SCUBA: NATO / Oyster Bracelet / Rubber

[RollieVerde]

Another reason I would never put a NATO or another fabric strap on a dive watch is what do you do after being down 40 minutes, get back on the boat, take off your wet suit and put your watch on your wrist and have this wet strap on for the next several hours? Many are water resistant when they're new, but ultimately all fabric gets waterlogged. This matters especially later in the day when it starts to cool off, and later you go to dinner with a wet watch strap which can get creepy. With a steel bracelet you just dry it with a towel or t-shirt and you're good to go.

[Nsx_23]

I just carry a spare one and keep it dry.

[bradj]

Being that most Nato/Zulu straps are made of Nylon they shouldn't absorb much water. In my experience wearing a Zulu on my SKX007 when snorkeling I didn't notice it being wet long after getting out of the water.

[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by RollieVerde

Another reason I would never put a NATO or another fabric strap on a dive watch is what do you do after being down 40 minutes, get back on the boat, take off your wet suit and put your watch on your wrist and have this wet strap on for the next several hours? Many are water resistant when they're new, but ultimately all fabric gets waterlogged. This matters especially later in the day when it starts to cool off, and later you go to dinner with a wet watch strap which can get creepy. With a steel bracelet you just dry it with a towel or t-shirt and you're good to go.

Never been an issue after a dive. I'm amazed how fast nylon drys. I usually bring an extra strap just in case but never use it.
dP

[Hoppyjr]

Speaking of nylon straps.....this thread needs pics!

Pelagos on Mararac Mil-strap.

[Xasroma]

The NATO straps are rolling in. Some pictures:

[Xasroma]

[Dan Pierce]

Recently had lug holes drilled on an SKX case to use OEM Seiko fat spring bars which will allow me to use a BC rubber strap on my diver this weekend (pic before the drilled lugs).
dP

[Nsx_23]

How did you do that?

[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by Nsx_23

How did you do that?

If that question is directed to me I sent the SKX case to a guy who has set up a jig to drill these specific cases. He's returning a second case to me now.
dP

[Xasroma]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

Recently had lug holes drilled on an SKX case to use OEM Seiko fat spring bars which will allow me to use a BC rubber strap on my diver this weekend (pic before the drilled lugs).
dP

Dan, beautiful watch and combo!



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Hoppyjr]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

If that question is directed to me I sent the SKX case to a guy who has set up a jig to drill these specific cases. He's returning a second case to me now.

dP

Hey Dan, nice piece! Could you please post or PM his info, so I may follow your lead.

[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by Xasroma

Dan, beautiful watch and combo!



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by Hoppyjr

Hey Dan, nice piece! Could you please post or PM his info, so I may follow your lead.

Thanks, gents!

Update: I wanted drilled lugs to utilize the original fat Seiko spring bars with a BC rubber strap. Unfortunately, I was still able to work the strap loose due to the pliability of the rubber. So went with my trusted Marathon SAR on nato. Divers love redundant systems.




Drilled lugs do make strap changes much easier. Let me check to see if my contact wants to get in that side business. Either way I'll PM you.
dP

[Hoppyjr]

Thanks Dan, PM received.

Regarding working the strap loose; I've found the Seiko fat bars relatively easy to work out of the holes, especially with rubber straps. I believe this is due to the actual tip (that goes into the hole) being rather shallow. To avoid this I use some bars from Hank that have 1.2 mm diameter ends (but longer tips) and they fit great and don't work free in my watches. The 1.2 ends are sized for older, drilled-lug Rolex models, but they work great in drilled lug Seikos. I used them in a MM300 and had a great fit with no spring bar flex. Hank is twente(o) on eBay.

[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by Hoppyjr

Thanks Dan, PM received.

Regarding working the strap loose; I've found the Seiko fat bars relatively easy to work out of the holes, especially with rubber straps. I believe this is due to the actual tip (that goes into the hole) being rather shallow. To avoid this I use some bars from Hank that have 1.2 mm diameter ends (but longer tips) and they fit great and don't work free in my watches. The 1.2 ends are sized for older, drilled-lug Rolex models, but they work great in drilled lug Seikos. I used them in a MM300 and had a great fit with no spring bar flex. Hank is twente(o) on eBay.

Great tip, thanks! I'll check those out.
dP

[ec51]

Bond NATO...

[Nsx_23]

Has anyone had trouble fitting a marataz zulu strap to their rolex? Seems too thick to fit into my sea dweller.

[Dan Pierce]

Thanks to steve855 (WUS member) and Hoppyjr I was able to realize my goal of Italian rubber straps with my SKX divers.

