Dive watches and tight fitting NATO/ZULU bands

[PullTheTrigger]

All,

I have one watch (Deep Blue ProAqua 1500) with a NATO/ZULU strap on it. The strap is 24MM and fits nicely between the lugs with no overlap, however, the strap is a tight fit between the case and the spring bars. Has anyone encountered an issue with any other watch? My concern is the strap popping off one of the spring bars.

Please advise.

[heb]

Hello,
Yes, a UTS 500m diver. The space between the case and spring bars is so small that try as I might, I could NOT get a Maratec zulu strap to fit.

heb

[MONVMENTVM]

Rhinos fit very tightly on an U1 but I think it should be fine.

[DM71]

There are many different Nato/Zulu straps on the market. Some are thicker than others. I know my bond G10 NATO from Westcoastime is my thinner one and also the best quality Nato I have. I never had a problem fitting it to my watches like I had with others thicker Nato or Zulu straps I have. Maybe yours is too thick? You have a pic? I don't know what can be the result of extra pressure on the spring bars from the one you have though.

[mellonb1]

My Crepas El Buzo will not take a zulu strap due to clearance between case and spring bars. Therefore, I have to use a thinner Nato strap. I have had other watches that were a tight fit but never experienced any failure due to pressure on spring bars. Should be fine just difficult swapping out straps.

[PullTheTrigger]

There are many different Nato/Zulu straps on the market. Some are thicker than others. I know my bond G10 NATO from Westcoastime is my thinner one and also the best quality Nato I have. I never had a problem fitting it to my watches like I had with others thicker Nato or Zulu straps I have. Maybe yours is too thick? You have a pic? I don't know what can be the result of extra pressure on the spring bars from the one you have though.

These are all maratac straps. The orange monster and my deep blue are the tight fitting ones. Maybe I will have to look into the west coast time ones. How do they hold up in the water, soaked?

[DM71]

These are all maratac straps. The orange monster and my deep blue are the tight fitting ones. Maybe I will have to look into the west coast time ones. How do they hold up in the water, soaked?

From your pictures, it seems that you have thick ones. The one I got from Westcoastime are pretty good even when wet, they do not stretch as others I have. Well, they may stretch a bit but not much.

Hope it helps.

[PFUND28]

What about bending the bars a touch - making your own curved bars as it were? I have a DB World Diver GMT and to mount a rubber strap - or any strap other than the bracelet I had to bend the bars..

Here it is on a Rockin' Ron strap - you can see the curved bar on the wrist shot.

[PullTheTrigger]

From your pictures, it seems that you have thick ones. The one I got from Westcoastime are pretty good even when wet, they do not stretch as others I have. Well, they may stretch a bit but not much.

Hope it helps.

Thanks! I will have to remember that next time I replace a NATO strap.

[PullTheTrigger]

What about bending the bars a touch - making your own curved bars as it were? I have a DB World Diver GMT and to mount a rubber strap - or any strap other than the bracelet I had to bend the bars..

Here it is on a Rockin' Ron strap - you can see the curved bar on the wrist shot.

I was thinking about that, it may be worth it, but I don't want to compromise the integrity of the bars any more than I have to. They are at there limit I think now.