What exact strap does Bond have on his 6538?

[watchmainspring]

I know there are plenty of NATO variations available today, but apparently, the NATO band did not exist at the time of filming. Does anyone know what the band's buckle would have looked like and where one might find a modern example?

As for Dr. No's leather strap, does anyone know what a comparable leather strap would look like?

[subtona]

Don’t know what brand the nato strap is but I do know it is narrower than I would like it to be. I believe it is 18mm wide for 20mm lug spacing.

If you are looking for accuracy the strap should be I’ll fitting.

Many companies make a variation on the bond strap, I would be happiest with the offering that uses quality fabric and hardware.

[watchmainspring]

Originally Posted by subtona

Don’t know what brand the nato strap is but I do know it is narrower than I would like it to be. I believe it is 18mm wide for 20mm lug spacing.

If you are looking for accuracy the strap should be I’ll fitting.

Many companies make a variation on the bond strap, I would be happiest with the offering that uses quality fabric and hardware.

Thanks! It's a 16mm nylon strap. I actually already have a decent NATO one. But the NATO "buckle" is not accurate. Was wondering what Mr. Bond might have worn.

[subtona]

Originally Posted by watchmainspring

Thanks! It's a 16mm nylon strap. I actually already have a decent NATO one. But the NATO "buckle" is not accurate. Was wondering what Mr. Bond might have worn.

Haven’t come across the bond pic in a while. Was it Ian Fleming watch on loan to bond character??

You have a pic u can share of yours?

[watchmainspring]

Originally Posted by subtona

Haven’t come across the bond pic in a while. Was it Ian Fleming watch on loan to bond character??

You have a pic u can share of yours?

Top image is a strap that, unlike Bond's, does not go below the case. Bottom is a NATO with protruding, distracting metalic loops.

[Kingface66]

It’s not a NATO, and it’s not a ZULU.

https://www.esprit-nato.com/en/conte...james-bond-007

[watchmainspring]

Originally Posted by Kingface66

It’s not a NATO, and it’s not a ZULU.

https://www.esprit-nato.com/en/conte...james-bond-007

Thanks! Just bought it.


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[watchmainspring]

Originally Posted by watchmainspring

Thanks! Just bought it.


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I am still quite curious about the leather.


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[TuRo]

Cubby's awful fitting thin 18mm, and it looks really terrible, flimsy and unbalanced imho. Cubby had a skin issue hence he put it on the cheap ill fitting strap.
In 1988 around the 25th anniversary, I was at and spoke to one of the film financiers (at a JB Conference @ Hagia Sofia Mosque in Istanbul) who had all been together in Istanbul on the TRWL film in 63 and they said it was a total off the cuff decision the prior year to let Sean use the watch the year before. I seem to recall that they mentioned that Sean had worn as a personal puece a Universal (Geneve S.A) watch before Dr No. but liked the Rolex - His universal wearing was was around the time of his 30 second camio in the Longest day with John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, Henry Fonda, Richard Burton prior to going to Jamaica a month later for Dr No.

[subtona]

Amazing watch.

So I have been cutting off the short strap of my natos for a long time.

I recently learned they sell them like that. “Single pass”. Less distracting hardware.

[Juhuatai]

It’s a RAF strap. Some seller on EBay used to have the best one and I have an 18mm from him but he doesn’t sell them anymore. I’ll post a pic later. Is that a 5508?

[watchmainspring]

Originally Posted by Juhuatai

It’s a RAF strap. Some seller on EBay used to have the best one and I have an 18mm from him but he doesn’t sell them anymore. I’ll post a pic later. Is that a 5508?

6536/1


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[Juhuatai]

The one I have has only a metal buckle but has a fabric keeper. Probably the closest thing to Bond's original one.
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[zapokee]

I've heard them called single-pass straps.

But it's the wrong width for the lugs. Why copy somebody else's mistake when you know what's right?

