British military nylon watch straps, aka NATO or G10 straps, are one of the most iconic strap archetypes in history. Developed in the 1970s, they make use of tough, military-spec fabrics that are more robust than leather and less bulky than a metal bracelet to ensure a high level of robust practicality and comfort for acting servicemen in extreme environments. More than 50 years later the style is still incredibly popular among watch enthusiasts, but that’s not to say there isn’t room for innovation and modernisation. Enter watch accessories and retail specialist WatchGecko with the OCTOPOD strap system.
The OCTOPOD system is designed to make nylon straps more convenient to wear while retaining the classic aesthetic of the military strap design. It achieves this by replacing the standard pin buckle and oversize, excess material that loops back on itself with a deployant clasp. It makes the strap much more streamlined, eliminating the need for extraneous keepers and creating a more compact profile without the bulky double looped tail. In typical deployant clasp style, it’s also much easier to take on and off quickly as it’s always set to the correct size for your wrist.
Naturally, the deployant buckle is at the heart of the OCTOPOD system and has been specially developed to be compatible with over 50 different nylon straps in wide variety of styles, textures and patterns. It’s made from marine-grade 316L stainless steel with a dual push button release that clicks satisfyingly into place when closed. A key consideration in its development is how slim it is, ensuring it’s suitable to slip under a shirt cuff, or over a wetsuit sleeve for the more adventurous types.
There are six versions of the buckle available: Brushed and Polished, Polished, Sandblasted, PVD Black, Gold and Antique Bronze. Meaning you can find one suitable for just about any watch in existence, matching it to the case finish and material. Not to give too much away but the sandblasted version would look great with an upcoming Oracle Time project.
Focussing in a bit more on the straps themselves, the options are Elasticated Nylon, HydraRib Nylon, Apex Nylon, Perlon Nylon and Oxford Leather. As you might expect the elasticated is a bit softer and stretchier for all day comfort while HydraRib is more ridged for a three-dimensional texture. Apex is your more traditional NATO style available in some classic colour schemes including the so-called Bond designs. Perlon has a thicker weave to it, making it more breathable on the wrist. Lastly the leather option is a leather strap that is worn in the same style as a nylon strap, looping through the spring bars.
As they are all designed to work specifically with the OCTOPOD buckle, they’re very easy to attach and adjust. The system will fit wrists from 150mm to 220mm (6-8.75 inches), prefect for those of slim-wristed persuasion or those with a more built frame. At the end of the day, it’s still a pass-through strap so the utility and ease of adjustment is readily apparent.
You can check out the OCTOPOD watch strap system now with an exclusive 15% discount for OT Club Members – redeemable via the members’ area of our website here. Oracle Time readers will also have access to the new WatchGecko OCTOPOD starter set – providing you with exactly what you need to get your new favourite watch strap collection up and running.
More details at WatchGecko.
