The Complete History of the NATO Strap

It's just a strip of nylon with some metal rings, right? Sure. But the NATO strap has one of the most interesting backstories in the watch world, from Cold War military spec to James Bond's wrist to your weekend BBQ rotation. Here's the full story.

What Is a NATO Strap?

A NATO strap is a one-piece watch strap made from nylon (or sometimes leather or seatbelt-weave material) that threads underneath the watch and through both sets of spring bars. Unlike a traditional two-piece strap, a NATO keeps your watch secured to your wrist even if one spring bar fails because the watch sits on a continuous strap, not between two separate pieces.

That's not just a design choice. That's the whole reason they were invented.

The Origin Story: British Military, 1973

The NATO strap as we know it was born from the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) in 1973. The MoD issued a specification - Defence Standard 66-47- for a nylon watch strap to be issued to British soldiers.

The design requirements were simple:

One piece of material that threads under the watch (so it can't fall off if a spring bar pops)
Nylon construction - lightweight, quick-drying, tough as nails
Metal hardware - squared buckle and keepers
Drab colours only - originally issued in "Admiralty Grey" (a sort of greeny-grey)

Soldiers could request one by filling out a G10 form - which is why you'll still hear people call them "G10 straps." Same thing, different name.

Why Is It Called a "NATO" Strap?

Here's where the name gets interesting. Every piece of military equipment issued by NATO member countries gets a NATO Stock Number (NSN) a 13-digit code used for logistics across all allied forces. The nylon watch strap got its own NSN, and soldiers started referring to it by its NATO stock number designation.

Over time, "that strap with the NATO number" got shortened to just "NATO strap." The name stuck, even though it was a British military creation, not a NATO-wide initiative. It's a bit like how we call all adhesive bandages "Band-Aids", technically wrong, universally understood.

Wait - What About James Bond?

Here's a fun bit of trivia that watch nerds love to argue about: James Bond wore a striped nylon strap before the NATO strap officially existed.

In Goldfinger (1964), Sean Connery's Bond wears his Rolex Submariner on a striped fabric strap almost a decade before the MoD formalised the NATO specification in 1973. It wasn't technically a "NATO strap" as we define it today, but it was a fabric strap with a similar look.

The specific pattern, dark grey with a burgundy and green stripe, has become iconic. You'll see it called the "Bond NATO" or "Goldfinger strap" in watch circles, and it remains one of the most popular striped strap colourways to this day.

Bond continued the NATO strap tradition decades later. Daniel Craig's 007 wore Omega Seamasters on NATO straps in both Spectre (2015) and No Time to Die (2021), cementing the NATO strap as both a military tool and a style statement.

From Military Gear to Fashion Staple

For the first couple of decades, NATO straps stayed firmly in military territory. Soldiers wore them. Civilians didn't really know they existed.

That started changing in the early 2000s, driven by a few things happening at once:

Online watch communities - forums like Watchuseek and Reddit's r/Watches introduced thousands of people to affordable watch modding and strap-swapping
The affordable watch boom - Seiko's SKX007, Orient's Mako, and Casio's Duro became gateway watches, and NATO straps were the cheapest way to customise them
The "Daniel Craig effect" - seeing Bond wear a NATO on an Omega made it aspirational, not just practical
E-commerce - shops like ours made it easy to grab a NATO strap without visiting a specialty store

By the 2010s, NATO straps had gone fully mainstream. High-end brands like Omega and Tudor started selling their own watches on NATO straps from the factory. A strap that was designed for soldiers crawling through mud was now on the wrists of office workers, surfers, and celebrities.

Types of NATO Straps Today

The original MoD spec was plain nylon in military colours. Today, there's a whole family of styles that have evolved from that original design.

Classic NATO

The standard. Woven nylon, squared hardware, one piece that threads through both spring bars with a secondary strap that tucks underneath. This is what most people mean when they say "NATO strap." Available in every colour and pattern you can imagine, solid colours, stripes, camo, you name it.

