OV9

JIC on this one.

Metal bracelets are less comfortable, (often) don't look as good, are more expensive and get marked with use. Catch one on something and it'll break the spring bar and you'll drop your watch.

Natos are essentially disposable, much more comfortable, don't get scratched, look significanly less 'bling', available in numerous different designs and colours so you can swap them to match the rest of your outfit are really cheap and more robust. I have numerous including a pink one, a powder blue one with white spots, a 'martini' one plus loads of other random coloured and striped ones. I'll fit one as i'm getting dressed and match it to whatever else I'm wearing.

I do like braclets, but only in certain circumstances. But then I don't really like shiny stuff and jewellery. I like leather straps too (aestheticaly, not the animal cruelty angle) but they age and have similar drawbacks to a bracelet in terms of dropping your watch if you catch the band and break a spring bar.

For me, a nato can dress down a watch so it can go under the radar. It's the antithesis of a shiny Beitling 'look at my massive, expensive watch' bracelet. I like eg Grand Seikos for the same reason. Most people would look at a £30k one and think as it's a Seiko it's £100 watch, the same type that would spuff over a quartz Tag.

Ha, already started on my pre-football beer. That was miles more rambling bollocks than I realised.

I also don’t like them. They’re also a great identifier in real life of people who spend time on watch forums.

Are they fuck.

Those of you who catch your watch on everything and break the bars just need to be more careful. I can only assume the watches you have are absolutely covered in scratches and knocks from your constant clumsiness.

Rich B wrote: Wed Jul 11, 2018 9:51 pm Those of you who catch your watch on everything and break the bars just need to be more careful. I can only assume the watches you have are absolutely covered in scratches and knocks from your constant clumsiness.

You could always loop the end of the strap over the face to prevent that.

NotoriousREV wrote: Wed Jul 11, 2018 10:15 pm

Rich B wrote: Wed Jul 11, 2018 9:51 pm Those of you who catch your watch on everything and break the bars just need to be more careful. I can only assume the watches you have are absolutely covered in scratches and knocks from your constant clumsiness.

You could always loop the end of the strap over the face to prevent that.

Good call, though why even risk an expensive watch on your wrist if you can’t handle daily life without snagging it in everything you walk past - just wear an ugly NATO strap on its own and use your phone to tell the time.

Has anyone added a NATO strap to a phone yet? Phones are far more fragile than Rolexes.

Back to sensible discussion for a second: what is the objection to NATOs? They don’t have to be striped in vivid colours so it can’t be on taste grounds. They reduce the strap to its bare essentials. You could say they’re the Caterham or Elise of the watch strap world.

Jobbo wrote: Wed Jul 11, 2018 10:32 pm Back to sensible discussion for a second: what is the objection to NATOs? They don’t have to be striped in vivid colours so it can’t be on taste grounds. They reduce the strap to its bare essentials. You could say they’re the Caterham or Elise of the watch strap world.

Just use a cable tie then, they are lighter and equally as ugly.

Why have an expensive watch with an unnecessarily complicated mechanism then?

JIC again.


I wear a black NATO 90% of the time. Not a fancy one.


Yes you could have a shitter watch but that’s shitter than an ace watch on a comfortable, functional strap.

...and it’s not like I’m a clumsy cunt yet I have had a watch drop off a bracelet numerous times. 2 that immediately spring to mind are: middle of dance floor throwing shapes too aggressively and erm... having a ‘disagreement’ with someone, ‘extending my arm towards him’ quickly and my watch continuing along the arc that the rest of my arm abruptly ceased to follow when it met his smiley parts.

NATO straps, the safest choice for clubbing or getting in fights.

Because military.

I guess you either get them or you don't. I don't. The end.

Move past it - we're discussing WATCH STRAPS FFS.

JLv3.0 wrote: Thu Jul 12, 2018 7:07 am I guess you either get them or you don't. I don't. The end.

Move past it - we're discussing WATCH STRAPS FFS.

Well I for one am looking forward to you starting a more meaningful thread!

Ah that old standard response - very good . You got me GOOD.

Maybe cufflinks, or shoelaces or something?

JLv3.0 wrote: Thu Jul 12, 2018 7:35 am Ah that old standard response - very good . You got me GOOD.

Maybe cufflinks, or shoelaces or something?

your call! Make it a good’un!

I'll get right on it!