The popularity of NATO straps seems to be only increasing, and it's easy to see why. Originally designed for the military, these straps are affordable, more reliable than most other types of straps, and often more comfortable than the original strap provided with the watch.
Moreover, since these thin straps simply thread through the existing spring bars without needing to remove them, people often have several different styles that can be swapped out in a flash. However, not all watches can complement the informal, rugged style of NATO, so we provide a brief list of the best affordable watches that can be worn with a NATO strap. We believe that divers and military-style watches particularly match well with NATO's utilitarian theme, so most of our chosen watches have some characteristics of one of these styles.
Seiko SSC017 Prospex
The Seiko SSC017 Prospex is a beautiful and practical diving watch. It's easy to understand why Seiko dive watches have such dedicated fans with so many great features offered for just $239. At 43mm in diameter and 14mm thick, the Seiko is quite large, yet still one of the prettiest watches that can be worn with a NATO strap. The Prospex model even uses drilled lugs, so swapping out the included stainless steel bracelet for a NATO strap of your choice is a breeze.
The dial and case of the SSC017 include several blue accents, from the bezel insert and chronograph hands to the line around the crown, so any NATO strap incorporating a bit of blue will look fantastic with this watch. Under Seiko's exclusive Hardlex crystal is a black dial with three sub-dials at the 3, 6, and 9 o'clock positions, along with intricate minute markers around the outer edge of the dial. This sporty layout pairs well with the sporty style of NATO straps.
The SSC017 uses a solar-powered quartz movement that does not require winding or battery replacement. A reliable 6-month power reserve ensures the watch won't run out of power while you're not wearing it. By all accounts, the Seiko quartz movement has absurd accuracy and should prove to be a reliable timekeeper.
Once you've installed your chosen NATO strap, you can be confident that this Seiko is as durable as it looks. The crown and both pushers screw down for protection against leaks underwater. The watch also has a 200-meter water resistance and an ISO 6425 certification, providing extra assurance that the watch will withstand underwater service. Since the NATO strap runs through both spring bars, it provides additional confidence that the watch will stay on your wrist, even if it gets snagged during extreme adventures, which these watches seem made for.
Hamilton HML-H70455533
The Hamilton HML-H70455533 is a great entry-level field watch from Hamilton. Sturdy, reliable, and compact, they are ideal for a NATO strap. These watches don't try to be too technical or fancy; it's just a simple, everyday design that looks great and withstands daily use, which is perfect for NATO straps. At 38mm wide and 11mm thick, the matte stainless steel case of the Khaki Field won't overwhelm the thin NATO strap. You can also wear these watches confidently, knowing that the 38mm diameter is the traditional size for military field watches, so they are not only attractive but historically accurate.
The fairly simple black dial features clear white Arabic numerals and three hands. A small red tip on the second hand is the only color apart from black, white, or silver. Such a simple design means that virtually any NATO strap will look great on this watch, but some of my favorite options are plain black, military green, and any strap that includes a couple of red accent stripes matching the second hand's red color.
The 11mm thick matte stainless steel case is quite thin for an automatic watch. The crown can be used to wind the watch if the automatic movement needs a bit of a boost. Significant lugs smoothly curve towards the leather strap. The simple fixed bezel is neither inconspicuous nor showy, but it looks great and complements the watch's vibe, plus it doesn't draw much attention, so you can confidently choose NATO strap colors without creating a monstrous combination of watch and strap.
As seen through the large sapphire crystal window on the case back, these Hamilton watches use the automatic ETA 2824 movement. It's a time-tested design that has proven its superior accuracy and reliability. It uses 25 jewels to minimize vibrations. Meanwhile, the 100-meter water resistance ensures these watches can handle almost any water challenge except diving.
Citizen AT0200-05E Eco-Drive
Another military-themed watch, the Citizen AT0200-05E, is incredibly practical, with a reliable quartz movement that charges from any light source and plenty of useful features. The Citizen comes with a 21mm military green canvas strap. Many owners complain that the strap is too stiff and uncomfortable, and a significant portion of owners end up replacing it. Fortunately, the white-on-black dial of the AT0200E-05E looks great with a strap of almost any color, so the watch makes an excellent candidate for creating a wide variety of NATO straps.
