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Thread: For the love of natos!

  1. #1
    Grand Master TaketheCannoli's Avatar
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    For the love of natos!

    Since joining this forum many years ago I’ve develped a love of the nato strap. I know they’re Marmite and I’m a lover of Marmite.

    Some will wonder how one can spend good money on a watch then wear it on a tatty piece of nylon and I respect that opinion. Those people are wrong, but I respect their opinion ;)

    For me, the interchangeability is the attraction. I can wear a different strap every day if I want to or even, as I did yesterday, three in one day!

    I currently have two watches that I alternate between (I also have a vintage Seiko 7000-8000 but I don’t wear it very often) and my selection of natos keeps them fresh in my eyes.

    If you’re a nato lover like me then you get it. If you’re a hater you’ll never get it. If you’re untried or undecided....give it a go, you never know!





  2. #2
    Grand Master RustyBin5's Avatar
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    I agree. Although some watches don’t suit it- thinking dress watches for example. But they certainly allow you to pick out dial colours and add some pzazz to a watch - I love these three

  3. #3
    Craftsman
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    Nothing wrong with a Nato.

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  4. #4
    Grand Master number2's Avatar
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    Yep,
    Big fan of 'nato and perlon' straps, brilliant in hot weather, swimming and with added security if a spring bar should fail.
    "Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action."

    'Populism, the last refuge of a Tory scoundrel'.

  5. #5
    Master
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    This is my flamboyant effort,I am having trouble forcing myself not to put it on a black NATO.
    This is sat in the cooling rain yesterday.



    A clearer pic.

    bb image

  6. #6
    Grand Master RustyBin5's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by bwest76 View Post
    This is my flamboyant effort,I am having trouble forcing myself not to put it on a black NATO.
    This is sat in the cooling rain yesterday.



    A clearer pic.

    bb image
    That works . Prefer it to black tbh

  7. #7
    Craftsman WhopperSenior's Avatar
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    I’ve got tons of NATO’s from various places. I recently picked up one of the seat belt NATO’s from watch gecko. Probably the most comfortable watch strap I’ve ever had. https://www.watchgecko.com/zuludiver...atch-strap.php


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  8. #8
    Master
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    Another NATO fan here. The only no from me is on my deepsea. Tried it once, looked and felt horrendous.
    I like a bit of colour matching, some great choices from rusty on this thread.
    And my NATO choices......

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  9. #9
    Grand Master TaketheCannoli's Avatar
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    Some belting combos folks, especially the Fortis, Smiths and white dial PAM!

  10. #10
    Master Sharky's Avatar
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    As zulu straps are similar I thought I'd post this one.

    Hope that's ok?

    Armida A7 Brass

    2018-07-27_02-38-24 by mcridland, on Flickr

    Mark

  11. #11
    Grand Master RustyBin5's Avatar
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    For the love of natos!

    Chronos especially often have a coloured second hand - I tend to pick that colour for the centre stripe of a nato as it continues the stripe through the dial - the heritage Chrono and fortis are examples. Rob’s orange gmt hand on the polar is another cracking example. That orange nato looks fantastic

  12. #12
    Grand Master Sinnlover's Avatar
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    NATOs are the most comfortable strap in my opinion
    I might even try a different colour one day

  13. #13
    Grand Master RustyBin5's Avatar
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    For the love of natos!

    Quote Originally Posted by Sinnlover View Post



    NATOs are the most comfortable strap in my opinion
    I might even try a different colour one day
    50 shades of grey and a feisty olive that sneaked in when no one was watching 🤣

  14. #14
    Master Jardine32's Avatar
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    I love messing about with NATO's on my watches. They are a really good strap option, especially when we have the odd heatwave. You don't need to babysit them and I always think if I see someone wearing a NATO etc there is a good chance they are into watches, (WIS handshake).
    J

  15. #15
    Grand Master TaketheCannoli's Avatar
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    In the box:


  16. #16
    Grand Master TaketheCannoli's Avatar
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    While we’re all nato friends together, does anyone fancy swapping my 20mm black and grey Timefactors Deluxe for a 20mm all black regular quality Timefactors?

  17. #17
    Craftsman
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    I find NATOs very comfortable and when the watch is laid flat on a table, they look great given the right combination of colours. However, when I then strap the watch to my wrist, I always notice how the flow of the lugs is interrupted, which doesn't happen with bracelets (because they follow the flow) nor with rubber straps (because they have shoulders) so I'll tend to always prefer those. It is likely to be indicative that the only watch I'm currently wearing on a NATO is this Sector EXP202 with very angular lugs where there's no flow to begin with:


  18. #18
    I really like Nato's they work particularly well for me as I have such a weedy wrist they're one of the few straps that actually work well & look ok.

    I don't like them on dress type watches (to me that looks naff) but on most others they make a watch look cooler IMO.

  19. #19
    I have two or three that I occasionally wear on NATOs however my Stowa Flieger / Royal Engineers combo is my favourite.


  20. #20
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    NATO’s, love’em, even if it has a flamingo on it!




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  21. #21
    Master bond's Avatar
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    Not usually a big nato fan but today felt like a change . Why not !


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  22. #22
    Grand Master RustyBin5's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ETCHY View Post
    I really like Nato's they work particularly well for me as I have such a weedy wrist they're one of the few straps that actually work well & look ok.

    I don't like them on dress type watches (to me that looks naff) but on most others they make a watch look cooler IMO.
    If you like natos and how they wear then perlons are good for your dress watches.

  23. #23
    Master Tim63's Avatar
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    It is nice when a plan comes together.....so many shades/opportunities to not quite work....but I think this combo looks fine.