Steve drilled the lug holes on a couple SKX cases.





Hoppyjr directed me to twenty(0) who sells custom spring bars on ebay. Purchased the thick 2.5mm w/ extra long end pieces.


These are massive and substantial. No way they can be worked out when worn.



These fat spring bars fit the Bonetto Cintirini straps perfectly.




Many thanks to Hoppyjr [and Steve, of course] for making my vision come true!
dP

[Thatguy]

Originally Posted by Nsx_23

Has anyone had trouble fitting a marataz zulu strap to their rolex? Seems too thick to fit into my sea dweller.

Put the strap in place then put in the springbar. Easier than putting the springbar in first and then trying to pull the strap through.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Beef]

This is a great thread with lots of really useful information regarding NATOs and springbars. Brads, great pics and narrative! Hoppyjr's springbar dealer is getting an order today. FYI, countycomm is the owner the Maratac brand name and actual source, though others sell their products.

[Xasroma]

Originally Posted by Nsx_23

Has anyone had trouble fitting a marataz zulu strap to their rolex? Seems too thick to fit into my sea dweller.

Exactly what thatguy said. Especially with 4 ring Maratac Zulu like pic below:

Place strap and then spring bars. Sliding them is very tight and will scratch the strap.



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Xasroma]

A dry pic :



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Xasroma]

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Xasroma]

As previously posted on this thread: with four rings you get proper support ( no tension on spring bar). Bulkier but I do not feel it uncomfortable.

The other Maratac Zulus ( with 3 rings) are thinner and will slide through spring bars. ( pic on this reply)


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Xasroma]

Dan pierce: awesome with the drilling! Looks pristine! Could you elaborate the benefits of drilling? Did you drill on your FF as well?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Nsx_23]

Originally Posted by Thatguy

Put the strap in place then put in the springbar. Easier than putting the springbar in first and then trying to pull the strap through.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks mate. Just curious whether having such a thick strap may put unnecessary stress the bars.

I have also been experimenting with a Maratac composite strap and its been very good. Not sure I would go diving with it but I have been out to sea with it a few times. Very comfortable.

[dysondiver]

Originally Posted by gregmoeck

why wear it at all, why risk it?

people spend $350.00 on a regulator and 7K on a watch, should be the other way around when it comes to atcual scuba..

at last ,,,,, someone else in my corner

for the price of all those straps buy a second hand sunnto geko , and be happy , and safer. on both dive time and loss risk , pluss if you beat it off the rocks , so what.

never take into the water anything your not willing to destroy , or loose , or both.

[beaglehusky]

Originally Posted by bradj

Having a small side business making 5 Ring Zulu watch straps in a similar style to Nato straps I'd like to share my thoughts.

The first thing is nearly everyone I've ever seen wears these straps wrong. At least worn wrong if you want to reduce stress on your spring bars.

To start here are a couple pictures of how most people wear these straps.

Now this is the most comfortable way for sure, the strap lays nice and flat against the skin. However the spring bars will carry 100% of stress if the watch is struck.

The following images are how the strap is supposed to be worn. I will note that most companies that make straps like this don't take into account that people will ever wear it this way and so they make them around 10 3/4"(all of the guys you name off in your head). For some larger wristed people, along with the layers of wetsuit etc... that might not be enough length to actually secure properly with the proper technique. That's why I made my straps just over 12" to function as a true strap for tool/dive watches. rant over..

The importance for the second piece of material and double rings is to not just run the strap through, but to double the strap back through which will then remove all the stress from the spring bars and place it on the underlying piece of material under the strap.

I don't typically wear the strap this way daily because it is a bit bulkier and not 100% as comfortable as wearing it just rung through both rings a single time.

There was another mention if the buckle fell off.. That is a valid concern with some cheap nato straps because they are cheap spring bar buckles. I would hope all the other guys making these straps do what I do. I use a complete circular ring with no spring bars. Even if you cut the material(I couldn't with a knife, had to use sharp dikes) the strap most likely still wouldn't come off because the tang is still run through the hole of the nylon and would be doubled under the rings that act as keepers.

If you are going to wear a Nato/Zulu to dive with, don't buy a cheap one and wear it properly to reduce/eliminate spring bar stress.

Thank you for posting these instructions, it makes sense to me that the NATO would be worn that way. I'm trying it on the Sub on my next dive and will report back. So far, it feels just as comfortable as wearing it the old way.

[phils]

I dove for years wearing the bracelet and never had a problem, except when the springs wore out om my original Sub. bracelet.
However it still worked over my wet suit.

[Fugu_88]

Which strap is better choice, nato or zulu...?