i recently ordered a Nato for my “grand ploprof” and when I went to the store to pick it up another person immediately told me the piece looked great and then he said... “what? A nato in a diver? That’s just so wrong!! So I ask you wis... Is there an unwritten rule as to what type of strap you can put on a watch? Natos for pilot/military Leather for dress Bracelet for sport watcheshow do you all feel about it?? Rubber for divers? Maratacs , zulus , rally straps... which category do they go with?
Not a fan of NATO's personally. But if you like them, I'd say any sport / active watch would be ok. Never on a dress watch.
So an aquaterra no but yes on a speedie? No on a constellation but yes on a seamaster 300? Are all semesters considered sporty? Omega does have dress watches but a lot of the models nowadays at least are pretty versatile.
I mean, leather on a diver might be kind of weird, just since leather wouldn’t hold up well under water, but a nato would be perfectly fine IMO. I’ve never heard anyone stick their noses up at nato on a diver. It’s what’s on every one of my divers.
You’d say a nato is form over function? Id say a nato is primarily function, and less form. Although i do love their form. Regardless, that IWC/nato combo is hot. Which ref is that?
You are probably right. Its function, and the form has recently become popular, or at least accepted. IW 5454-04.
My old school view Tool watch = NATO, bracelets, leather, canvas, rubber, sailcloth, actually anything really Dress watch = leather, bracelet. AT THE END OF THE DAY WEAR WHAT YOU LIKE Few points I would like to make on leather strap etiquette 1) If you are buying a crocodile, alligator etc strap buy one nothing worse than pressed calf leather that is made to look like crocodile 2) There is a big difference between a $1-200+ strap ( from a well respected maker ) than a $50 ( once you finally treat yourself there is really no going back ) 3) No matter if it's you favourite old strap once it has started to split or wear let it go...... ( hope my brother reads this )
I worked in a mine a few weeks ago and on watching the safety video they don't allow NATO straps on watches due to no breaking point. A strap which attaches to spring bars was OK ( lucky as I was going to put my speedmaster on a NATO before I left )
I saw a guy who used a giant invita as a pocket watch because the rubber strap broke off... so he took the other side of the strap off... Probably the weight of the watch?
Quite ridiculous to comment on your choice of strap. I agree you should wear what you want to wear. I dont think I would wear nato to an important meeting, but I mean watches such as a proplof are already so sporty that either nato or rubber would seem like the only sensible choice.