rolex submariner Nato strap

walther p99 · December 2007

is there anywhere i could purchase the NATO strap that Connery has for his rolex in Thunderball?

ke02eww · December 2007

they are almost always on ebay....

this one has only a few hours to go, but i suspect if you contact the seller...

http://cgi.ebay.com/NATO-James-Bond-007-WATCH-BAND-STRAP-Military-Spec-20mm_W0QQitemZ180192354350QQihZ008QQcategoryZ10324QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

good luck....

Nightshooter · December 2007

I'm pretty sure Connery always wore an 18mm strap, not a 20mm.

ke02eww · December 2007

Nightshooter wrote:

I'm pretty sure Connery always wore an 18mm strap, not a 20mm.

would love to see documentary evidence of this, but can't say I've ever seen it in print, and even BluRay doesn't allow us to measure the screenshots!...

ke02eww · December 2007

ke02eww wrote:

Nightshooter wrote:

I'm pretty sure Connery always wore an 18mm strap, not a 20mm.

would love to see documentary evidence of this, but can't say I've ever seen it in print, and even BluRay doesn't allow us to measure the screenshots!...

although this ebay actually mentions the gap some can see on the screenshot (i've looked and I can't tell)

"This type of strap was first seen in "Gold finger" worn by James Bond with his Rolex Submariner 6538 as issued by Her Majesty's Secret Servant (HMSS). In the movie, it appears that a 16 or 18mm width strap was used on 20mm lug Rolex Submariner, but now we have 20mm. No more embarrasing gaps."

Where's Asp9mm when you need him?....I know no one else to trust on the subject....

ke02eww · December 2007

but if you insist....

http://cgi.ebay.com/James-Bond-007-NATO-18mm-G10-Military-Nylon-Strap-Band_W0QQitemZ200183540493QQihZ010QQcategoryZ10324QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

what the heck, buy both...

Donald Grant · December 2007

It was an 18mm strap that Connery used. A 16mm would look far too skinny. The lug gap on the Submariner is 20mm. Yes there are 20mm straps today, but that is not what Connery wore as Bond.
In the end, you should wear what you like, but 20mm is not accurate.

Phoenix Straps Limited sells the best Connery/Bond NATO strap that I've seen and they do sell them in 20mm too. For my purposes I wear my 5510 on an 18mm NATO. My four line chronometer 6538, I wear on a black crocodile. My 5513 is now on a period correct riveted bracelet a la Lazenby and Moore.

DG

Nightshooter · December 2007

Told ya. B-) Thanks for the confirmation, DG.

Asp9mm · December 2007

You called Sir

Yes DG has pipped me to the post, 18mm it be....

walther p99 · December 2007

thanks alot for the help guys, i bid on the 18mm one

ke02eww · December 2007

Asp9mm wrote:

You called Sir

Yes DG has pipped me to the post, 18mm it be....

ah now i'm satisfied....

i'll rest in peace now.....

Double-oh nine · January 2008

Maybe 18mm for display, 20mm by day. As long as detail is in question, all the ones I've seen on Ebay have metal keepers, unlike the original.

Kittlemeier · March 2008

I read in some older posts that Phoenix Straps was on it's last leg. Does anyone know if they're still in business? Do they take orders directly or have resellers?

Thanks

Asp9mm · March 2008

Kittlemeier wrote:

I read in some older posts that Phoenix Straps was on it's last leg. Does anyone know if they're still in business? Do they take orders directly or have resellers?

Thanks

I don't think they are around anymore.

7289 · March 2008

I hope I am not stirring things up or re-posting old information, but now having Blue ray and an HD TV I have scanned the famous watch scenes from both GF and TB and have more definitive insight on the "NATO" watchstrap.

As both Donald Grant and ASP9mm have mentioned to me before, the band in question while similiar in looks to the NATO strap appears to be a civilian, commercial band. There are definitive thin red strips that on the HD are clearly on the band and NOT a by-product of the film processing. The red stripes appear in the GF and TB scenes although they are more subtle in TB, the "grey" stripes when dry (GF Cantina) appear more of a greenish grey.

I have seen this style of band in a few UK TV shows from the same era, "Avengers" and "Danger Man" to be specific. Next time I run them I will note the episode titles.

Prehaps someday we can order a special run of these bands ala "Madagascar Shirt". The trick will be to find a maker who is not out of business.

