Shame you couldn’t locate one, as they’re the perfect match for the NATO strap. If your Daytona is recent, then my advice would not be to fit a NATO strap to it but pick something tasty from watch strap kings ABP (http://theprodigalguide.com/2010/05/28/strap-and-stroke-paris-abp-rules-the-watch-strap-kingdom/). Now that’s a delicious way forwards…:)

All the best,

Straight-Six

I’m thinking the increase in size has given it the presence it needs to pull of a NATO.

What do you think?

I know we’re starting to sound like a horological love-fest here, but I think you’re spot on about the standard stainless bracelet being a must for the Explorer I. Try as others might, it doesn’t have the visual heft to accommodate NATO or leather straps.

This is why the Sub/GMT/SD are so well suited to the width and brawn of a NATO; their dial, habitually larger case size and bezels balance things out nicely. I have recently been experimenting with a lovely black leather strap on my Rolex 6536-1 (which has just had a NOS Tropic 16 put in, to stunning effect – post to follow) and am genuinely torn about whether the NATO does it better. Though this may just be down to being used to the latter and the leather replacement not being exactly what I was looking for.

Now, where we perhaps differ is the Daytona. I agree that leather is lovely, but it depends a great deal on which Daytona we’re talking about. Any pre-Zenith Daytona would go down a treat with a little cow skin, but look equally spectacular on the standard stainless bracelet.

Given I am now intent on acquiring a 1988/89 R- or L-series Daytona with the floating Cosmograph dial, I find that the brushed stainless bracelets that accompanied these models were absolutely spot on in holding back the polished bezel and increased “brightness” of the piece. And although I am actually partial to the polished centre-link bracelets that followed, Rolex utterly destroyed any exclusivity by rolling it out to every other damned line they have.

This leads me to conclude that modern Daytonas once again need some leather to ensure we can look at them without going blind…

DRSD on tan nato though? Will be mine, oh yes, it will be mine.

http://rolexblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/real-james-bond-watchstrap-comes-to.html

I think you’ll find that everything you need to know is right there.

Good luck, 007.

And as for the excellent suggestion of tracking down a replica of Connery’s strap, well, consider it done, Ms. Moneypenny…

But I think what this illustrates perfectly is how a simple strap can transform the look of an otherwise fairly ubiquitous watch.

Me? I’d seek out the ‘James Bond’ NATO. There’s a guy in the States who makes perfect replicas of the strap Connery wore on his Submariner in the opening sequence of Goldfinger.

Now that’s what Straight-Six should do next…

Not sure I agree with the matching of the patina Straight-Six. Much better in pure black.