A.F.0210® strap treated with Blanco 103. Image courtesy : Alex Gedye
The A.F.0210. strap has a unique history, and is very hard to find, with original straps now commanding upwards of £400, based on the Fellows auction result of 11 April 2022.
We are now manufacturing and selling faithful reproduction A.F.0210.® straps, primarily because we desired an A.F.0210. strap, and found one almost impossible to find.
WWW NATO redial IWC Mark X W10/445-5890 on original (left) and faithful reproduction A.F.0210.® strap. Image courtesy MWR forum user : Bone Idol.
Our straps are authentic reproductions, and are very comfortable and affordable. Image below, and comment, courtesy of IG member, workingtonwatches@civic4982.
The rarest of all military watch/strap combinations is probably the 1945 W.W.W. Grana and the A.F.0210. strap.
1945 Grana W.W.W. and A.F.0210.® strap.
Image courtesy : Terence Lim.
The A.F.0210. strap complements any of the 12 W.W.W. watches, and both were introduced in 1945 in the closing stages of WW2.
The original A.F.0210. strap was 17mm +/- 0.5mm, and because of its softness and flexibility, it wears narrower and wider. However, later military watches have wider lug widths, so we manufacture A.F.0210.® straps in three widths to suit most military watches, 17.5mm, 20mm and 22mm.
17.5mm, 20mm and 22mm A.F.0210.® straps
A trio on A.F.0210.® straps. Image courtesy MWR Forum user : foilguy
A few original A.F.0210. straps survive, and they differ slightly, as could be expected for a hand sewn strap made in difficult times in a cottage industry. We have examined several, and the length, the buckles, the sewing pattern, and strap colour all vary slightly. Some later buckles and loops are selenium dioxide treated to make black.
For example, the original A.F.0210. strap, top below, is 235mm long, and is a darker khaki colour than the original A.F.0210. strap, bottom below, which is 250mm long.
Key elements of the design are :
– A 44-48 warp thread loose weave khaki cotton webbing, 17mm wide and about 0.75mm thick.
– A one piece folded strap, about 250mm long, with stitching all round at 2mm from the edge.
– A shouldered brass buckle, with a depression to retain the buckle tongue.
– A sharpened buckle tongue which allows the strap to be fitted to the wrist in any position.
– No eyelet holes punched in the strap, allowing infinite adjustment.
– Brass loops positioned 10mm and 36mm back from the buckle, retained by the folded strap.
– Stamped inside, A.F.0210. and often with a pheon.
A.F.0210. protocol drawing.
The original A.F.0210. strap was approximately 240mm long, and we manufacture two strap lengths, 250mm and 270mm straps as standard. Supporters often ask about the correct strap length for their wrist, and we recommend a minimum strap length of 55mm more than their wrist size. Excess length can be tucked back under the keepers.
250mm strap set to 195mm wrist size. 55mm tail on strap.
For all three strap widths, 17.5mm, 20mm and 22mm, we manufacture a strap with a fabric keeper, as was used on modified A.F.0210. straps during the Suez campaign.
These can be obtained on special order by contacting us.
Due to demand, we have added a darker olive green strap as shown below, right, only available in 17.5mm width.
Longines Heritage Military watch from 2018 and Revue 57 ATP watch from 1940
We can also now supply an AF0210.® strap in black, also only in 17.5mm width.
Black strap in 17.5mm width only.
The range of colours is shown below.
In addition to experimenting with colours, we have also experimented with RAF style pull through straps, and can supply these on request, with production dates to be agreed. These have a soft, sewn in place keeper replacing the 2 brass keepers.
Finally, we can custom print the stamp on the outside, not the inside. Please request this on order.
Custom print on outside of strap.
