Zach Brass
When it comes to looking at collecting and seeing them dressed in philosophy, I think I’m pretty liberal. In my opinion, the first rule of a watch club is your wallet, wrist, watch, your rules. I say with my 10 signs you are a snob story on the site’s watch, and furthermore, it’s wrong to wear your watch and put the watch together on others to bring together philosophy and impose it as unanswered rules and truth.
But in the same way, I’m biologically forced to cry when someone orders enough high quality meat cuts. Do what you want to do, but personally I can’t get behind people who put dressy watches on NATO straps.
I know that such pairings are never trending, but that’s something I’ve come across over the years. I recently discovered this strap watch dynamic from a post courtesy of famous musician and artist James McVay and as a chic watch enthusiast (as many of us have done, he created an Instagram profile for his dedicated watches).
As mentioned above, James placed the Grand Seiko SBGA413 “Shunbun,” a titanium watch sold in titanium bracelets, on a beige/khaki NATO strap. It’s definitely not a dress watch, but it’s a watch I would certainly describe as a “robust elegance.” Despite being a capable 100m water-resistant titanium daily patient, there is nothing “tool watch” about its aesthetics. Also, I think only watches with a tool watch feel are suitable for NATO. McVey is fully aware of the perceptible fake path and captioned his post “How much trouble this NATO is causing you.”
This subject actually became the subject of internal time + tide team discussions when Scandinavian stud muffins, watch experts and only a matter of time Christian Hagen began to frequently share his more dressy pieces fascinated by the NATO straps. Posts like this are littered with support and unexpected surprise comments about how well the combination works. But I can’t get it behind. Christians have a chop – perhaps an aura – pull it apart. But for me it’s like putting me in one of the Met Gala outfits the actors wear. That doesn’t look right for a fashion person like me. A god of fashion like Hagen, but…
I need to distinguish that ultimately leaning my feelings towards opposing dynamics has nothing to do with the material itself. For example, I think Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet looks great with its fiber strap. For me, it’s the architecture, shape and backstory of the NATO strap. In terms of architecture and shape, looking at the Americana of Christian Cartier Tank on the wrist at NATO, we agree that the beige fabric pairs well with the watch. But there is much of the inevitable NATO bulk as you can see on the wrist of his shot of his watch with a darker NATO strap. It makes the long, slim dress watch feel even longer and thicker. So what are the real benefits?
So I established that it is bulk that really sums up to me. I have no problem with the dressy piece attached to a fabric, fiber, or elastic strap in a particular example. Christian Vacchelon Constantine Historic American 1921 works for me with straps of the same material in the shot above, but not passing through the underside of the watch, a two-piece NATO strap that is sometimes called. Remove the extra material abundance that needs to be folded and back into the hardware, giving it a slimmer and more cohesive look. It is also worth pointing out that with this watch, the pass-through on the NATO strap also hinders the view of the luxurious in-house Geneva Seal-certified Caliber 4400 as an interior.
So when will the NATO strap be accepted?
In my opinion, this is where the backstory and utility of the NATO strap is important. NATO straps are often much cheaper and attractive, but have the distinct advantage that if one of the spring bars pops out of the case, it’s a sufficient strap, so that the watch won’t be lost in the depths of the ocean, or in the grooves in the battlefield or the cockpit of a race car. So I think NATO straps are only acceptable with watches that can be worn (or theoretically) in active, intense scenarios, which cause concern that the watch may pop out of the wrist. It’s a scenario where NATO’s added bulk and architecture makes aesthetic and human sense.
Many of you will probably find the above declarations too romantic or excessive, but NATO counters that it is an over-the-top choice for dressy watches when many fabric/textile straps are now available that can provide a casual aura without all the added bulk and hardware. Again, I’m not saying my answer is the correct answer. That’s my answer.
