How to fit a NATO in 10 easy steps
By The Prodigal Fool, published on 28 June 2010
The only time our S4’s hood is ever lifted is if someone questions how Audi could possibly have crammed a V8 in to the engine bay of the diminutive A4. We never even saw the engine of our Boxster S and, although the engine bay of our Alfa Romeo GTV was an all too familiar sight, all we could do was stare at it ignorantly while cursing the drunk Italians who wired the various components – randomly – together. Our point? While we love driving our cars, we’re – to coin a technical term – useless at anything that even resembles maintaining or tinkering with them. And so it is with our watches.
You’ll remember a while back we purchased a bunch of NATO straps for our new 14060M Submariner. Well, they arrived. And for the best part of a week we stared at them lovingly, then stared at our Sub, then stared back at the NATOs, and wondered when we would next be in the presence of a watchmaker who could magically make the two meet – because that task was on a par with getting the mountain to Mohammed as far as we were concerned.
And then we thought, no, we’ll do this ourselves. How hard can it be? Well, it will come as no surprise to most of you that, in fact, it’s not hard at all. You don’t need a watchmaker, Hell you don’t even need any equipment. Fitting a NATO is the simplest thing you’ll ever do. So, if you’re a DIYphobe and ignoramus like us, read on and learn from our embarrassing journey of self-discovery.
Our first thought was that we’d have to tool up for the job. That’s normally our first reaction to most problems: chuck money at it. So we called a friendly watch dealer we know and asked what equipment we’d need to change the strap on a 14060M Submariner. He kindly pointed us in the direction of Cousins. How exciting, a website with a wealth of specialist tools for us to squander money on. And, to our innocent eyes, each looked as exotic and exciting as the next. The micro screwdrivers came in different sizes. Blow our skirt up, they even came in different colours! And they were all reassuringly overpriced.
What size to go for? Our dealer had told us that a 1.00mm driver should do it. We were ready, Amex in hand, twitchy finger hovering over the buy button when – as all too often – our work got in the way of our fun. A pressing phone call distracted us.
And so it was that, later that day, we were left staring at our Sub again and its harem of sexy straps, lamenting the fact that they were still being denied the pleasures of one another.
That’s when the epiphany happened. “A tiny screwdriver, we thought, “well, that’s a lot like the tip of a paper clip isn’t it?” So it is friends. So it is.
So, here’s how you fit a NATO strap to a 14060M Sub:
- Get yourself two paperclips (Apple’s SIM-changing tool works equally well), unfold them.
- Insert both ends into the holes on either side of the lugs. The two springs on either side of the collapsible metal rod that holds the bracelet in place will contract, releasing the bracelet.
- Pull slightly and the bracelet will now come away from the body of the watch.
- Pull the metal rod out of the bracelet and put it back between the lugs (the springs will automatically engage and reattach the rod.)
- Repeat for the other side of the watch
From this point onwards, you’ve got a NATO-ready Sub ready to bond (yes, that is an intentional reference) with any strap you fancy. And, much like 007 moving from one conquest to another, it takes no more than 30 seconds to remove one strap and replace it with something else.
- The end of the strap with the buckle goes on top.
- Then simply loop the strap over the first rod, behind the case, and out gain from the other rod.
- Loop the strap into the last metal loop on the other part of the strap, below the watch case, and pull.
- Last thing to note? Once you put the watch on your wrist, you’ll probably find that the end of the strap is a little long. Simply bend it back on itself and reinsert it into the nearest look for a neater look.
- To remove the strap? Eh, repeat the last four steps backwards.
That’s it friends. Simple really: How to fit a NATO in 10 easy steps. Next week, a post for your grandmother: How to suck eggs!
How to fit a NATO in 10 easy steps
The only time our S4’s hood is ever lifted is if someone questions how Audi could possibly have crammed a V8 in to the engine bay of the diminutive A4. We never even saw the engine of our Boxster S and, although the engine bay of our Alfa Romeo GTV was an all too familiar [...]
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2 Responses to “How to fit a NATO in 10 easy steps”
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marquand
3 October 2010
Helleo , I ry to find a nato bracelet for my watch in down town , but I do’t find …
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