Watch Band with Ballistic Nylon Material Strap and High-End Black Buckle (Matte Finish Buckle)

As a self-admitted watch nut (hey, there are worse hobbies), I’m always on the hunt for straps that balance comfort, durability, and value — and this ArtStyle 22mm ballistic nylon band with the matte black buckle hits that sweet spot. The ballistic nylon is thick without being stiff, breaks in quickly, and feels noticeably sturdier than cheaper NATO-style straps. The matte black buckle adds a clean, stealthy, tacti-cool vibe that pairs perfectly with field watches, divers, and anything with a rugged look. For the price, the quality is honestly impressive. If you like rotating straps as much as the watches themselves, this one’s a great addition to the drawer.

I have added quite a few NATO straps to my arsenal recently, and this is one of my favorites. The ballistic nylon seems extremely durable. The buckle and rings (I prefer black) are stylish and useful. I have several of these ArtStyle bands in different colors and I like them all. They make my Seiko divers and a Nautica and a Timex, and as seen here in these photos, my recent addition, a $50 Casio quartz dive-inspired watch (see my review of the watch, too), look way more expensive and utilitarian. And they are comfortable. If you get tired of the band or the color, they come off in about thirty seconds, allowing you to change the look of the watch. These are indispensable. --W.D. Gagliani, author of The Judas Hit

*Update:* I make a policy (that I don't always keep to) of not jumping on Amazon and reviewing something as soon as I've first put it to use, and this purchase is an example of why. Wearing this strap is as amazingly comfortable as I said it was; unfortunately it wasn't until bedtime when I tried to put the watch in my watch winder and found it wouldn't fit that I found what is for me the major downside to this strap. The strap has big hardware on it that is functional and looks cool, but - in addition to arguably looking a little funny jutting out from the sides of a thin wrist - that hardware can prevent your fitting your watch into at least some watch winders at the end of the day. So this strap may not be ideal for automatic watches (which are the only kind I wear anymore). It's definitely not suitable for use with all watch winders. Alas. *Original review*: I received two new watch straps in today's mail, both intended for the same watch (a Seiko 5 Sports SNZG15J1 Automatic), and figured I'd try one strap and then the other to see which I preferred. But as it turns out, the one that isn't this one may be spending rather a while in its package yet because I tried this one first and I love it. It may help this strap's case that the strap that came with my Seiko, in addition to my not thinking it looked awesome, was very stiff and did not soften up much through wear, so it was an easy act for this strap to follow. But in truth I doubt that matters much; this strap is just so insanely comfortable that it would probably make almost any other strap pale in comparison. It arrived packaged with a very nice lug pin removal tool and two replacement pins - very nice. Installation was as simple as removing the pins (which was the hardest part of the operation due to the aforementioned stiffness of the original band - it was difficult to squeeze the strap far enough aside that I could see the pins and access them with the tool - but with a little effort I managed it), putting the pins back in, threading this strap through them and then through its own retainer loops. That done, I put on my watch and was amazed - I'd gotten used to the stock strap and had no idea what I'd been missing all this time in the way of comfort. This strap puts the old one to shame. My only possible issue with it is more a matter of my wrist than of the strap: I have thin little sticks for arms, and chicken wrists, and the hardware on this strap makes it jut out rather a ways from my chicken wrists, which I think looks just a bit awkward maybe - the proportions make the strap look kind of massive to me. But the thing is sooooo comfortable that I don't care all that much (and I think I'm getting used to the look as I go, anyway). Wow. Can't get over it. Who knew a watch strap could be so comfortable?? To anyone for whom comfort is a priority (and you may not realize just how much of a priority it is until you try this strap), I highly - nay, *adamantly* - recommend this strap. Wow. =)

So far this watch band seems to be as good as the multicolored grey hardwared 20mm version i bought under the same name from Amazon. They have very thick mdtal backets, buckes and hardware so keep that in mind when buying. I like the thick hardware, but others might not.

Didn’t really last very long. The way it wrapped around the spring bars it put extra pressure on them and eventually the watch would snag in something and the spring bars would pop out.

I only gave 3 stars for durability because I don't know yet due to only having a few days. However due to its construction I feel it will be very durable over time. It's actually heavier than I expected but that's because the hardware is legit! I also wasn't expecting a nice new spring bar tool and spring bars! It may have said it came with them but I didn't really read it as I just wanted the strap. I slapped this baby on my zelos swordfish 252/300 Black sand and it looks and feels amazing! Now I need to grab the khaki version of this and I'll be good!

This band is of a durable design, in that the buckle will not come apart. And, it's also a good looking band for my milspec watch.

This is my first NATO watch strap. It nicely fits a Casio W800-H which I "modded" with an 18mm to 22mm adapter. The strap is comfortable and the metal hardware feels sturdy.