[Old Expat Beast]

I though the ill-fitting Bond RAF strap was 16mm, not 18mm.

[FrenchBigCrown]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

I though the ill-fitting Bond RAF strap was 16mm, not 18mm.

Correct.

[FrenchBigCrown]

I prefer them on the bracelets - I've never got on with 'Nato' style bands.

[FrenchBigCrown]

Originally Posted by zapokee

I've heard them called single-pass straps.

But it's the wrong width for the lugs. Why copy somebody else's mistake when you know what's right?

Especially as it's not a 6538 anyway - it doesn't make sense to me.

But... to each their own - choice (and different choices) stops us being North Korea... or something.

[Juhuatai]

It was 16mm, my 18mm strap was left over from when I used it for my midsize Tudor submariner. I would probably go with 20mm if the seller was still selling them!

[mdwsta4]

I purchased one of these from Watch Gecko a few years back. Incredibly soft and supple strap, and I thought there was a discussion years ago that the dark stripes were actually navy, not black.

Unfortunately I can’t post links, but it can be found on Watch Gecko’s website under nato-vintage-bond-us-type-watch-strap


Here’s a 20mm NATO version on a MKII Kingston
media . fotki . com/2v29jgUejx1YqB . jpg

[subtona]

Sharing something I just discovered…

Wearing this on my Pelagos fxd and find the straps to be fantastic. A bit unconventional but really unique and satisfying. See A bond style strap in the link.

Erika makes a version for fixed (fxd) bars and conventional spring bars. Specify when ordering.

MN Strap is made of an elastic material with roots to traditional military use

https://erikasoriginals.com/mn-straps/connery.php

[watchmainspring]

Thanks for all the help. anyone know anything about the leather band bond wears in Dr. No? Looks like a dark brown leather strap with a silver buckle. I don't know brand, leather style etc.


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[TuRo]

Only me perhaps….but I’m surprised the puerile, facile and misogynist James Bond Film franchise is still a blockbuster in these more enlightened times - but then, I don’t get 2 dimensional ‘men in rubber suit’ super-hero films either!!

[subtona]

Originally Posted by pauldavidthorpe

Only me perhaps….but I’m surprised the puerile, facile and misogynist James Bond Film franchise is still a blockbuster in these more enlightened times - but then, I don’t get 2 dimensional ‘men in rubber suit’ super-hero films either!!

watches.

bond bashing is another forum.

[inadeje]

I remember reading some time ago that the strap was from Phoenix, a UK Nato strap maker who used to (or still does?) make them for the armed forces. I believe they also sell them retail. The one in the bond movie was the RAF version. The popular versions today use grey/silver as the central stripes but were never used in any bond movie…

[mdwsta4]

Originally Posted by inadeje

I remember reading some time ago that the strap was from Phoenix, a UK Nato strap maker who used to (or still does?) make them for the armed forces. I believe they also sell them retail. The one in the bond movie was the RAF version. The popular versions today use grey/silver as the central stripes but were never used in any bond movie…

IIRC, the reason the black w/ grey stripes was popular is because those are the colors people thought the originally strap was. Once the films were remastered, color corrected, and upscaled to hi-def, it was clear the colors were red/green and not silver

[watchmainspring]

Originally Posted by mdwsta4

IIRC, the reason the black w/ grey stripes was popular is because those are the colors people thought the originally strap was. Once the films were remastered, color corrected, and upscaled to hi-def, it was clear the colors were red/green and not silver

woh. That is crazy. So the "Spectre" black-grey NATO stems from the fact that films were once black and white?

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by watchmainspring

woh. That is crazy. So the "Spectre" black-grey NATO stems from the fact that films were once black and white?

No, he means that the early home-video colour transfers were poor quality.

[mdwsta4]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

No, he means that the early home-video colour transfers were poor quality.

Exactly. Thank you for clarifying

[watchmainspring]

I scanned through Dr. No and can confirm Bond wears a dark brown Aligator strap with a silver buckle at 54:52.