There are accessories that cross the decades without ever losing their meaning. The NATO strap is part of this functional elite. It marks an assertive comeback, driven by a generation that demands durability, comfort and a style that says something. Between military heritage, casual chic and total modularity, NATO is once again on everyone's radar.
NATO was officially born in 1973, at the heart of the specifications of the British Ministry of Defense (Def Stan 66-15). A robust nylon strap, “Admiralty Gray” color, designed to resist salt water, sweat and snags. Its one-pass system secures the watch even if a bar breaks. Soldiers request it via a G10 form – hence the nickname. A few years earlier, James Bond already wore a Submariner on a striped nylon in Goldfinger, an image which will forever anchor the idea of a gentleman adventurer's watch attached to a textile ready for anything.
Why is the trend accelerating? Because the NATO ticks everything that contemporary style requires: instant modularity, year-round comfort, a chic utilitarian spirit, and an ecological conscience that favors recycled materials. The big houses have understood this, from sports-chic houses to field watch specialists. A bracelet becomes a wardrobe in itself, and each color tells a mood. Luxury is no longer just metallic, it is also woven.
NATO has become a universal language. He speaks terrain with a tool watch, summer breathing with a diver, and lightens a vintage piece without betraying it. The important thing is the agreement of tones and textures, this subtle conversation between the dial, the bezel and the weaving.
When it comes to the wardrobe, think about materials. A textured NATO works well with Japanese denim, Oxford cotton or merino knit. In summer, linen and woven nylon share the same lightness. In winter, black PVD and anthracite gray interact with a navy pea coat or a brushed wool coat. The idea is not to strictly “match”, but to create a continuity of nuance.
The spectrum is broad, and that's good news. Entry-level prices start at around €15–25 (that said, I bought my first bracelets on Aliexpress or Ebay for less than €3), perfect for exploring colors. Between €30 and €60, you have access to denser weaves, better finished curls and worked edges. Beyond that (€70–150), premium “seatbelt” NATOs, sometimes made from recycled nylon, offer an exemplary fit and impeccable 316L steel or titanium buckles. Brands often offer their own bracelets to match their collections, while independent specialists compete in quality and palette.
An insider's tip: choose houses that master the weaving and finishing of the loops. The feeling on the wrist, the way the bracelet slides in the handles and holds its curve, it's all there. And if your watch has value – emotional or financial –, don’t hesitate to fit reinforced lugs or double-shoulder pumps.
Adopting a NATO strap is not simply “changing the strap”. It’s giving your watch a new voice – sometimes more frank, sometimes more subtle – without betraying its design. In 2025, the trend is not just a fashion effect: it extends a culture of beautiful tools, of design that serves the purpose, of elegance that lives outside. A watch on NATO tells your rhythm: morning swim, tight meetings, impromptu weekend. She allows herself the patina, accepts the rain, washes herself, leaves again. And, when the mood strikes you, it changes color as quickly as you change tempo.
The great return of NATO is therefore not a surprise: it is the natural consequence of an era that wants meaning without renouncing style. Between heritage and modernity, the NATO strap becomes again what it has never ceased to be for enthusiasts: an essential.
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