NATO Leather Watch Straps – $20.00 – $23.00
Full marks to Shawn R. for the Style Tip.
It’s hard not to like the NATO style watch strap. Take off the band but still leave your spring bar pins in your favorite watch, and you can swap a NATO style strap in and out in seconds. Most of us have a plain or striped nylon/canvas version, but it’s the leather option that’s much harder to find. Especially at a non gag-worthy price.
Enter Shawn with this nifty style tip about a guy who’s been selling leather NATO straps on Ebay and has a feedback score north of 6,000:
I found a dealer that came well recommended and has been selling for years. They’ve got a good array of colors, sizes, and styles, and I got a brown leather strap. It’s going to be a winner for business casual or outfits where grosgrain just doesn’t fit the bill.
I don’t usually dive into ebay. But this sounded like as low of a risk as it gets. Shipping is a measly $2.75 and if you buy more than one at once the seller re-credits your account and puts them all in one envelope. Got here in no more than a few days and while they’re not the thickest leather in the world (beef jerkyish) they look and feel great.
Available in 18, 20, 22, and 24 mm sizes.
Got any other sources for Leather NATO straps? Leave those suggestions below…
Watch by the Seiko step-down brand Pulsar
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Think these would go well with the $75 Orient watch that was on here a couple weeks back? The one with the terrible orange-ish strap?
The white face orient? Absolutely! dark or light brown, as well as black, if that’s your schtick. I find black boring, but that’s just me; I in no way think that’s a “rule.”
If anyone’s found a good source for grosgrain nato straps, I’d be happy to check that out. I’m definitely happy with this rmnilsen seller on ebay for the leather (and it’s been holding up pretty well over the month that I’ve had it), but I haven’t found a source for lots of wacky color nylon, which I want to have an assortment of to add pop to an otherwise ho-hum outfit.
I’ve been looking at chronoworld and watchmadness, which both have a decent selection, but I’ve yet to pull the trigger….there’s got to be a site somewhere with TONS of colored straps.
The AE one’s are dirt cheap… but I’m sure you’ve seen those before.
Mm, I got that Orient white face watch. Just curious but do you really think the strap is bad? The leather is comfortable, and obviously of very good build, and I personally like the croc-emboss and the orange-ish brown is unique. Is there some egregious oversight I’m making here in supporting it? You’re not the first person here to denounce that color for the band, as I believe Joe also did in the same post.
yeah; problem is, they’re not wide enough for my watch. they’re 18/19mm, I believe, and I need a 22. Jcrew’s sizes tend to be 19’s as well–if that’s your lug size, good on ya’, but for bigger watches on bigger wrists, 22 seems to be the norm.
http://www.broadarrow.net/maratac.htm
Maybe not as crazy as you want, but they’ve got 22s in several colors. I’ve got an olive one on order, should be here in the next day or two.
yeah; I like those maratac’s, but they’re more of a black based color range, and I’ve decided that a black face watch doesn’t work with most of my wardrobe.
I think it’s an “in-between” color of orange and a brown that doesn’t quite blend well with the common shades of belts and dress shoes that we’re used to. But honestly, if you think it looks fine on you, then I’m sure 95% of the people who see you probably think the same. 🙂
Hey Joe,
What is the color of the strap featured in the first picture? Desert tan or dark brown? Looks like the former but want to confirm.
Thx!
DL
That’s actually the dark brown. Musta been the flash and the way it hit it. It’s a little darker in person, but not a super dark brown. More medium.
Not sure if you are still in the market, but here are a few sources I have run across that have a wider color range (I have not ordered from either but have heard very good things about the ebay seller from WatchUSeek forums).
http://stores.ebay.com/barbarasbobbles2010?_trksid=p4340.l2563
http://nato.ecrater.com/c/1183886/watch-strap