Watchlords

Hello fellow watch collectors,

I want to share a watch related obsession of mine - military issued straps.

From left to right:
1. G-10, 18mm issued in the early 1960s, heat welded. These straps would usually come with an IWC Mark XI or an Omega 6B/165. Made by the UK's Ministry of Defence [sic] (MoD) for the RAF.

2. G-10, 18mm issued in the mid 1960s, with stitches. These straps would usually come with an Omega 165.024. Made by the MoD for the SAS and SBS.

3. G-10, 18mm issued in the mid 1960s, with stitches. These straps would usually come with an Omega 165.024. Made by the MoD for the South Pacific, Australia and Hong Kong.

4. G-10, 20mm issued in the early 1960s, with stitches. These straps would usually come with a chronograph. Made by the MoD. This particular strap is one of the rarest issued straps. It came from another collector, Grahame Fowler.

5. G-10, 20mm issued in the 1970s, post 1973, heat welded. These straps would usually come with a Rolex 5517 MilSub. Issued by the MoD for the SAS and SBS. In 1978, Phoenix Co. took over the MoD contract to supply these straps. Since then, the construction and color changed. If you look at the watches on the cigar box, you will find a Rolex 5517 MilSub on the top.

6. G-10, 20mm issued in the 1970s, post 1973, heat welded and later stitched to repair it. These straps would usually come with a Rolex 5517 MilSub. Issued by the MoD for SAS and SBS.

7. GG-W-113, 18mm issued in the 1960s. These straps were made and issued by the US armed forces and came with lesser watches, NOS.

8. Regimental Nylon strap made in Hong Kong during the 1960s for civilian use.

Finally, on the top is a Tudor 7928 with a G-10, 20mm modern strap that mimics the straps from the 1960s.

I hope you guys will enjoy this topic as much as I do.

A little more information on these straps and my obsession. Over the past few years, I started collecting issued straps ranging from the 1960s through 1990s. I am researching the history and specifications of these straps because I don't see much information out there and believe that this history is worth preserving. For one, I teamed up with a professor from Cornell University to do a microscopic analysis of the weaving for some of the straps from the 1960s and 1970s.

This are the straps we examined:



Here is some information I have found already. It looks to me like you have a wrap rib fabric similar to a grosgrain ribbon. The warp yarns are smaller than the weft yarn, which explains the prominent ribbing from left to right. I have taken some up-close images of one of the fabrics.







I am also trying to find more information regarding the identities and history of the companies that manufacture the G-10 and Waterborne straps. If anyone has information, please share it with me. It would help my research tremendously. Regarding g-10 straps, I know that Phoenix did not make the earlier straps. I heard that the MoD handled the production. For Waterborne, I have not found much information.

Please, fellow collectors and enthusiasts, share your knowledge. Feel free to contact me directly, [email protected].

Here are some pictures of my straps.

Fantastic and informative post. Wow! You are likely the world authority.

Thanks for sharing!

Codguy is about to have his mind blown!

Awesome post. What's your take on the NATO strap trademark holder?

https://www.ablogtowatch.com/from-the-c ... kes-again/

@smellody, thank you for the compliment.

You could try the military watch resource, but you have to be a member.
There are several threads concerning issued straps, some with military records.

https://www.mwrforum.net/forums/forumdi ... &styleid=2

Racer-X wrote: ↑

July 17th 2023, 3:53pm

Awesome post. What's your take on the NATO strap trademark holder?

https://www.ablogtowatch.com/from-the-c ... kes-again/

I practiced law for years. I specialized in ERISA, tax law, and executive compensation. I know enough about trademarks to have an intelligent conversation, but I am not an expert by any means. However, about a year ago, I did present this question to a friend who is an IP lawyer.

His opinion was that the trademark stands only because nobody has bought up a serious challenge in court. Unfortunately, it may not make much sense financially to go that route because most vendors in that area provide cheap products with low profit margins.

bobbee wrote: ↑

July 17th 2023, 7:27pm

You could try the military watch resource, but you have to be a member.
There are several threads concerning issued straps, some with military records.

https://www.mwrforum.net/forums/forumdi ... &styleid=2

I did join that group ( it took for ever). Unfortunately, I did not find others who were as obsessed as I am with this matter. The group does have a couple of big collectors that I had met through other forums or through other collectors.

However, they did not seem to be as interested in the history. It is a shame because much of the history behind these straps has not been recorded.

Great history of these. Thx.

Stickied. Excellent resource.