Browse our full range of classic NATO straps here.

Seatbelt NATO

Same design as the classic, but made from seatbelt-weave nylon, a tighter, silkier weave that feels more premium on the wrist. It's thinner, softer, and has a subtle sheen. If you want the NATO look without the "rough canvas" feel, seatbelt weave is the way to go.

Check out our seatbelt NATO straps.

Zulu Strap

The Zulu is the NATO's beefier cousin. Thicker nylon, rounded (instead of squared) hardware, and typically chunkier keepers. Zulus are built for larger watches and people who want a more rugged, substantial feel. They also usually don't have the secondary keeper strap, making them slightly simpler.

See our Zulu strap collection.

Single-Pass / One-Pass NATO

A modern evolution that ditches the extra length of material that folds back under the watch. The strap passes through both spring bars just once, with the tail secured by a single keeper. This makes for a thinner profile under the watch; your watch sits closer to your wrist, which a lot of people prefer.

Shop single-pass NATO straps.

Leather NATO

The NATO hardware and pass-through design, but in leather instead of nylon. Dresses up the look significantly while keeping the one-piece safety advantage. A leather NATO on a dress watch is a seriously sharp combo.

Browse leather NATO straps.

Why NATO Straps Are the Best Value Watch Upgrade

Here's what makes NATOs special and why we've built an entire business around them:

Price: A quality NATO strap starts from about $8-15 AUD. That's less than a flat white and an avo toast. For that price, you can completely change how your watch looks.
Versatility: One watch, five NATO straps, five different looks. Match your outfit, your mood, or the season.
Durability: Nylon is practically indestructible. It dries in minutes, doesn't absorb sweat odour the way leather does, and won't crack or peel.
Safety: The one-piece design means your watch stays on your wrist even if a spring bar fails. There's a reason the military chose this design.
Easy to swap: No tools needed. You can change a NATO strap in about 30 seconds. Here's how.
Comfort: The nylon conforms to your wrist over time, and the thin profile keeps things light.

If you've got a watch sitting in a drawer because you're bored of the bracelet or the strap is falling apart, a $10 NATO strap might be all it takes to fall in love with it again.

The NATO Strap in Australia

We started Watch Straps Australia because we were tired of ordering NATO straps from overseas and waiting three weeks for delivery. We stock everything locally - classic NATOs, seatbelt weave, Zulu straps, single-pass, striped, and more, all shipped from Australia with free shipping on orders over $60.

From a Cold War military requisition form to a worldwide fashion staple, the NATO strap has come a long way. And honestly? For something that costs less than a pub lunch, it might be the best value upgrade you can make to any watch.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does NATO strap stand for?

NATO stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The strap got its name because it was assigned a NATO Stock Number (NSN) - a logistics code used across NATO member militaries. Soldiers started calling it a "NATO strap" and the name stuck.

Why is it called a NATO strap?

Because the original nylon watch strap issued by the British Ministry of Defence in 1973 was catalogued with a NATO Stock Number for military logistics. The nickname "NATO strap" caught on and became universal.

What is a G10 strap?

A G10 strap is the same thing as a NATO strap. The name comes from the G10 form that British soldiers filled out to requisition equipment, including watch straps. "G10" and "NATO" are used interchangeably.

Are NATO straps comfortable?

Yes. The nylon is lightweight, breathable, and moulds to your wrist over time. They're especially comfortable in hot weather because they dry quickly and don't trap sweat like leather can.

Can you wear a NATO strap with a dress watch?

Absolutely. A leather NATO or a seatbelt-weave NATO in a dark colour can look surprisingly dressy. Brands like Omega and Tudor sell dress/sport watches on NATO straps from the factory.

How long do NATO straps last?

Nylon NATO straps are extremely durable and can last years with regular wear. The hardware may show some patina over time, but the strap material itself is very hard to destroy. Most people replace them for variety, not because they've worn out.

Posted on 12 January 2026 by Brad Farleigh