Deployant - What Am I Missing?
Discussion
I have a few watches which originally had deployant clasps, either on leather or rubber. Because I have some common sense, I immediately replaced the straps or the clasps on all of them. One of my mesh bracelets has given up the ghost tonight (the secondary clip thing has broken), so I considered switching back to the original rubber with deployant, as a temporary measure.
WTF? They are fiddly, flimsy and uncomfortable. Am I doing it wrong? What am I missing?
WTF? They are fiddly, flimsy and uncomfortable. Am I doing it wrong? What am I missing?
Yeah I must admit, I'm not a fan.
I find them, generally. uncomfortable and a bit fiddly.
Give me a straightforward tang buckle any day.
My only caveat is that I don't have any high end deployant clasps. Maybe a good one is better, but I'm loathe to spend the money to discover I was right all along!
M.
I find them, generally. uncomfortable and a bit fiddly.
Give me a straightforward tang buckle any day.
My only caveat is that I don't have any high end deployant clasps. Maybe a good one is better, but I'm loathe to spend the money to discover I was right all along!
M.
Are you referring to the ones that have two bits that clip down? http://s692.photobucket.com/user/nevillekaki/media...
I've got a deployant that's more like a bracelet's buckle thing. Also it doesn't bend as much as some.
http://www.strappedfortime.com/images/Img686.jpg
I've got a deployant that's more like a bracelet's buckle thing. Also it doesn't bend as much as some.
http://www.strappedfortime.com/images/Img686.jpg
I have a deployant on my Dornbluth and I find it very comfortable and easy to use-it just clicks in on each side and then squeeze the buttons to release. I like the fact that if it does accidentally get released (never happened) it would stay on my wrist and not fall off and that there is less wear and tear on the leather as it doesn't have to be buckled up every time I wear it.
Hoofy said:
Are you referring to the ones that have two bits that clip down? http://s692.photobucket.com/user/nevillekaki/media...
Yes.Hoofy said:
I've got a deployant that's more like a bracelet's buckle thing. Also it doesn't bend as much as some.
http://www.strappedfortime.com/images/Img686.jpg
Now, I don't call that a deployant. That's what I have on a mesh bracelet, and it's this that has broken.http://www.strappedfortime.com/images/Img686.jpg
Dicky Knee said:
I have a deployant on my Dornbluth and I find it very comfortable and easy to use-it just clicks in on each side and then squeeze the buttons to release. I like the fact that if it does accidentally get released (never happened) it would stay on my wrist and not fall off and that there is less wear and tear on the leather as it doesn't have to be buckled up every time I wear it.
Agreed. The Dornbluth deployant is very good as are many others.
In my experience leather straps with deployant clasps tend to last a lot longer than those with Tang Buckles, as you don't stress the leather by pulling it when you put it on, or bending it through the buckle to enable the tang to engage in the hole.
I have had many types (butterfly, fold over, etc. etc.) and it seems to hold true for all. When I have invested in a really nice croco strap that can cost hundreds of pounds, I make sure I have a deployant clasp on it for this reason.
I have had many types (butterfly, fold over, etc. etc.) and it seems to hold true for all. When I have invested in a really nice croco strap that can cost hundreds of pounds, I make sure I have a deployant clasp on it for this reason.
Dicky Knee said:
I have a deployant on my Dornbluth and I find it very comfortable and easy to use-it just clicks in on each side and then squeeze the buttons to release. I like the fact that if it does accidentally get released (never happened) it would stay on my wrist and not fall off and that there is less wear and tear on the leather as it doesn't have to be buckled up every time I wear it.
+1Wouldn't have a leather strap without one, especially not given how much a decent croc strap costs (and Dirk's ones aren't that offensively priced)
: I have a deployant on a steel bracelet, and that is nice. On leather or rubber, though, they turn a supple strap into something with sharp edges, and it's not pleasant.Yell_M3 said:
I have breitling and panerai deployment and both are excellent. For me it's the fact you don't stretch the leather and thus they look nicer and last longer. But then tang are usually cheaper, so may not make a difference over the life of the watch.
