NATO straps

[Travelller]

It has a nostalgic value (Bond, military, ...).
They allow you to dress down your Rolex to all but fellow WIS
You can change NATO straps in an instant.
Very

[Armyguy03]

NATO anyone???

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1375320407.368283.jpg

[Hkspwrsche]

Originally Posted by T.S.Eliot

This is one reason

Finally

[Tudor Fan]

Originally Posted by T.S.Eliot

This is one reason

This is THE reason!

[Glidelock]

Originally Posted by Rashid.bk

There has been talk of the stress natos put on spring bars, in relation to the tension being displaced towards the center of the spring bar thus influencing failures, something that solid end links prevent on newer Rolexes. However this was not an issue at all on lug hole cases as the spring bars are beefier/stronger.
There was a member who had multiple spring bar failures on a non lughole Sub. The spring bars were warped at the center.

I've decided to give them a try as I've started to like the look and will spare my bracelet some abuse at work. I'll definitely be conducting random inspections to make sure the spring bars are healthy, something I encourage all to do periodically.
Ironically the BB comes with an awesome nato(that I'm trying to source) and it doesn't have lug holes, I wonder if it uses stronger spring bars....?

Rashid, if you continue to research these threads in reference to your concerns about uneven pressure being put on the spring bars you will find that in many if the cases it's because people were trying to be extremely true to Bond history and fit their Subs w/ 18mm straps which are easily 2 mm to small and over time catch on the spring bar...eventually wedging it over far enough to come loose from the case. Just to much room slipping back and forth instead of a 20 mm which is snug and fit. That, and when fitting any bracelet, you need to be sure you definitely get that spring bar fully locked into place.

As far as the BB springbars go, not sure, but Sub C springbars are extremely beefy even compared to 16610's!

[ec51]

Originally Posted by Rashid.bk

There has been talk of the stress natos put on spring bars, in relation to the tension being displaced towards the center of the spring bar thus influencing failures, something that solid end links prevent on newer Rolexes. However this was not an issue at all on lug hole cases as the spring bars are beefier/stronger.
There was a member who had multiple spring bar failures on a non lughole Sub. The spring bars were warped at the center.

I've decided to give them a try as I've started to like the look and will spare my bracelet some abuse at work. I'll definitely be conducting random inspections to make sure the spring bars are healthy, something I encourage all to do periodically.
Ironically the BB comes with an awesome nato(that I'm trying to source) and it doesn't have lug holes, I wonder if it uses stronger spring bars....?

Originally Posted by Glidelock

Rashid, if you continue to research these threads in reference to your concerns about uneven pressure being put on the spring bars you will find that in many if the cases it's because people were trying to be extremely true to Bond history and fit their Subs w/ 18mm straps which are easily 2 mm to small and over time catch on the spring bar...eventually wedging it over far enough to come loose from the case. Just to much room slipping back and forth instead of a 20 mm which is snug and fit. That, and when fitting any bracelet, you need to be sure you definitely get that spring bar fully locked into place.

As far as the BB springbars go, not sure, but Sub C springbars are extremely beefy even compared to 16610's!

X2

[ec51]

Originally Posted by pitbull666

Which type of NATO strap is best ?

I've seen a reference to strapcode.com

They have both the standard 20mm NATO
http://www.strapcode.com/store/nato-...ack-p-882.html

And the 20mm NATO Zulu heavy thread nylon
http://www.strapcode.com/store/20mm-...le-p-2276.html

I'll be testing one out on a SubC and wanted it to match in well with the maxi case so was looking at the heavy thread option ?

Originally Posted by rolio

My wife says "canvas should only be used for tents!" But, she shops a lot and sees everything (Side note: I do like the silver and black posted by ec51.)

Thank you!

...and to help out, I bought that one here (no relation to the sites):

http://www.broadarrow.net/maratac.htm

I can also recommend:

http://www.gnomonwatches.com/accesso...to-strap-matte

[Glidelock]

Originally Posted by ec51

Thank you!

...and to help out, I bought that one here (no relation to the sites):

http://www.broadarrow.net/maratac.htm

I can also recommend:

http://www.gnomonwatches.com/accesso...to-strap-matte

Yep...those are my exact and only 2 NATO straps! No relation to sites either. I like the looks on both, but no comparison on which one is made better!

[Rashid.bk]

Originally Posted by Glidelock

Rashid, if you continue to research these threads in reference to your concerns about uneven pressure being put on the spring bars you will find that in many if the cases it's because people were trying to be extremely true to Bond history and fit their Subs w/ 18mm straps which are easily 2 mm to small and over time catch on the spring bar...eventually wedging it over far enough to come loose from the case. Just to much room slipping back and forth instead of a 20 mm which is snug and fit. That, and when fitting any bracelet, you need to be sure you definitely get that spring bar fully locked into place.

As far as the BB springbars go, not sure, but Sub C springbars are extremely beefy even compared to 16610's!

This sounds like good info. Will definitely keep that that in mind.

Do both the SubC and GMT2C use 20mm nato straps?

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk 2

[Tudor Fan]

Here are some more inspirations...
On-Black-&-Red-Nato-2web.jpg

L1090316.jpg

on black Nato.jpg

L1090329.2.jpg

[Travelller]

Originally Posted by Travelller

It has a nostalgic value (Bond, military, ...).
They allow you to dress down your Rolex to all but fellow WIS
You can change NATO straps in an instant...

Those are the pluses but there are drawbacks as well - for instance, they raise the watch off your wrist by a couple of mm... .
I'm "ok" with it but it's bound to be a turn-off for some. I can't imagine using the thicker Zulu straps ...unless you get the two-piece version... I found some nice two-piece Zulus but the keepers were blasted - nothing for a satin-polished Rolex case...

Originally Posted by pitbull666

...And the 20mm NATO Zulu heavy thread nylon...

Originally Posted by scottb2

if anyone has some of the really heavy nylon ones shoot me a PM - I think they serve their purpose on all kinds