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Insight Horizon Media

When was the NATO strap invented?

Author

John Castro

Published Mar 09, 2026

When was the NATO strap invented?

1973
Origin Of The NATO Though the sobriquet seems to reference the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, founded in 1949, the NATO watch strap was actually introduced by the British Ministry of Defence in 1973.

What is the purpose of a NATO watch strap?

It’s a one-piece strap that slides underneath the case so that the skin never touches metal. It’s great on hot days because the nylon wicks moisture away from the skin. It also means the strap will stay on the wrist even if a spring bar pops out. The real beauty of the NATO is its simplicity.

What is the original NATO strap?

The initial debut of the NATO strap was by the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) in 1973. Back then, there was only one version and it had a singular tone: admiralty grey. Nicknamed the G-10, British Special Forces were required to fill out a G-1098 form before being issued the strap.

Who invented Zulu straps?

The
The ZULU appears to be based on the strap originally made by RHINO, from Australia. There are many makers of the ZULU-style strap besides Maratac. There is at least one “official” MOD strap maker in the UK, but even their public releases have variations.

Are NATO straps cool?

That’s no surprise because the NATO strap has come to be associated with cool, understated functionality over the years – and probably the coolest of movie spies too. This cool factor is the fifth reason for owning a NATO…

Where do NATO straps come from?

The root of NATO watch straps is mainly found in the military. It was found from the British Ministry of Defence Standard in 1973. The NATO watch strap was first introduced as G10 straps. Because, to get a strap, a soldier had to sign up on a form called G1098.

Are NATO straps bulky?

Registered. Nylon NATOs are a wash, because the tiny bit extra under the watch is way more than made up by there being so little strap around the rest of your wrist. You have a little bump from the fold-over and that’s it. Now, if you get a leather NATO-style band, those get really bulky.

Where did the NATO strap come from?

It’s roots come from the British Ministry of Defence Standard in 1973 where the now-called NATO straps would be issued to soldiers who requested one. In order to get one of these nylon straps that were perfect for the battlefield, the soldier had to fill out a requisition form called a G1098.

What is the difference between NATO and Zulu straps?

Difference between NATO and ZULU straps ZULU straps are often confused with NATO straps. ZULU strap have only 1 long strap, made of thicker nylon cloth, and has beefy rounded buckles. NATO straps have an additional strap that slides through 2 lugs, in order to have 2 straps of nylon under the watch, instead of one.

Can you go swimming with a NATO strap?

NATO straps are especially well suited for swimming, since they lace between the spring bars and the watch. That means if one of your spring bars breaks while diving, the watch will stay attached to your wrist via the remaining spring bar.

Do NATO straps damage watches?

Over a long period of wear, a Nato strap can cause a watch’s case back to develop ‘Nato rash’. The big difference compared to regular two-piece straps, of course, is that the fabric sits between your wrist and the case back. …

Why are NATO straps so long?

The straps were purposely designed to be long, so the excess tail of the strap could be doubled back and tucked into the keepers a second time. Large wrists might not have enough excess to tuck back, but that’s okay as well, as the strap tip will terminate close to the second keeper in this case.