It's hard to imagine a better watch for everyday wear than the AT0200-05E. If you don't need dressier watches, this watch will provide virtually all the features you will use regularly. This includes luminous hands and hour markers for worry-free nighttime use, 100-meter water resistance, a date function, and 3 additional sub-dials. These small dials provide measurement of seconds and chronograph, as well as a 24-hour dial.
The Japanese quartz movement ensures a thin design, with the case thickness being 11 millimeters. The 41mm wide case is water-resistant up to 100 meters, marked by red text above the “8 o'clock” position. In line with its practical military theme, all hours are marked with large white Arabic numerals, none replaced by another function. The date window is angled, right inside the “4” number, with black-and-white indication. The hour and minute hands are large, legible, and sword-shaped, while the white chronograph hand, which doesn’t move until you command it, has a pleasant bright red color. Overall, the AT0200-05E represents a pleasing, clean design that just begs to be adorned with your favorite strap. And at a price of around $130, your budget should leave room for several NATOs.
Bulova 98B203
The Bulova 98B203, part of the “Marine Star” line, gives the impression of a diver's watch crossed with a dress watch. The understated, stylish black-and-white style is somewhat softened by the large unidirectional bezel. Although the watch looks great on the included stainless steel bracelet, NATO straps give the watch a more sporty character and truly change its mood. I find the gray-black striped straps look exceptionally good with this watch, but the plain black-and-white design can match practically any strap.
At 43mm wide and 10mm thick, these Bulova watches aren't as thick as most diver watches. The stainless steel bezel is also slightly smaller than comparable dive watches from Seiko, Orient, etc. Thus stylistically, it is something between regular everyday watches and true diver watches. However, don't be fooled by the appearance, because despite some elements of dive watch design, their 100-meter water resistance, while decent, does not meet dive watch levels. The crystal is mineral rather than sapphire, but that's not entirely surprising at this price.
The dark black dial and bezel use bright white markers, making the watch exceptionally easy to read. Large luminescent hour and minute hands emphasize the dial's clarity. Besides the hour, minute, and second hands, the only function is a date indicator located at the “3 o'clock” position. The hands and hour markers are luminescent. The Japanese quartz movement means these watches won't give you any trouble with accuracy or reliability. Although prices vary across retailers, it's not difficult to find these watches for under $300.
Vostok Amphibia
Here is truly a unique specimen. The Vostok Amphibia line was created for the Soviet military, with durability and low cost as key objectives. The result was an innovative diving watch with a simple yet effective design offered at an absurdly low price. Since most examples cost less than $100, the appeal of the Amphibia is hard to resist. As an additional bonus, the included leather strap is easily replaced with any NATO style you prefer.
Without access to ultra-precise Swiss watch tools, the Soviet Union had to come up with a new solution for its watches to withstand military dives. The solution applied in the Amphibia model is a two-part case back that clamps down tighter the greater the water pressure, so the lower you go, the tighter the seal becomes, something even the most expensive Swiss models cannot boast of. As a result, the water resistance of the watch is 200 meters, which was impressive for the time they were developed and continues to impress today given the price. The movement is automatic, developed by Vostok, with manual winding, a shock-resistant balance, and 31 jewels. These are quite impressive features for such inexpensive dive watches!
The stainless steel case is 40mm wide, housing an acrylic dial window - one of the points where the watch's modesty becomes apparent. The unique dial design is sure to attract curious looks, mainly due to the Russian lettering, as well as the bulky case and retro font used for the 12, 3, 6, and 9-hour markers. The hands and hour markers are lume-coated, so the fun doesn't stop at sunset. The minute hand is in the standard index style, while the hour hand is in the form of an arrow.
The dial uses two different shades of blue, with a lighter blue used for marking the first 15 minutes on the large bidirectional bezel. The case has large protrusions at the top and bottom, under which is a spring bar hidden from view from the front. The large crown is located at the “3 o'clock” position and is not protected by a protective case.
If you love unusual, unique watches, then this is the choice for you, and the fact that it's the cheapest watch on this list only sweetens the deal.