What is a Military-style strap? Put simply, it’s a practical, military-inspired watch strap that attaches separately to each of the watch’s lug bars for extra security in case one of the bars pops out. If you'd like more information on installing military nylon straps, this guide has you covered.
For now, here are five reasons why you should own one (or more) of these versatile military nylon watch straps.
What is so special about military nylon watch straps?
1. Nylon watch straps are affordable
How else can you add another watch strap, and one that is so stylish, versatile, practical and cool, for so little?
Okay, you could visit your local Omega AD and treat yourself to a five-stripe black and grey nylon fabric Omega Military Nylon strap. You’ll pay the price of a very nice entry-level automatic sports watch, but your Military Nylon will have Omega branding. Or you could check out something like the WatchGecko Ridge British Military Watch Strap (albeit without Omega signing) and still have over £100 left to splash out on more Military Nylon Straps.
Why is that such a good thing? Because, as we’ll see later, Military Nylon straps are a great way to make even a modest watch collection look huge and give you even more ways to adapt your look on a day-by-day basis. However, we’re getting ahead of ourselves. There’s another reason for wearing a Military strap – practicality.
2. Nylon watch straps are practical
To understand the practicality of the Military Nylon watchband – if it isn’t self-evident – we’ll go back to the origins of the modern Military Nylon straps in the British Ministry of Defence’s 1973’s DefStan 66-15.
A Military Nylon is a practical utility strap, with an explicit military heritage. Typically, it’s made of durable easy-care material. By virtue of its construction, the Military strap attaches separately to each of your watch’s spring bars (or, to fixed lug bars if you're lucky enough to own a vintage military watch that’s so equipped). The reason? If during vigorous activity, you inadvertently ‘pop’ a spring bar, the watch will stay attached to the other spring bar. You don’t need to yomp across The Falklands or on special ops in Afghanistan for this to happen. If you’ve ever swung a heavy rucksack onto your back, caught your watch in its shoulder straps and pulled your watch from your wrist you’ll know what we mean.
Another characteristic of the now-classic Military Nylon is how they complement so many different watch types and an equally wide range of work and leisure contexts. With, perhaps, the exception of the most conservative workplaces and formal black-tie and tails events, a Military Nylon strap should fit in virtually anywhere. This is particularly so if it’s a high-quality Military Nylon with well-finished details.
Imagine all the scenarios where a Military Nylon's practicality and individuality makes sense. Think of all kinds of leisure activities including water sports and diving, and smart casual working environments. And, with a suitable regimental stripe or similar design, more formal occasions too.
In fact, in many cases, dressing down a Rolex, Omega or even a Patek gives an arguably better, more appropriate aesthetic in less formal situations. It’s possible to be over-dressed. But impossible to be too stylish! Of course, you have to know how to fit Military Nylon watch straps properly if you are going to wear them with maximum style.
That’s where the leather Military straps come into their own. They’re subtly different from a conventional leather watch strap, slightly less formal, hinting at your more adventurous side, and still with all the security of the double Military Nylon attachment. For a sublime luxury leather wrist feel, with all the practicality of a Military band, the WatchGecko Genuine Leather British Military Watch Strap: Cambridge is inspired by classic military aesthetics and crafted from genuine crazy pull-up leather for a rich and characteristic patina. Imagine how one of these straps would look with anything from a Seiko 5 Sports to a Rolex Sub or an Omega Speedmaster.
3. Nylon watch straps come in endless colours and styles
The good news is that you can now enjoy the practicality of Military straps in a huge range of colours, and with various hardware details including rounded or faceted profile keepers and different finishes.
At the end of a mission behind enemy lines – or even a weekend camping with the kids – they’re so easy to clean off ready to wear into the office on Monday. Rest assured that you will get them dirty, because Military watchstraps lend themselves to action and immersion in water during your adventures. Because of this, they're a perfect partner for sport, dive and field watches. This is particularly so if you don’t want to wear an expensive luxury watch bracelet where the links could get scratched by sand and grit. Or on the inside of your wrist if you’re a climber.
Swapping a standard luxury bracelet such as a Rolex Oyster for a Military is also an effective way to make expensive timepieces look less obvious – to ‘fly under the radar’ as one forum member suggested. For instance, when wearing your watch in a less than salubrious environment where an oyster would draw attention to your timepiece.
Whether for weekends on the coast or dress-down Fridays at work, stylish, rugged Military straps are a cost-effective way to dress down more formal timepieces, or simply to vary your look with your mood. That brings us to another reason why you should own at least one Military…
4. Extend your watch collection
A handful of Military straps in different colours and materials is a cost-effective way to extend your watch collection. We’re not statisticians, but we know that half a dozen watches, their original straps or bracelets, and as many Military creates many possibilities.
As the likes of Omega have demonstrated by getting onto the Military bandwagon, Military straps aren’t just for affordable watches. You only have to look at watch fans’ Instagram feeds to see how often manufacturers’ or micro brands’ Military straps find their way onto anything from a Rolex Submariner to a Patek-Phillippe. Of course, when this appears on the forums, it ignites another of the watch collecting world’s perennial debates. This one is about whether an affordable strap on an expensive timepiece cheapens the watch. Although the debates get heated, the answer, as with so many aspects of watches and watch style, comes down to personal taste. And if you’re concerned about this, just compare the quality of the best micro brand Military Straps with those of luxury brands. Apart from the signed hardware, you’ll struggle to tell the difference.
In fact, for many people, putting a high-quality yet affordable Military strap on a super-luxury timepiece is actually rather cool. Doing so is similar to the ‘inverted snobbery’ appeal of wearing better-quality affordable micro brand watches rather than super-luxury brands.
Maybe the irate responses are more about envy for the wearer’s ability to sport an expansive luxury watch than any universally recognised rules about what to wear. We say that if it looks right to you and your watch, it is right for you. As you steer your own course with confidence, a drawer full of Military Straps is an important part of your navigational equipment.
5. Nylon watch straps are cool
As mentioned earlier, there’s the obvious practicality of Military bands, which relates to another reason for its appeal. Military bands give virtually any watch a cool, military look and ‘James Bond style’. The fact that Rolex and Military-type straps share a military connection is also important. The same applies for Omega’s Seamaster 300. Several of these, fitted with heavy-duty fixed lug bars, were supplied to Royal Navy divers in the 1970s.
So there you have it, our summary of five reasons why you should own a Military strap, or two, or five!
Now you’ve bought your first Military band and it’s time to give it some wrist time. The next question often concerns how to attach the strap to your watch. Indeed, knowing how to attach a Military watch strap, and being able to do so without fumbling, is pretty cool in itself!
Whichever way you choose for wearing your Military bands, half the fun is experimenting until you find a way that you are comfortable with and which suits your personal style. Soon, you’ll be swapping straps and watch heads to discover which combinations work best for you.
What’s your favourite style and colour of Military style strap and what do you wear it with? Let us know in the comments. Wrist shots are always welcome!
