The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was created in 1949 among twelve nations to provide collective security against the feared threat of the Soviet Union.  NATO was the first peacetime military alliance the United States entered into outside of the Western Hemisphere.

You’ve probably heard of the NATO strap, right? A watch wrist strap mainly used for two purposes.  The first of which is the design and sheer stylish look.  The second, the practicality which shields the skin from exposure to metal parts found on a watch. 

Why did the strap receive and honor the defense alliance with their name? The short answer is they didn’t.

The NATO strap briefly made an appearance in the James Bond 1969 movie ‘GoldenFinger’ featured on a Diver’s watch.  In 1973, the British Ministry of Defence Standard developed a nylon strap, similar to the one seen in the movie, that was perfect for rugged conditions.  The strap had the ability to stay on the wrist even if a spring bar popped out of one of the lugs.  The way the strap is secured to the wrist, wrapped back through the nylon at the end, secures the case in place to the wrist with little movement.  These straps would be issued to soldiers who requested one.  The soldiers requested a G10 strap named after the form they had to fill out and their unit’s supply store of the same name, today simply known as a NATO strap. Today, NATOs can be found on just about any watch and are found in numerous colors and styles.
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A Timex will often be found using a NATO strap as well as high-end Patek Phillipe including most brands in between.   NATO watch straps offer amazing value and may be the perfect partner for your watch.

Times Ticking has been in operation for more than 30 years, since 1982. We have performed watch repair for customers both locally and internationally. If it Ticks! We KNOW it! Our team of watch repair technicians have a combined experience in watchmaking of over 120 years.