Artem is launching four new colors in the range of nylon watch straps. These colors – burgundy, sandstone, Atlantic blue, khaki green – arrive in time for the summer season of the Northern Hemisphere. Choose brush, polished or black DLC-coated hardware with a width of 19-20mm or 21-22mm, and the straps offer a ridiculous variety to suit your collection. I went practically with all four straps, but it offers my thoughts on them and the pitfall of just getting the nylon straps right.
I’m very particular about my nylon straps. The hardware must be placed just in the right place to be worth wearing. A fixed keeper, or “loop”, must be equally present on either side of the watch case. At the same time, the pin buckle should sit in the center on the underside of my wrist. As long as you can push it under the movable keeper, it’s fine to over-length straps. But I often run into nylon straps with buckles that are too far away on one or the other side, regardless of the adjustment. Either that or the loop is too low for the side of my wrist. It’s not just pettiness on my part, as the hardware placement can be uncomfortable after a long day of wear. So far, only a few nylon straps meet my standards.
Artem Signature Nylon Collection
The Seamaster 300 Omega NATO strap hits the sweet spot. We explained why OEM NATO straps are worth investing. All the elements of the omega strap are in the perfect place for my wrist. But the downside is that the strap costs 230 pounds. This premium is “Homer Simpson,” a place where most onlookers disappear behind through the hedge. And it’s not even the top edge of the spectrum. Omega dies NATO on titanium hardware for 330 pounds. Even the recently announced Planet Ocean Worldtimer’s NATO, made from recycled fishing nets, costs 410 pounds. If the strap is not intended for an Omega watch, or if you want a more palatable price for a nylon strap, Artem has it covered.
The Artem Signature Nylon Collection offers high quality at a more affordable entry price. Importantly, these straps achieve a similar level of comfort. We tested the 19-20mm Artem Signature Nylon option by pairing it with 65 Oris Divers in a 40mm stainless steel case. This range of widths is due to the flexible nature of nylon straps that can fit well with watches with 19mm or 20mm lug spacing, such as Speedmaster First Omega in Space and Moonwatch, respectively. A single strap can cover a variety of watches with just a small bundle of 19mm gaps at the corners. The same goes for Artem’s 21-22mm options. This is the godsend of the Branpine 50 Fathom, taking into account the strange 21.5mm lug spacing. However, make sure to fit the appropriate spring bar to clear the case side.
It fits appropriately
There are many NATO straps on the market. At first glance, anyone can provide a watch strap in this configuration. Some straps only take a penny, but do you want something of a questionable origin to support and paste valuable watches on your wrist? As my colleague Mike anecdote stated, “Why did you put cheap tires in a premium sports car?” Inefficient tires negate the performance of the car, as they are the only contact patch on the road. Similarly, the NATO strap is the only element that sticks to your wrist. Artem’s premium polyamide nylon feels a big step beyond the competition with comfort and touch. The strap quality is similar to that of OEM, and the hardware feels solid and refined.
My only complaint worthy of my Oris is that the fixed loop was too far on either side of my wrist. A diameter of 40mm is very average and common, so keepers expect to get closer to the watch case. However, at this interval, at least you can scale up the straps with a large watch case that still fits between the fixed loops. A good example is the DOXA Sub 300 with a case of 42.5mm diameter, but maintains a 20mm lug spacing. This watch is a classic orange “professional” colorway and I go to the orange pinstripe nylon strap. It also has an impressive similarity to the NATO strap that came with the Omegas Speedy Tuesday 2 “Ultraman” version of Fratero.
Fresh colours
The first option in the Artem Signature Nylon Collection was inspired by James Bond’s wrist strap. This is Dr. From the black and grey straps found in No (1962) to Specter (2015), Artem also reproduces the aforementioned NATO strap from No Time to Die (2021). But these gorgeous shades to try out style and mood are new to the Artem Signature Nylon Range. These new strap collar options show Artem’s wish to stamp the market with original pieces. My favourites from the latest selection are Khaki Green and Sandstone. For the Oris Divers 65 covered in my heritage, these colors blend harmoniously, representing my preference for outdoor activities throughout the summer. Meanwhile, the Atlantic Blue and Burgundy strap shades are perfect for poolside style and late-night dinners.
With four new colors participating in the Artem Signature Nylon Collection, there are 14 different choices to mix and match. However, as options are offered, my favorite is the commander’s straps that Mike covered here. This strap pattern is based on the underrated Omega Seamaster Diver 300m Commander’s Watch from 2017.
Each Artem nylon strap costs 66.95 EUR/$74/£56 regardless of the lug dimensions or the choice of brushes or polished or black DLC-coated hardware. Artem also has a signature nylon strap, but is available in only 7 colors. Again, it was worth keeping the Artem site eye-catching and keeping it in a state due to future size and color options.
Which Artem’s signature nylon strap collection is your favorite? Please let us know in the comments below.
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