Are NATO Straps Suitable For All Types Of Watches?

Nato straps look cool and they are cheap to buy, which is probably why they are so popular among watch collectors, but are they actually suitable for all types of watch?

This is a tricky question, they will look good on a wide range of watches, but there are some that will just not look right at all. I will go through some of the most common types of watches and give my opinion on what watches they can work with, and what ones you might want to avoid pairing a Nato with.

Natos Are Pretty Versatile

In general Nato straps are pretty versatile, they actually work with the majority of watches. I will go through this in more detail below, but generally they work well with most things.

When it comes to actually putting a Nato strap on a watch …99.99% of watches will be able to accommodate a Nato, but if it actually works well aesthetically is a different question.

I think it is often best for you to just try the strap on your own watch and see for yourself. There are a lot of people who just don’t like them, or they don’t like them on certain watches and really I think the best way to find out how you feel about things is to actually give it a try and see how it looks on your own wrist.

(You can read more about – How Does A NATO Strap Differ From Other Types Of Watch Straps?)

If You Like The Look Of A Nato On Your Watch, Do It

While I will give some recommendations below, I think I need to repeat what I said above … it is best to try your own watch on a Nato and see what you think

If you like how it looks …that is all that matters, it’s your watch, your writs and your Nato strap. If you think it looks cool, then that really is all that matters.

You will always find someone who says it doesn’t work, or the colour is stupid, but who cares about them.  If you think your watch looks good on the Nato strap you have chosen (or any strap for that matter) then you should proudly wear it and if anyone doesn’t like it … that is their problem, not yours.

(You can read more about – Can You Easily Interchange NATO Straps Between Different Watches?)

Pairing Nato Straps With Different Styles Of Watches

I have made a short list here of the main type of watch styles you can find and I will quickly discuss how a Nato strap may, or may not work with each kind of watch.

However, this is just my generic take on things, as I mentioned above, if you like the look of the paring you have made, it doesn’t matter what I say below.

(You can read more about – How Often Should You Change A Watch Strap?)

Field Watches

When we think of field watches, we think military watches …and a Nato strap is also a military strap so the two should really work well together …and they do!

When people think of Nato straps, usually their first though is a field watch. This is probably helped by the fact that a large number of field watches are actually supplied with a Nato, that is just how good they pair together.

They work especially well if the plain solid colours, like all green or similar. Natos just really help bring out that utilitarian feel of a field watch.

They are a great paring, you really can’t go wrong with this.

Divers

Dive watches pair really well with Natos and it is very common to see these two together.

Of course most people don’t actually dive with their watch …but if they did, it would be a very good choice. Natos are going to be able to handle the conditions of the water and also the strap is going to be easily adjusted if you wanted to place it over a wetsuit. Many bracelets have a dive extension so you can make things a little bigger for this exact reason …but it’s just easier with a Nato.

You also have the advantage of the Nato being able to keep a watch on your wrist if a spring bar breaks which is going to save your watch from being lost at the bottom of the sea.

Basically dive watches and Natos are a great pairing, I highly recommend.   

GMTs

I am going to say something mildly controversial here …GMTs are just dive watches with a different bezel and an extra hand …but that means they work well with Nato straps, just like dive watches.

That statement is of course based off the fact that a Rolex GMT and Rolex Submariner are not to dissimilar. I know that will upset people, but it is true and we are not here for that discussion, its more to say that a Nato strap will work will with either.

I also think it is important to note that not all GMTs look like divers, they may actually take on the form of any of the other styles of watches, so really you need to try the Nato on your own GMT and just see how it works. Often it will, but I am sure there are plenty of examples where they will not.

Chronographs

My advice for chronographs is again very similar to that of the GMTs. You need to try the Nato strap on your watch and see how it feels.

I have seen a lot of chronographs with Natos and I think they look great, these watches generally have a sporty feel to them, so a sporty strap like a Nato will usually work here.

let me just make an even more controversial statement about Rolex …you could say that the Daytona and Submariner are pretty similar. If you ignore the bezel and dials and extra pushers …but I mean that the case shape is also pretty similar and you will often see Daytonas on a Nato and they look just as cool as the other Rolexes that are worn on them.