In the meantime you watch fans in the UK keep your eyes peeled, a vintage used strap is bound to show up eventually!!!!!

Donald Grant · March 2008

7289 wrote:

I hope I am not stirring things up or re-posting old information, but now having Blue ray and an HD TV I have scanned the famous watch scenes from both GF and TB and have more definitive insight on the "NATO" watchstrap.

As both Donald Grant and ASP9mm have mentioned to me before, the band in question while similiar in looks to the NATO strap appears to be a civilian, commercial band. There are definitive thin red strips that on the HD are clearly on the band and NOT a by-product of the film processing. The red stripes appear in the GF and TB scenes although they are more subtle in TB, the "grey" stripes when dry (GF Cantina) appear more of a greenish grey.

I have seen this style of band in a few UK TV shows from the same era, "Avengers" and "Danger Man" to be specific. Next time I run them I will note the episode titles.

Prehaps someday we can order a special run of these bands ala "Madagascar Shirt". The trick will be to find a maker who is not out of business.

In the meantime you watch fans in the UK keep your eyes peeled, a vintage used strap is bound to show up eventually!!!!!

Yeah, not sure I buy the red in the strap. I mean it's possible, but just because it's high def. does not mean the color has been corrected. I mean the latest edition of Star Trek TOS still shows the command shirts as a gold color when in actuality they were like an avocado green. So, unless the strap was specifically washed by cleaning up process, it would look the same in any print. However, if you could point out the episode of Danger Man (Secret Aegent Man in the U.S.) that may go a long way in bolstering your argument. I have a few seasons on DVD, but the ones I have are all black and white. Perhaps we can crack the mystery after all, it's all in the evidence.

DG

7289 · March 2008

DG,

I appreciate your doubts, but I think once you see the watchband on the Blue-ray you will see what I am talking about. Also if it was an optical fault - why would it show up on the wet watchband in TB?

Will try and locate the "Danger Man" episode and post it.........

Asp9mm · March 2008

I'm still with DG on this, but my mind is open to the possibility of the red band being present. I saw Thunderball on a cinema screen a couple of years back, and did look out for the strap part, and it was this that convinced me that the red line was a film anomally, as it flickered and was not present all of the time. The sad truth is, we may never know.

7289 · March 2008

You guys are just going to have to come over and watch these films on my high def setup!

Double-oh nine · April 2008

Seems to me the only sensible solution is to have two versions custom made; one w/red line-black/gray-green stripes and the other in "General Service" blk/gry like Phoenix used to offer. Featuring non metal keepers in 18 or 20mm of course. Anyone?

7289 · April 2008

I have looked on the net for makers of these straps, but no luck.

I would suspect this would be a little less complicated than the Madagascar Shirt, but I think you would find only a few folks interested!

Remmert007 · April 2008

Regarding the post of MI6 Agent about the red lines, I must agree. I saw a super high res version of Goldfinger at the Pinewood Goldfinger Reunion event last week, and the red stripes are there, no doubt.

7289 · April 2008

Remmert007 wrote:

Regarding the post of MI6 Agent about the red lines, I must agree. I saw a super high res version of Goldfinger at the Pinewood Goldfinger Reunion event last week, and the red stripes are there, no doubt.

Thanks, I was beginning to think it was all in my head!

Asp9mm · April 2008

7289 wrote:

Remmert007 wrote:

Regarding the post of MI6 Agent about the red lines, I must agree. I saw a super high res version of Goldfinger at the Pinewood Goldfinger Reunion event last week, and the red stripes are there, no doubt.

Thanks, I was beginning to think it was all in my head!

The whole world is mad, only DG and I are right

7289 · April 2008

ASP9mm and DG,

With proper doses of the right medication I think we can bring you into the fold!

Higgins · April 2008

... or with a bluray player and a 60'' flatscreen

Higgins · April 2008

7289 wrote:

You guys are just going to have to come over and watch these films on my high def setup!

Do you get Goldfinger in the US on HD DVD or bluray?

Asp9mm · April 2008

Goldfinger is'nt out over here on Blu-ray, So there

Higgins · April 2008

outch, why are you only hitting me for asking stupid questions?

You should do this with others, too

Asp9mm · April 2008

Bondtoys wrote:

outch, why are you only hitting me for asking stupid questions?
You should do this with others, too

I can't recall anyone else asking stoooopid questions

Higgins · April 2008

rolex submariner Nato strap

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