Panerai +1 class 
Can't get on with Breitling though - too light, don't feel solid enough to me.
Straps or bracelets and deployant or buckles; A topic of I've researched and prototyped to the fullest extent!
My opinion (and these things tend to end up as opinion):
Leather strap is more comfortable than a bracelet, but a bracelet is longer lasting and looks better once a strap becomes a bit tatty - typically after 2 or 3 years.
Deployant (annoying word so I use the alternative of deployment) definitely makes a strap last a lot longer because a buckle generates a sharp curve and crease in the leather which causes it to split. Once a deployment buckle is fitted then the next point of failure tends to be the inner lining of the strap. Leather absorbs wrist sweat and after a while it becomes a bit rank and smelly. You can treat the outer leather with shoe polish to keep it good, but if you shoe polish the inner lining it makes your wrist change colour. So outer layer in leather, inner layer in something else and a deployment buckle is the best solution, and here it is:
The deployment buckle itself should be a double hinge type so that it can gently gymbal to the curvature of your wrist. This stops a strap on a slim wrist having a bulge where the inner part of the buckle is (it's a small but worthwhile feature).
For the bracelet option then my preference is the butterfly clasp:
I like it for no other reason than it's totally hidden and it allows me to deep engrave the bracelet with a nice logo.
The bracelet itself should be solid metal (not folded links) and with links tightly up to each other. Doing this prevents the old problem of the bracelet pulling the hairs out of your wrist. Adjusting the links should also be by double headed screws instead of the alternatives of single headed screws of friction fit pins. Double headed screws don't come loose as the bracelet flexes.
Anyway, that's my pennies worth. :-)
My opinion (and these things tend to end up as opinion):
Leather strap is more comfortable than a bracelet, but a bracelet is longer lasting and looks better once a strap becomes a bit tatty - typically after 2 or 3 years.
Deployant (annoying word so I use the alternative of deployment) definitely makes a strap last a lot longer because a buckle generates a sharp curve and crease in the leather which causes it to split. Once a deployment buckle is fitted then the next point of failure tends to be the inner lining of the strap. Leather absorbs wrist sweat and after a while it becomes a bit rank and smelly. You can treat the outer leather with shoe polish to keep it good, but if you shoe polish the inner lining it makes your wrist change colour. So outer layer in leather, inner layer in something else and a deployment buckle is the best solution, and here it is:
The deployment buckle itself should be a double hinge type so that it can gently gymbal to the curvature of your wrist. This stops a strap on a slim wrist having a bulge where the inner part of the buckle is (it's a small but worthwhile feature).
For the bracelet option then my preference is the butterfly clasp:
I like it for no other reason than it's totally hidden and it allows me to deep engrave the bracelet with a nice logo.
The bracelet itself should be solid metal (not folded links) and with links tightly up to each other. Doing this prevents the old problem of the bracelet pulling the hairs out of your wrist. Adjusting the links should also be by double headed screws instead of the alternatives of single headed screws of friction fit pins. Double headed screws don't come loose as the bracelet flexes.
Anyway, that's my pennies worth. :-)
Lorne said:
Straps or bracelets and deployant or buckles; A topic of I've researched and prototyped to the fullest extent!
The deployment buckle itself should be a double hinge type so that it can gently gymbal to the curvature of your wrist. This stops a strap on a slim wrist having a bulge where the inner part of the buckle is (it's a small but worthwhile feature).
Awesome stuff! Do you have any recommendation on anyone that does a clasp that will fit the bill?The deployment buckle itself should be a double hinge type so that it can gently gymbal to the curvature of your wrist. This stops a strap on a slim wrist having a bulge where the inner part of the buckle is (it's a small but worthwhile feature).
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