Awatch strap,watch band,watch bracelet orwatch belt is abracelet that straps awrist watch onto the wrist.[1] Watch straps may be made ofleather,plastic,polyurethane,silicone,rubber,FKM,cloth, ormetal, sometimes in combination. It can be regarded as afashion item, serving both a utilitarian and decorative function. Some metal watch straps may beplated with, or even in rare cases made of,precious metals.
Watch straps may close with abuckle or afolding clasp.[2] Expanding watch straps are designed to expand elastically, often by the use of metal springs in a segmented design, and may be slipped on like a bracelet. Attachment points for the strap to the watch are largely standardized, with a spring bar (a spring-loaded double-ended pin) used to anchor the watch strap to holes in a bracket that is integral to thewatch case, allowing worn watch straps to be replaced or swapped with new straps for fashion purposes.
Velcro watch straps (SEB 12100030 CF 55052-5 S/N 120) supplied by Omega Watch Co. and American Velcro Inc were first used forProject Mercury NASA space missions.[3]
Metal watch straps are typically stainless steel.The most common metal watch strap styles are the folded link, pushpin, and screw-in styles.[4]
A Bund strap are two leather watch straps with a separate piece of leather to sit on the wrist that serves the purpose of protecting the wearer's wrist from discomfort and pain caused by the extreme conditions in fighter and bomber aircraft cockpits. So, it acts as a protective layer between the skin and the metal watch.
Both metal watch cases and watch straps incorporating metal parts can sometimes causecontact dermatitis in susceptible individuals.[5] Special anti-allergy watch straps, like a NATO style watch strap, which shield the skin from exposure to metal parts, are available for people with this type of dermatitis.
Specialist expanding watch straps exist for use withdiving watches. The use of wet, or in some cases, dry suits require the strap to expand in order to accommodate the added material, which increases the circumference of the wrist. Many watch straps intended for diving watches have rippled or vented sections near the attachment points on the watch case to facilitate the required flexibility to strap the watch around the bare wrist or around wet or dry suits.
NATO watch straps, also known as "NATO Straps" or "G10 straps",[6] were developed by the UKMinistry of Defence (MoD) for wartime usage (DefStan 66-47 Issue 2 states the colour of the 20 mm wide nylon ribbon shall be to BS 4800 card number 3, reference 18B25, colour "Admiralty Grey").[7] It is a one-piece strap fed through the spring bars of the watch case, then slid into the appropriate notch and folded back to secure the excess strap and prevent it from sticking out of the main watch strap portion.[8][9]
As the style gained popularity following its introduction in 1973, military personnel began to customize their watch straps, incorporating the colours of theirregimental ties and/orstable belts, creating the colourful striped patterns NATO straps are known for.[10]
The Zulu watch strap is a NATO watch strap adaptation using a thicker weave of fabric and more substantial metal hardware employing rounded loops and an oval-shaped buckle and both are typically made of nylon.
MN (Marine Nationale) straps are made from elastic and comes with an adjustable buckle. They were originally intended for dive watches as they were designed to be easily removed from the wrist of a wetsuit.[11]
Perlon straps,[12] Marine Nationale straps,[13][14] Zulu straps, and NATO straps go completely around the wrist, including behind the case.Other wrist strap styles allow the back of the watch case to directly contact the skin.[15]
![HMT Pilot watch on a custom leather bund strap.[16]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aPilot_watch_on_a_bund_strap.jpg)
![A watch with a fine stainless steel Milanese (dense and tight braided mesh variant) bracelet.[17]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aCadisen_C8173_automatic_wristwatch_2.jpg)
Afolding clasp ordeployant clasp ordeployant buckle is a device used to close a watch strap. (Butterfly clasps have a symmetrical appearance).
