The ultimate history of NASA watch straps
A watch strap frames a cherished timepiece, and having purchased a chronograph with a historic connection to the US space program and lunar landings, the best thing you can do is not compromise on authenticity when wearing the watchband you pair with it.
Purpose and design of NASA watchbands
NASA Velcro watch straps have remained unchanged since first created for the Gemini program (if we ignore a brief evolution into combustion resistant watchbands bases on white beta fabric).
The then innovative "Velcro watchband" that is now so strongly associated with the OMEGA moonwatch enabled the crew to easily transfer their mission chronograph from being wrist-worn inside the space capsule (during intra-vehicular activity, or IVA) to wearing around the astronaut's space suit for spacewalks and lunar exploration (called extra-vehicular activity, or EVA).
Easy and secure attachment between wrist and spacesuit was their primary purpose, and any claimed for considerations such as "durability" for repeated lunar missions just wasn't so. After all, these were missions of relatively short duration. Each mission crew received a fresh watchband which on return to earth (plus moon dust) and was either donated to a museum or ended up in private hands, often selling for 5 figures.
The different types of NASA watch straps
Originally the NASA watchband, made out of black Nylon Velcro®, was to be worn over the spacesuit during the 1960's Gemini program, a less bulkier suit than required for Apollo. It only needed to be 19" inches long, and was designated the Gemini program part number CF55052-5. The Ed White FOIS would have been worn on such a 19" long watchband.
As early examples of Velcro® in the 1960s wasn't as durable as we see now, mil-spec binding tape was used to reinforce the wear points. The color was a not very space-age Olive Drab (OD) but reflected ready availability for the task. Early OD color standards were ill-defined and the shade was often brown/green or grey/green from mixed standards.
During Apollo, these watchbands were renumbered SEB12100030-201, the first configuration for the SEB12100020 design specification. Up to this point all part and serial numbers were stamped with Nylon marking ink.
As the Apollo spacesuit design called for a longer watchband, configuration -202 was designed at 21 ½" long. The watchband used by Dave Scott for his Bulova chronograph was this length although using grayish green OD and stamped with ink. All others during the Apollo program were brownish green OD marked with an IBM Selectric typewriter.
White NASA watchbands: An evolutionary detour
Configuration -202 wasn't initially used after the Apollo 1 fire as flammability in oxygen rich atmospheres was a concern. An improved watchband made out of white beta fabric (Teflon® coated glass fibre yarns) was tried. Various configurations in 19" and 21 ½" pairs, from -203 to -208, were tried and abandoned. These were used throughout Apollo training on earth and moon-shot rehearsals in space.
The most popular NASA watchbands today
For the Apollos 11 and 12, the iconic P/N SEB12100030-202 long watchband was re-introduced for both IVA and EVA. Apollo 13 to Apollo 15 saw the inclusion of a short Velcro watchband, configuration -209. This was dropped for the last two moon landings but a slightly longer "short" watchband -210 was supplied for the Apollo Soyuz Test Program, Skylab and early Space Shuttle missions. The extra length came in handy for Skylab as it was paired with a personal dosimeter worn on the same strap as the chronograph. By then Olive Drab had formalized to the shade seen today.
Authenticity, craftsmanship and durability
The watchbands sold here are made with unparalleled care and observation to actual flown artefacts and their unique timelines, as can be viewed in museums and online on space auction catalogues. To us, this is the single overriding criteria for determining quality. It starts with respecting every aspect of construction without compromise until it is impossible to distinguish between the ones sold here and the flown examples worn by Apollo astronauts.
However, in recognition of the demand for a hard wearing watchstrap material for not just the OMEGA Speedmaster, and in consideration of the limited stocks of authentic Apollo-era Velcro® remaining from over 50 years ago, a variety of short NASA watch straps in different strap widths and lengths are offered.
All use the latest and best hook and loop tape for wearing directly as a watch strap, including being cut to ⅟₆₄" (0.4mm) within the max lug width for pulling through the springbar — as per the actual NASA design! Also introduced is a new configuration -211, a longer "short" NASA watchband for larger wrists.
