Looking to buy the most authentic NASA watch strap?
Do you own a Speedmaster and wish to have a NASA strap linked to the Apollo program to go with the watch? But being a stickler for authenticity, you notice the ones available never looked like exactly flown ones sold at
auctions or from the NASA image archives?
Shop here for literally the best NASA straps available. We believe that, like OMEGA's decision never to replace the Speedmaster's hesalite with new and better crystal, maintaining an unbroken connection to the past is an important consideration when owning an authentic reminder of the Apollo space missions - although authentic here as meant as in "authentic ethnic cooking" rather than authentic suggesting provenance.
Why you should look no further
Only a few years ago the unique selling point of these watchbands was that they faithfully followed the NASA design drawing like no others sold elsewhere. As our expertise became widely known, many vendors started following these freely available designs too, effortlessly replicating our claims while understandably disregarding their lack of the original
matériel.
Fortunately, for the more aware enthusiasts we had a head start and were able to secure now extremely rare to obtain:
- Mil-spec (Mil-F-21840) vintage Velcro® brand hook and loop tape from 1970's U.S. Defense Supply Agency stock. While hook and loop tape has improved over the years, increasing in durability for military applications by decreasing its softness, the original non-scratchy "pile textile" is exactly the same stuff used in the Gemini and Apollo programs - and rebuts the forgiveness for discomfort with lesser copies that "a NASA Velcro strap was never meant to be worn off the spacesuit".
- Olive Drab colored mil-spec (Mil-T-5038) binding tape that exactly matches the now discontinued shades used in the 1960s Apollo era. Building on our research, we even match the O.D. shade to the type of watchband and NASA mission.
- A working vintage typewriter with the correct font and spacing as used by the original NASA Manned Spacecraft Center for Apollo labeling with a video of my one-finger typing!
It is difficult to convey through digital media the genuine look and feel of a historic artefact, but would humbly suggest that by encroaching on
"The Ship of Theseus Paradox" we've come about as close as is possible to re-creating the real thing short of supply from the original NASA-MSC Flight Crew Integration Division workshop with the
Apollo issue watchband or later Boeing Aerospace Operations contractors with the
Space Shuttle issue watchband.
If you are somewhat less ardent, a
NATO style watch strap is available with an exclusive, comfortable and fray-resistant mil-spec (AA-55126) Velcro® brand loop tape with mil-spec O.D. tape in any of the genuine colors from earlier space missions, ink stamped with the NASA part and serial numbers.
Other authentic Apollo replicas
Having started with an OMEGA Speedmaster moonwatch and then authentically made the accompanying NASA Velcro strap, why not attempt (we thought) the two
white NASA watchband types made from
Teflon® coated glass fabric? These eye-catching Apollo mission homages frame your moonwatch quite unlike any other watchband.
Continuing with the "wrist-wear" theme, exclusively offered here are unparalleled reproductions of
replica Apollo EVA Cuff Checklists with the complete set (every single Apollo mission EVA for both CDR and LMP!) to come.
