A Comprehensive Guide To The Best Watch Straps. A visual glossary to the other half of a watch's appearance. A proper strap is an essential companion to any watch, and switching it out is an easy way to experiment with a whole new style. A broad and diverse strap collection can greatly extend the number of combinations available to you; to an observer, the band is often more visible than the face of the watch, so a large assortment of straps will make a small collection of watches appear truly enormous.
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By their very nature, watch straps are often considerably cheaper than an entirely new watch, so it is often more cost- effective to expand one’s collection of straps over splurging on another watch. That’s not to say one shouldn’t own an assortment of watches – just make sure you don’t neglect that which connects them to your wrist. There is an absolutely humungous amount of watch straps available to you, and I will do my best to document the best watch straps here. Each strap has a fascinating history, so if one of them jumps out at you, the accompanying text will surely be an interesting read.
Finally, be sure to check out the lists of available retailers; they should help you find exactly what you’re looking for, regardless of your price range. Don’t be afraid to spend a bit extra to get exactly what you want! Without further ado, let’s get started: Strap in header: Shinola, $2. NATO Strap. Originally developed for British Army soldiers in the 1. NATO strap originally debuted under the name “G1. Although similar styles can be traced back to World War II, this was the first appearance of the strap under its contemporary title.
It quickly grew in popularity throughout the military, and over time, the general public gradually began to appreciate the strap for its numerous features and abilities. When the Cold War ended, G1. NATO Surplus Number. Surplus stores sold out quickly, but watch strap retailers sprung up to take advantage of the surge in popularity. The veritable storm of NATO straps never quite ended, and they are sure to remain popular for decades to come.
A visual glossary to the other half of a watch's appearance. Explore a detailed guide of the best watch straps on the market. The Full The Tribe (2015) Movie.
The most notable feature of a NATO strap is its single- piece construction; most other straps are composed of two separate pieces, and can only be applied by removing both of the spring bars that attach to the watch. Switching out straps is normally a time consuming process, but NATO straps are simply woven underneath the spring bars, so they can be removed or applied in a matter of seconds. Finally, the addition of a watch keeper strap ensures that the watch case will remain firmly on your wrist even if one of the spring bars snaps. All of these characteristics make NATO straps an excellent choice for nearly any situation, and their low price is a boon to those on a budget. Retailers: Zulu. Trademarked by Maratac, Zulu straps have surprisingly little background for such an interesting name.
Although obviously inspired by NATO straps, there are a few minor differences that separate the two. Firstly, they are composed of thicker materials, be it nylon or leather. This slightly increases their strength and durability, but they also might not fit between the spring bars of some watches.
Secondly, Zulu straps have larger, more rounded hardware to accommodate their increased girth. In contrast, NATO straps have small, squared- off buckles and rings that better suit its reduced volume. Either way, there is almost no aesthetic impact, so just go with whatever you find to be the most comfortable. The generally larger dimensions Zulu straps make them especially good for large watches, since the face is more comparable to the hardware in terms of size.
Conversely, NATO straps are excellent for small watches; the thinner material is more likely to fit through the spring bars, and they have a more proportionate appearance. Zulu straps also take a bit longer to break in, but at the same time, they will most likely last longer than a NATO.
In the end, it comes down to personal preference – some people can’t handle the extra bulk a Zulu provides, but others find NATO straps to be too flimsy. I recommend picking up one of each type and deciding which you prefer in- person! Retailers: Rally. Inspired by old school racing gloves, Rally straps can be easily recognized by the three or more large perforations punched out below the lugs.
Automotive racing is primarily a test of speed, and weight plays directly into the maximum achievable velocity – as such, many early race cars were constructed of parts with holes drilled through them. This decreased the overall weight, so just about everything made of metal was perforated to some extent. To remain aesthetically consistent, driving gloves (and later, rally straps) were perforated, too. Some might argue that the perforations existed primarily for ventilation and breathability, but it’s difficult to tell the true reason. Race cars are notoriously warm, and perforations helped to reduce both heat and weight, so it could have been either one!
Regardless of their origin, Rally straps are a great choice for summer wear. Even if it wasn’t the original intention, the perforations do substantially increase ventilation, which can be useful in the summer heat. Furthermore, there’s no better choice of strap to pair with a vintage chronograph, since they were frequently used to time races. If the style or history of the Rally strap appeals to you, I highly recommend picking one up. Retailers: Oyster. Introduced by Rolex in the 1.
Oyster bracelet is an absolute classic in every sense of the word. The Oyster is characterized by its long and thick three- piece link design, and is by far the most popular bracelet model available. It has premiered on nearly every Rolex model to date, and has gained a massive following as a result. While its storied history is one reason for its success, many people swear by it for its sheer functionality. The wide center bar makes each link strong and less prone to stretching, so the bracelet is exceedingly durable. Furthermore, the relatively small number of links reduces the number of possible break points. This does come at a cost, however; the reduced number of swivel points makes the strap feel a bit stiff in comparison to other bracelets.
Aside from this minor problem, the Oyster bracelet is a great choice for nearly any watch. Itunes Movies For Ipod Maze Runner 2 (2015) here. The hefty links are often more proportionate on a large watch, but it looks great on a smaller one, too. The Oyster has a vast and interesting history, and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. If you’re interested in experimenting with bracelets, this is a great first step! Retailers: President.
Originally worn on the Rolex Day- Date in 1. President bracelet received its name from its close association with Dwight D. As the story goes, Rolex offered Mr. Eisenhower the company’s 1. The relative width of each link piece is similar to that of the Oyster, but there is a drastic difference in the number of total links. The President bracelet is markedly denser than the Oyster, so each link is much shorter in comparison.
This eliminates the problem of stiffness, but it does present a potential problem in terms of durability. The increase in total links also leads to a direct increase in probable break points, but this should not be a major concern. You might notice a small amount of stretching after extensive wear, but this depends entirely on the quality of the strap, not its link construction.
The President bracelet is considerably more formal than the Oyster due to its compact links. This also increases the strap’s versatility, since it can be dressed up and down more easily. For this reason, it is an excellent choice when versatility is a primary concern. It typically works best with small- to medium- sized watches, but this comes down to personal preference.
Retailers: Jubilee. The Jubilee bracelet was first introduced in 1. Rolex’s 4. 0th anniversary – it premiered on the Datejust, one of Rolex’s most renowned dress watches.