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New Omega NATO straps

67ViP
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ras47 ras47
What a world it is when we see $175 for a watch strap made of nylon as a bargain. I may splurge and get 3 or 4! 馃榾
It is what is...you can't expect to take Traci Lords out to dinner at McDonald's. But high performance has a cost; and just like Traci... Omega is five times better than anybody else.
 
ras47
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67ViP 67ViP
It is what is...you can't expect to take Traci Lords out to dinner at McDonald's. But high performance has a cost; and just like Traci... Omega is five times better than anybody else.
Tracy knows stuff.
 
67ViP
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PSX_20171125_074650.jpg
A great alternative I just found for everyday wear are the HD NATOs from Crown and Buckle. They're 1.5mm thick, made from ballistic nylon, and available in a 3 ring RAF style or 5 ring traditional NATO. Quality control is immaculate, and only $15 a pop or buy 3 and get 20% off. I love the Omega SPECTRE strap, but at $175 I'd like it to last from here to eternity...so decided to save it for dressier occasions. I have also tried Alphashark and they're a mess; great hardware and very nice strap material, but holes are poorly cut and induce constant fraying...not to mention the only one they seem to get the stripes consistently aligned on is the vintage Bond in black/green/red.
Edited:
 
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Moadib
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It is insane. Point of NATO is lower cost robust strap. I guess the success depends whether people vote with their wallet or not. I have a SM300, and when I fancied a 'Bond' NATO I for sure avoided the Omega branded. They are lovely, but 10x the price for no real benefit.
 
texasmade
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How much are the Omega nato straps? US website says 160,000CHF which is clearly an error but I鈥檝e seen the range from $175-$350.
 
67ViP
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texasmade texasmade
How much are the Omega nato straps? US website says 160,000CHF which is clearly an error but I鈥檝e seen the range from $175-$350.
I bought both the SPECTRE and Red Bond for $175 each through my AD. They are both immaculate in finish and hardware, but I will save them for special occasions so I get max service life out of them (not that they're fragile, I just don't want to buy them again). That is the primary reason I switched over to the Crown & Buckle HD series...different material, but same quality control on finish, both are flawless. I especially like the Vintage Bond in black/olive/red...looks really good on my black SMPc. I will buy the Omega Commander NATO as soon as it's available for my blue SMPc...but I just put the steel bracelet back on it and don't want to mess with again for a while.
 
boltman
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I tried a crown and buckle not too impressed. Granted this was several years ago, perhaps they have improved
 
67ViP
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boltman boltman
I tried a crown and buckle not too impressed. Granted this was several years ago, perhaps they have improved
Understandable, I heard Alphashark was supposed to be great and its not even close. The only ones from Crown & Buckle I have are from the HD series in 20 & 22mm, and in the black/grey, black/grey/red, and black/olive/red colors. I like the Bond/Regimental stripe motif and these are made from ballistic nylon. Omega's are polymide...I have no idea of the difference, but after wasting money on just about everybody & his brother's NATO strap I'll stick with C&B for everyday wear and leave the Omega's for dressier occasions. I wear formal mess dress about once a month for leadership class graduations, so I'll switch out then or wear my blue SMPc. Watchgecko has a really nice vintage Bond NATO in the correct navy/olive/burgundy motif, but it's barely 1 mm thick. On a lighter watch like my Tag Heuer Formula 1 it's okay, but on a heavier watch like my 42mm work beater it's a tad light. I had been looking for something more substantial & stumbled on Crown & Buckle when I confused it with Crown & Caliber.
Edited:
 
ScubaPro
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makaria indica makaria indica
I play tennis with a 300 co-axial Seamaster on a Grey and Black 5 stripe Omega Nato Honza. Having the watch attached via a loop through both spring bars whilst playing active sports is in my mind a good idea.......

Who plays tennis with a watch on, unless they're paid a princely sum to do so? It's like playing with a heavy bracelet on.
 
makaria indica
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ScubaPro ScubaPro
Who plays tennis with a watch on, unless they're paid a princely sum to do so? It's like playing with a heavy bracelet on.
Ive worn a watch day in day out for 30+ years...... Cant say I have noticed the weight.
 
Archer
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ScubaPro ScubaPro
Who plays tennis with a watch on, unless they're paid a princely sum to do so? It's like playing with a heavy bracelet on.

I do. Don't really notice the weight.
 
67ViP
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Archer Archer
I do. Don't really notice the weight.
Me too except to the golf course...for over 25 years; everywhere/everyday. This bad boy has been to St Andrews, Carnoustie, Gleneagles, Royal St Georges, Stoke Park, Sunningdale, Walton Heath, Bandon Dunes, Harbor Town, Doral...and a hundred other places in between.
 
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#nb
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I doubt if these straps cost more than $10 to be made. Sure they look good but in terms of value another sign of an inflated watch market.
 
67ViP
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#nb #nb
I doubt if these straps cost more than $10 to be made. Sure they look good but in terms of value another sign of an inflated watch market.
All luxury watches are deliberately over-priced to scare away the unwashed heathen. A NATO or leather strap allows a bit of personalized customization, as well as major cool factor... otherwise we'd all wear a Timex and drive a black Ford Fiesta.
 
D
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you pay for the buckle and branding.

anyways, can someone explain to me why a nato generally makes a watch thicker?
 
67ViP
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D dasturkey
you pay for the buckle and branding.

anyways, can someone explain to me why a nato generally makes a watch thicker?
A NATO strap has two layers under the watch, an RAF strap has one. So if your NATO strap is 1.4mm thick, your watch will sit almost 3mm higher now.
 
B
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Morrisdog Morrisdog
i am sure many of you may have noticed some new NATO straps on the omega website . =

What are your views on these new NATOs.

Very nice. I wouldn't mind a few of those, but I tend to prefer straps and once I get the strap on I'm likely never to take it off as I find the whole process quite stressful.

On a side note, and yes I do realize this is the Omega forum, but I wish Tudor would do the same. I'm sure you can probably get one through Tudor ADs anyway. I'm considering a Black Bay and will want to change out the NATO on it.
 
B
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Ooh, and I just noticed you can switch watches like Hodinkee's "strap finder". Very cool and very smart.
 
67ViP
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B BLAUGRANA
Very nice. I wouldn't mind a few of those, but I tend to prefer straps and once I get the strap on I'm likely never to take it off as I find the whole process quite stressful.

On a side note, and yes I do realize this is the Omega forum, but I wish Tudor would do the same. I'm sure you can probably get one through Tudor ADs anyway. I'm considering a Black Bay and will want to change out the NATO on it.

I think all the Black Bay watches come with one alternate synthetic strap...whether you'll like it or not is another story. HNS makes a very good two piece Zulu strap in the SPECTRE motif ($15); Crown & Buckle HD series is also excellent and the same price...as well as being available as a RAF or NATO type (one layer vs two under the watch); and Watchgecko is very nice...but they are only 1mm or so thick. For a big, heavy watch I'd recommend HNS 2 piece Zulu or one of the Crown & Buckle HD series.
 
B
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67ViP 67ViP
I think all the Black Bay watches come with one alternate synthetic strap...whether you'll like it or not is another story. HNS makes a very good two piece Zulu strap in the SPECTRE motif ($15); Crown & Buckle HD series is also excellent and the same price...as well as being available as a RAF or NATO type (one layer vs two under the watch); and Watchgecko is very nice...but they are only 1mm or so thick. For a big, heavy watch I'd recommend HNS 2 piece Zulu or one of the Crown & Buckle HD series.

Yeah, I just meant that you could buy the one you want. I'm sure you can through an AD.
 
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