Unpopular opinion(?): Nato straps do not look good with dress watches.

Using a cheap plastic ribbon (don’t fool yourself, that’s all it is) to hold your watch on your wrist is just about the most utilitarian thing you can do.

Which makes it fine for tool watches, but it has no place outside that.

Nato straps are still my favourite in terms of comfort. I'd say they're probably using a NATO since they find it comfortable.

The only time I've seen NATO on dress watches being trendy was when Daniel Wellington watches were popular many years back.

Convenience, accessibility, and a bit of ignorance, I suspect. They are toolless swaps. You can buy the things anywhere. It is much harder to find proper ribbon straps or Perlon or other textile options sans the hokey hardware. People like color.

The bad part is that there are many with this "anything goes" lack of taste that espouse that one can do no wrong if they pretend to like it.

That said, there is the distinction between a true dress watch (slim, dainty, formal, elegant) and, you know, a normal watch that doesn't fall into Walter Mitty He-Man fantasy categories. The latter can absolutely be dressed down with some military strap.

Fasion police rebels, or independent thinkers….sigh… they probably think they know what they like but clearly need realigning to conformity 😝😜

Keep my straps name out yo fu*ken mouth 😩

I'm guilty of that with my seagul 1963 way too many times, though to me NATOs are extremely comfortable and I don't mind how they look. Not much into leather even in my day to day, as it feel slightly uncomfortable to me.

Why do people do this and think it’s okay?!

Because it is okay.

Because the only ones who "care" what I do with my watches are lunatics, sociopaths, or narcissists.

By "okay" do you mean permissible, tolerable, or that you actually think it looks good?

@SCFYMB is not guilty as the Seagull 1963 is a military watch.

In 1961, the Tianjin watch factory was assigned the task of developing the official aviation watch for pilots in the Chinese air force.

The Chinese military assigned classified serial numbers to the watches to remain structured. The confidential code for the watches created for Chinese Air Force personnel was ’project 304’.

 In 1963, more than 30 prototypes were completed, and the official version of ‘project 304’ is done. Nowadays, outside of China, it is also known as ‘the 1963’.

https://seagull1963.com/the-story/

Ooo did not know that, thank you for the clarification

But NGL if I had a watch I think nato looks good on....

By "okay" do you mean permissible, tolerable, or that you actually think it looks good?

Yes. I actually do enjoy the look. The mixture makes me laugh, but I do genuinely like the blend. Utilitarian and dress simplicity seem to go nicely together in my "ignorant" eyes.

Do it when I feel like taking a dressier variant out for a spin, since they don't come out too often. Granted it's a bit bigger dial wise than afficionados would prefer, but still a dressier watch, on a NATO. YMMV.

Most of the time it hangs out on a handmade leather black strap, I've actually conditioned up so it has the barest hint of gloss.

Same here, makes me smile, giggle etc. Even more so since some might be having an aneurysm by just thinking about it, much less seeing it in person. YMMV and all in good fun, don't actually want anyone to be in physical distress.

Plus, and I am by no means a sartorial expert, nor fashion designer, but by definition certain aspects/rules/combos are meant to be broken, if doing so to be EXPLICITLY fashionable/cutting edge, on porpoise as it were....🤏🏻😉.

I like NATOS and wear them all the time. The exceptions are a very thick watch and a dress watch. Having said that, taste is very subjective and personal. What I like may not be what you like and vice-versa.

I have told this anecdote on here before, but...

I have several 16mm NATO straps and this one I use when a new old watch comes in until I figure out what strap or bracelet will look good on it. So, it is usually transitional.

I represent those accused of crime. I was visiting a client in a county jail and we were discussing his case when he looked down at my watch. He said that he loved the old watch, but hated the strap. His opinion was that a vintage watch needed something befitting it and that the NATO was too informal.

Is he right? Should I care? (After all, I need to do me, right?)

NATO straps are informal. They can be used with any watch in an informal setting, even a dress watch. I don't wear them in court appearances, or now, in jail visits.

I prefer this nato combo to a cordovan or similar perhaps because it’s less conventional, not to mention comfortable, functional, easy to clean, and I like the thumb-nose-at-formal look.

mostly i do think it looks rubbish.

but then others should worry about my opinion only as much as i worry about theirs.

am somewhat more concerned about what many folks seem to consider a dress watch!

Confusing comment, but okay.

Yes, I felt the need to clarify because it seems there are people out there who are confused about their opinions.

He was right. Similarly when I had my little gold vintage UG on a brown woven synthetic strap (I need a good description of these things, they are like Perlon with the one-piece adjustable stamped buckle/keeper deal but woven synthetic fabric with heat-sealed ends and holes) till I chose a proper lizard band, the Mrs. called me out for wearing an "expensive watch on a $3 band" or something.

This was impressive as, ignoring the fact that she is a normal person with no interest in such things, the strap is something I surely had for about a decade for meeting her and she guessed the current price to within a buck.

I’m not a fan of NATO straps period but I’ve seen them looking decent on some dive and field watches - I agree that definitely not on dress watches 🤙❤️