It is a look that can certainly work. 

Pilot Watches

When I close my eyes and think pilots watch …I think leather strap. This doesn’t mean that a Nato will not work, it just means that it is not a common paring.

I have seen a few and they look alright. This might also be a good occasion to mix the two strap types and get a leather Nato. That might work well here, but as I keep saying, this is something you need to try for yourself and see how you feel about it.

I think it should be an okay pairing in most cases. 

Dress Watches

Dress watches are where we start getting into the danger zone. I think in most cases a dress watch is going to be too elegant to work with a rough and ready Nato …but it’s not impossible.

This is really going to depend on how refined your dress watch is and I am sure that there are plenty of watches that could get away with it, especially if you just use something like a plain black strap.

There are a lot of dress watches that are not fully dress watches. They are sort of sporty… but sort of dressy at the same time. Those classic “do anything” kind of watches.

If we think of something like a Rolex oyster perpetual …its one of those in between watches. You could wear it as a dress watch, but it is also kind of sporty at the same time. I really think watches like this can swingyeither way and the strap plays a huge role in this. You stick a Nato strap on this watch … it’s no longer a dress watch, it’s a little bit more sporty …but the important thing is that it can work and it can look good.

This is why I keep saying to try the watch on the strap. Most people would write a dress watch off when it comes to Natos …but until you try it, you can’t be sure. 

Digital Watches

Digital watches are a bit like dress watches, they shouldn’t really work with a Nato strap, but some models will.

A lot of these watches have slightly awkward lugs. If you think of most Casios their bracelets have that fake tapering that makes them look great, but when you put a Nato on …the strap looks skinny and it just sort of pokes out.  

This isn’t every model, but again, play around with things and see what you think.

You also often have the fact that digital watches are plastic, so they can look a little strange on a fabric strap, but it’s not the worst combination and people will do it, it can work.

Smart Watches

I have no interest in smart watches, but my understanding is that you can fit a Nato strap on to most of them, and they look pretty good actually.

However, you will probably face one huge issue. The caseback of these watches is usually the heart rate monitor thing and this needs to touch your skin ….which is why it’s on the caseback. However, the way a Nato works, means it will be going across the caseback …meaning the sensor cannot touch your skin, making it useless.

I believe you can get nylon strap in the more traditional style, meaning you can get the Nato look, without actually using a Nato. 

Watches With An Integrated Strap

One of the few watches where you may struggle to use a Nato, is a watch with an integrated strap.

This will really depend on the watch and if you can remove the strap or not, but usually when you can, it just doesn’t look right. I have already touched on this with the digital watches, especially ones like the G-shock.

The strap tapers in a way that makes it look like its 22mm, but underneath its actually only 18mm and then when you put a Nato on, this taper isn’t there and things look a bit weird, like the strap just looks skinny and pokes out at a funny angle.

Watches like this are designed to only ever have the original strap, so they usually don’t do well with alternatives.

Watches With Fixed Lugs

If you have a watch with fixed lugs, then Nato straps are going to be your best friend.

A fixed lug watch basically has no spring bars …well it has, but they are basically a part of the case. You cannot take them out, which means you cannot use a normal strap … the only option is to use a Nato strap.

So basically these watches are designed for Natos, so they should look good. All you need to do is pick a colour that works with the watch and enjoy it. 

Conclusion

So as you can see, Natos will work with a large number of watches and they may even work with some watches that they shouldn’t go with.

However, always remember that it is personal taste. Just because I say that a certain type of watch works well with them …and even if half of the world agrees …if you don’t like how it looks, that is fine and likewise, if there is a watch style that isn’t normally paired with Natos, but you think your own watch looks great, that is all that matters.

Enjoy your watches, and try out some Natos and see what you think, if you are anything like me, you will love them on pretty much everything!

(You can read more about – Frequently Asked Questions About – Nato Straps)