Do Nato straps make watches look cheap?

Nato straps are for the cognitiosials. The people in the 'know'. Wear Natos because they are comfy, and in the smug knowledge that they don't have anything to do with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization

No it doesn’t. Simple answer.

I'm an oyster fully brushed bracelet dude. I have a hard time changing out this bracelet with anything from julbiee, leather straps to Nato and everything in between. I don't think it makes it look cheap yet it does make it look downgraded - In my humble opinion. ROCK what you love...Buy what you can afford. Stay Thirsty My Friend 🍻👊🏽

No, I don't think so, the truth is that it makes them look sportier on some watches and on military watches it makes them look like what they are.

No I don’t think so. Imo some watches work better on natos.

A good quality seatbelt strap is as classy as a bracelet imho

Non-watch people for sure will think any watch with Nato straps or nylon etc are cheap - The ones who know watches would know the difference though - Having said that it is true that putting a nato on an expensive watch does make it seem a little less expensive (and more casual)

On anything other than a military watch yes imho . I never liked them because they cover the Caseback .

A NATO strap is the most utilitarian of all straps; so, although it doesn’t necessarily look cheap, it can look inappropriate in some situations

My wife who is a watch snob hates it when I put my expensive watches on NATO straps

My wife refers to my nato straps as 'little boys straps', which does make me chuckle.

There is a time and a place for a nato, I have an extensive selection of various sizes and colours.

When I see another NATO in the wild it’s 💯 on a watch person’s watch…I don’t think the general population notice one way or another

It's the heft that comes with all that extra material that cheapens the look for me. The answer is a two piece nato. I really dont get why they aren't more of a thing.

Look, sometimes you want your expensive watch to look cheaper. We know it doesn’t look cheap and it might fit the identity of a watch, but sometimes letting others think what they will is a safe game to play.

The problem is not the strap type but caring what anyone else thinks about your watch. Comfort does not have to be fashionable or expensive.

Generally...yes.

Although, it's hard to make some of them look cheap despite the NATO...

Because it defeats one of the primary reasons for even wearing a NATO: That it keeps the watch secure should one of the spring bars fail/dislodge.

I don't have much experience at this. But I would say it's kind of like getting new wheels on a car. Or maybe a skin. In my novice opinion.

Nato straps dress a watch down, that is for certain. But I wouldn't say it makes a watch look cheap. You put the Omega NTTD on its matching nato and, sure, it looks more low-key than it does on the mesh bracelet it comes with, but only a deadset fool would say it looks cheap. Nato's are super comfortable and, if you want the low-key look for your watch, are perfectly fine. Even if that wasn't the case, who cares what others think? I love natos.

Thats the correct answer for sure.

Someone tell me this looks cheap!? 🤣🤣🤣

Oh yeah, thats a good callout. I should have mentioned it. 100% , to go two piece is definitely defeating the protective element of the nato design but that being said i don't think I'd be endangering my watches at my desk job by going two piece! I get how the protection would be crucial for some. I iust find there are occasions where I'd like to wear a nato for the colourway eg a bond, rather than needing the extra protection.

It is next to impossible for Watch to fall off on bracelet. Natos contorts the spring bars and are prone to giving out.

Well, okay...but military usage is NOT with bracelets for the most part because it only takes one spring bar failure for the watch to be lost. With a NATO or similar, it takes a very rare double failure. And a properly fit NATO strap causes no contortion of a spring bar at any rate. I suppose we will agree to disagree...but I think the facts are on my side.

Not trying to argue with you, bud. OP asked a question and I answered. Natos are silly and have no positives in my eyes, sorry if that offends you 😂

Sure, no question about that. Same with nobody needing a helium escape valve. But on the same hand I wouldn’t want an imitation of such a valve.

I like my watches on either the bracelet or a HIRSCH leather strap to begin with ;)

Your being wrong doesn't offend me in the least! 😜

I've tried and tried but just cant get used to NATO straps. I wish I liked them but know deep down I'm a leather strap/bracelet guy.

Other way around sometimes:) A shitty bracelet can cheapen the look of a good watch ( looking at you Seiko ) . If you put a cheap watch on a good band it can bring the watch up imho .

Not impossible. I have a bracelet that broke off from the joint.