It seems like a really good idea. After all, what could be easier or more convenient than a Velcro closure to serve as a watch clasp, letting you get rid of that annoying buckle.
I would suggest it’s not a good plan even though you’ll see it used on a great many watches – especially military styles. They use it both for attaching the watch case to the band, as well as for the band closure itself.
The reason to pass on this is because the hook and loop material will wear away over time and eventually stop holding securely.
I had one of these nylon bands on a dive watch and ended up losing it during a dive somewhere on the bottom of the ocean in the Virgin Islands. The watch was an M1 Momentum, a favorite I’d had for a good many years.
What had happened was the Velcro got worn over time to the point where it almost disappeared from the end of the strap. This allowed the tip to curl up whenever the band rubbed against anything.
I remember setting the elapsed time bezel at the start of a dive, then later on, when looking to check the watch against my computer, the watch wasn’t there. Fortunately the watch was a backup for the dive computer, but I still hated losing it.
I’d evidently caught that curled up tip on my gear and inadvertently released the closure, allowing the watch to simply fall away. Never even felt it.
And yes, I’d noticed the wear, and should’ve replaced the band, but just ignored it too long. I mean it was still holding securely as long as that tip didn’t catch on anything. Oh well, lesson learned.
But I still recommend only watches with a rubber strap & buckle, or a stainless bracelet with locking clasp for diving. It may not be such a big deal on land – definitely easier to find, but underwater is a different problem altogether.
