The Trend of Bond Watch Straps
Bond Watch straps were an essential part of the British military uniform during the Cold War. The grey-colored, nylon straps gained immense popularity among the general population towards the end of the war. Today, many manufacturers and big brands offer unique varieties of Bond Watch straps that are renowned worldwide.
The James Bond Connection
A primary factor contributing to the popularity of Bond Watch straps was their appearance in James Bond movies. Sean Connery, playing 007, wore a Rolex Submariner in the early films of the franchise. In “Dr. No,” Connery wore the Rolex Submariner with a leather strap. However, in “Goldfinger” (1964), close-up shots clearly show Connery wearing the watch with a striped Nylon strap. This strap achieved cult status and became known as the James Bond Watch Strap. Interestingly, this movie was shot before the introduction of Bond Watch straps in the military.
Speculations Galore
Sean Connery checking his Rolex Submariner Ref.: 6538, Pictures: Danjaq LLC, Sony Pictures Entertainment
The Big Crown Rolex Submariner with a 16 mm strap in the iconic colors Black/Red/Green did not fit well with the watch’s 22 mm lug width. It remains unclear why this relatively narrow strap was used with the larger watch. Despite this, the watch has been a craze among collectors and enthusiasts for decades. Initially, the James Bond Watch Strap was thought to feature alternating stripes of black and Admiralty Grey. For many years, reproductions of this strap were sold worldwide. However, with the advent of high-definition Blu-ray videos, it became clear that Connery never wore a Bond Watch strap but a standard buckle strap. Additionally, the James Bond Watch Strap had nine stripes instead of five, in three colors: black, dark burgundy, and dark olive.
The New James Bond Watch Strap
The revelation about the original strap is relatively recent. Ironically, the current James Bond, Daniel Craig, wore an identical 6538 Big Crown Rolex Submariner with a grey and black alternating pattern Bond Watch strap. The watch was a gift from Barbara Broccoli, the current producer of the James Bond movies. At WatchBandit, you can find two versions of the original movie-style James Bond watch straps: one in the Bond version and another in the grey/black version. These are identical to Connery’s strap in every way possible.
For more information, check out this comprehensive guide on Nylon pull-through straps.