NATO / Nylon traces directly to British Defence Standard 66-15, published in 1973 by the Ministry of Defence. Soldiers drew it from stores using a G1098 form, shortened to G10, which is why you still hear it called the G10 strap. The original spec called for one colour, Admiralty Grey, in strong non-laminated nylon, with keepers and buckle heat-welded rather than stitched so nothing could unravel. Production of MoD-spec straps passed to Phoenix in 1978. Despite the folklore, the 16mm striped band Sean Connery wore on his Rolex Submariner 6538 in Goldfinger was a regimental stripe nylon strap, not technically a NATO, but it lit the fuse for the whole look.
The modern field is deep. Erika's Originals makes Marine Nationale elastic nylon straps by hand in Valencia, Spain, at roughly £65 each; the MN style descends from French navy combat divers who repurposed parachute elastic, often on issued Tudor watches. At the value end, Crown & Buckle's standard NATOs sit around £10, while their premium Matte Supreme line steps up the quality, and Phenome weaves seatbelt-style straps that flirt with Omega quality for less. From the brands themselves, Omega's coated-nylon NATO straps run about £170, and Tudor's fabric straps, woven by Julien Faure on 19th-century Jacquard looms in the St-Etienne region of France, sell for roughly £240.
When buying, learn the two main constructions. A single-pass strap threads straight through both spring bars with no return layer, so it is thin, light, and dries fast. The classic double-pass NATO folds back under the caseback, adding bulk and lifting the watch slightly, but keeps the watch on your wrist if a spring bar fails. If you hate height on a thick diver, go single-pass; if you want the traditional look and that extra security, go double-pass. Check the buckle and keeper hardware, the softness of the weave, and the edge finish, since cheap nylon stays stiff and frays.
NATO / Nylon suits anyone who wants comfort, sweat resistance, and cheap, instant variety in daily wear, sport, or hot climates. The range runs from plain solids and regimental stripes to glossy seatbelt weaves and elastic Marine Nationale bands, letting you change a watch's whole character in a couple of minutes.
