Our advice

How to put a NATO strap ?

1. Remove the old watch band
2. Clean the lugs and put them back on the watch
3. Put the NATO strap

4. Put on the watch

5. Fold the extra part of nylon into the loops

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Protect your watch

Nylon is slighly abrasive and could slightly use the back of your case in a long period.

Advice : protect the watch back with a special protection sticker for watches, we sell high quality ones here.

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Clean your NATO, ZULU or US Military nylon watch strap

- Daily cleaning :

- put water on the place to clean or on the whole strap,
- put household soap on the place to clean,
- scrub with your finger or with a small brush (preferably in the direction of the weaving),
- let it dry a few hours.

- Big cleaning :

- place the strap in a white or neutral closed cloth (a white sock closed with a knot for example),
- put it in the washing machine,
- choose a gentle program and run it,
- let the strap dry a few hours,
- your strap will be brand new !

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Clean your Perlon watch strap

- Daily cleaning :

- use hand soap and warm water,
- scrub the strap to remove the dirt,

- let it soak for a bit but do not leave it in water more than 30 secondes (otherwise it can widen),

- then air dry.

Caution : do not use liquid soap, harsh detergents, salt or fabric softeners

- Big cleaning :

- the supplier do not recommend to use put the strap in the washing machine ;
- we tried it and the strap remained unchanged ;
- we do not warranty this practice ;
- it is your decision ! :-)

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Shorten a NATO or a ZULU strap

NATO and ZULU straps are long enough to be worn directly on the wrist as well as to fit over a wetsuit or a flight suit (without being necessary to change the strap).

For traditional wear on the wrist, most of people fold the extra part of nylon into the loops (as explained previously).

But some people do not like the style and prefer to shorten the strap.

Advice :

- nylon straps : you can cut the strap

1. Tighten up the strap between 2 coins with a spanner at the place you want to cut.

2. Cut the strap with a very sharp blade (the coins will guide you while cutting to do a perfect circle).

3. Then, burn the nylon to get a perfect sealed end of strap (the coins will avoid the rest of the strap to burn).

- leather straps : make a clean cut with a very sharp blade, that's all !

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Add a hole on a nylon strap

You can make it with a very hot metal point.

Do it fast because nylon quickly melts, and of course take care not to burn yourself :-)

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Diving or swimming with a nylon NATO / ZULU / U.S. Military strap

Our straps (except Perlon) are perfectly adapted to scuba diving as well as intensive swimming in sea water or swimming-pool.

Colors will not degrade and weaving will not move.

Do not be afraid of heat-welded NATO (Original NATO straps) : feedback of divers indicated that they are more resistant than stitched straps on a very long period. Moreover, the British Minister Of Defense requires heat-welded NATO straps for resistance purpose. But we are here in the details and stitched straps are perfectly appropriate for regular use in sea or swimming-pool water.

Nylon loosens itself in water, it is normal !

Advice : before entering the water, tighten your strap of an additional hole, you will then be comfortable as soon as you are in the water.