    [IMG]

  24. #24
    Master SeanST150's Avatar
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    I love using a NATO to accentuate colours on a watch.

  25. #25
    Grand Master TaketheCannoli's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tim63 View Post
    It is nice when a plan comes together.....so many shades/opportunities to not quite work....but I think this combo looks fine.

    [IMG]
    Love that!

  26. #26
    Grand Master RustyBin5's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by TaketheCannoli View Post
    Love that!
    +1

  27. #27
    Craftsman
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    Love a NATO, so comfortable especially in this heat.

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  28. #28
    Master
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    One of my favourite NATO combinations.


  29. #29
    Master WarrenVrs's Avatar
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    Love them, especially in this heat

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  30. #30
    Craftsman WhopperSenior's Avatar
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  31. #31
    Craftsman WhopperSenior's Avatar
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    Another nice leather one


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  32. #32
    Master Yorkshiremadmick's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tim63 View Post
    It is nice when a plan comes together.....so many shades/opportunities to not quite work....but I think this combo looks fine.

    [IMG]
    Wowser Tim that looks bloody lovely and works superbly well.

    My Samurai Save the Ocean is on a Nato as I'm unable to alter the bracelet.
    IMG_6013.JPG


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  33. #33
    Some great examples on this thread.

    online photo hosting

  34. #34
    Grand Master RustyBin5's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Yorkshiremadmick View Post
    Wowser Tim that looks bloody lovely and works superbly well.

    My Samurai Save the Ocean is on a Nato as I'm unable to alter the bracelet.
    IMG_6013.JPG


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    Why can’t you adjust the bracelet

  35. #35
    Master
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    One more from me. Dull black but I think it suits the BB bronze perfectly.

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  36. #36
    Grand Master magirus's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by alphajet View Post
    One of my favourite NATO combinations.


    The matching black hardware and muted colour of that strap work very well with the Damasko.
    F.T.F.A.

  37. #37
    Grand Master oldoakknives's Avatar
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    Haven't dabbled with nato's much but some of the combinations on here are pretty tempting I must admit.

    ook

  38. #38
    Quote Originally Posted by alphajet View Post
    One of my favourite NATO combinations.

    Similar set-up on my DA36 Black -



    Been having a play with various NATOs on my A-13A, have settled on this combination however the watch suited pretty much everything I tried it on.




  39. #39
    Master Yorkshiremadmick's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by RustyBin5 View Post
    Why can’t you adjust the bracelet
    Because it's the Seiko pin and collar style. I'm not capable and don't have the tools.
    I bought it from the internet and not a jewellers so don't have the option of them sizing it for me. I could pay I guess, but liking it on mesh and Nato IMG_5997.JPGIMG_5998.JPG


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  40. #40
    Grand Master RustyBin5's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Yorkshiremadmick View Post
    Because it's the Seiko pin and collar style. I'm not capable and don't have the tools.
    I bought it from the internet and not a jewellers so don't have the option of them sizing it for me. I could pay I guess, but liking it on mesh and Nato IMG_5997.JPGIMG_5998.JPG


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    I used to have a spare pin removal tool. If I find it I’ll send you it.

  41. #41
    Grand Master RustyBin5's Avatar
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    All this talk of natos - made me do another strap change. Quite like it

  42. #42
    Master Yorkshiremadmick's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by RustyBin5 View Post
    I used to have a spare pin removal tool. If I find it I’ll send you it.
    Oh wow that would be great
    Thank You
    YouTube here I come.


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  43. #43
    Master
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    Canvas natos are not too shabby either. Also they are more comfy than nylon.


  44. #44
    Grand Master Neil.C's Avatar
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    I like a Nato as well.

    Not a fan of some of the brightly coloured stuff but they are undeniably a great iconic strap.

    They also come in useful when (as often happens) I buy a watch with a bracelet that is too short - sling it on a Nato!
    Cheers,
    Neil.

    My Speedmaster website:

    http://www.freewebs.com/neil271052

  45. #45
    Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by alphajet View Post
    One of my favourite NATO combinations.

    Where can I get that NATO?

    I’ve been looking for a army green colour with black hardware but all the greens are the wrong kind of shade or they’re too shiney, but that looks perfect.

    Thanks in advance.

    Tony

  46. #46
    Grand Master magirus's Avatar
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    Once over it was mainly my G10s and CWC diver that I wore on Natos due to the fixed bars, with some of my other watches getting an occasional Nato strapped on. My Voyager was on the supplied rubber or a Hirsch Liberty, the Damaskos and PRS5 always on leather.







    Then I had two near misses . . .







    Now Natos abound, especially on the Voyager now that the screwed bars are Loctited on. My Everest and Archimede Deck watch remain on leather, the Datejust stays on it's bracelet now.

    Voyager and straps . . .





    . . . the rest . . .

















    The beauty of "the rest" all having 20mm lugs is that when any of them is worn in rotation for a couple of weeks the various straps are easily swapped about.
    F.T.F.A.

  47. #47
    Master Wolfie's Avatar
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    Don’t mind bright colours on a NATO…. Not sure about more than one colour though…. Keep it simple


  48. #48
    Grand Master magirus's Avatar
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    Barton . . .




    Haveston . . .





    Eddie's . . .





    Crown and Buckle . . .



    F.T.F.A.

  49. #49
    Grand Master TaketheCannoli's Avatar
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    I love the look of those Haveston but never got round to getting one.

  50. #50
    Master
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    I just couldn’t do it,just to flash for me so back onto a standard black NATO until I find my grey Phoenix.

    If anyone wants the GECKOTA I bought last week you can have it for a couple of pounds less than I paid.

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