different NATO"s I have and tried, the extra ring digs into the wrist, or protrudes enough to cause discomfort from external contact. No trouble with that and ZULU straps. This is the reason Bertucci uses ZULU, and instead compensates for the security with welded lugs...the best of both worlds, keeping in mind, a true 'field watch' is ultimately a functional tool, and therefore, security already isn't an issue if you're using removable lugs, whereas 'fashion' is a priori rationale with a NATO. Even the British W10 issue has welded lugs.
FYI the 'glue' you suggested is applied to the holes, isn't glue, nor is it applied. It's merely a melting (a cauterizing if you will) of the nylon during the laser-cutting process.
+lefroy1 Fantastic, thanks for watching,
Best regards,
TGV
Love the Heritage on that sand NATO!! Fantastic combination. Looking forward to the video on perlon straps. Haven't had any experience with those, either.
+Katrina Lopez Thank you Katrina, very kind of you to say. Perlons next week!
Best regards,
TGV
My timex weekender chronograph has a black leather nato strap. It works very well with that watch
+Nipplehook Bet it does, its a good looking watch, great combo, thanks for sharing,
Best regards,
TGV
Excellent stuff, tremendously helpful; now i know that are many choices for a NATO other than just the omega straps which are beautiful but god awful expensive!!!
thanks for review of ur 'Speedy' as well i have been stressed and anguished for some time over the speedy and so i went for the sapphire crystal and sapphire case back version (brand new)manual wind that comes with big black briefcase box - OMG amazing timepiece!
thanks a mil. Paul
Everyone always lists the spring bar failure as a reason why nato straps have the over/under pieces, but if the spring bar fails, a zulu would do exactly the same thing... Is the extra strap really just for looks?
In regards to the NATO strap... I believe it's for keeping the watch positioned on the strap, especially when not wearing it.
I just purchased a gold coin (1 oz) and tied it to a NATO strap to show my wealth. Much more elegant. I use my phone for accurate time. I get compliments all the time on my gold coin.
+AdventuRide lol nuff said - as long as it makes you happy lmao
Thanks. I couldn't keep ignore the smart ass on my should. The "gentleman" on my other shoulder quietly agreed with him... but doesn't voice his opinion as brutally honest as Mr. Smart.
Moment in Time if you're trying to indicate snobbery on his part then you must not watch his channel very much.
Moment in Time If you think He's a snob then you don't know he also recommended watches that cost between 10 to 100 dollars. Being a smartass is easy on youtube, being an actual smart smartass? I don't think you passed the test.
i find his 10 to 100 dollar watch reviews and recommendations his best vids!
Just ordered one in Khaki for my Wenger S.A.K. Swiss Diver. Seems like it will be a good match! Nice review!
+Hoveyish Thank you, enjoy it!
Best regards,
TGV
You can reseal the holes on that old zulu by just holding it to a lighter flame for a second and then pinch it between two fingers. I do it all the time on my old Nato/Zulu's.
The best thing to do to a NATO strap is to cut off the extra strap piece, to change it to a single pass through.
I just put on a "bond type" NATO strap on my dive watch, after I cut off the extra strap piece. Single pass-through bond type straps are hard to find.
These look beautiful.
+EMKWAN TV - vlogs from Abu Dhabi & Dubai Thank you Em, if you want I can get you a bunch and send them to you. They should have international shipping soon.
Best regards,
TGV