Portofino 510103 8 Day Deployment Clasp Help

[christo678]

Hi everyone,
I am about to pull the trigger on a silver faced 510103 and am after a deployment clasp for the Santoni strap.
Does anyone know whether the deployment clasp may have any negative wear issues with the Santoni?
And can anyone advise where is the best place to source a clasp?
My AD did a great deal on the watch (in Australia) but is not cheap on the deployment clasp.
Thanks for your help,
Chris

[snowpea]

I'm also interested to find out also.

[Wimpy]

Gidday Chris.
I just bought the 510103 from an AD in Sydney. They told me I could put a deployant clasp directly on to the Santoni strap if my wrist was big enough. It isn't. My wrist is about 7". When I tried the Portuguese 7 day, the deployant clasp had to be moved to the smallest location. There was far too much surplus strap even with the reduced length deployant-matching leather strap. The AD have actually put a deployant clasp on to the Santoni strap for a customer with a bigger wrist and they said it worked well for him.
I also asked the question of IWC and I received the following reply which might be of interest / use to you:

"The IW510103 comes with a pin buckle. The Santoni strap is measured for use with the pin buckle.
A special strap is made for use with the deployment clasp, as a different fit required.

The details of the straps are:

Pin buckle use – strap width 22-18mm, strap lengths 115/75mm
Deployment use – strap width 22-18mm, strap lengths 135/55mm

As you can see, the straps have been altered to provide the best fit depending on the buckle.
It is not impossible to use the existing strap (for pin buckle) with a deployment clasp, however you may find the fit uncomfortable or awkward.

If you would like to trial the deployment clasp with your existing strap prior to purchasing the new strap please discuss this with your authorised retailer."

So I have ended up ordering a new XS Santoni strap and stainless clasp through the AD.

Happy hunting!

[gyang333]

Can someone PM me a price range of what I should expect when getting a quote from an AD on a Santoni strap?

[edwijaya]

G'day Wimpy & Chris,

This might be out of topic, but may I know how much % discount is your AD's giving?
I know this might be a sensitive topic, but I am keen to find out the most competitive AD in Australia (particularly in Sydney) for future purchases.

Thanks,

Ed

[christo678]

Hi Ed,
Serge at Hour Glass Sydney gave me the best price by a long way. Good guys, easy to deal with.Their pricing was far cheaper than anywhere overseas as well.You can PM me for more info.
Happy hunting,
Chris

[christo678]

Hi Wimpy,
Thanks for the info, very helpful and much appreciated.
BTW, how is the watch's accuracy?
Mine's running at +10 per day at the moment.
Am considering sending it for adjustment/regulation if it doesn't settle down a little over the next couple of months.
Thanks again for the info,
Chris

[christo678]

Oh, and do you mind telling me the cost of the new strap and lead time?
CHris

[Wimpy]

Hey Chris

To be honest I have left mine in the box since I bought it. I am not going to wear it on the buckle strap. I am waiting for the deployant clasp and new strap. Will let you know then. The RRP is $1k but you will be able to buy better than that! Wimpy

[harlansmart]

Hi Guys,

Hope I'm not thread-jacking here but... a few questions about straps for my 371404 Chrono (seen beneath) presently carrying a tang buckle closure. The 4th hole is too tight the 3rd too loose so I'm looking at the deployant closures but, they seem all to provide only 'incremental adjustment' i.e. straps with holes in them. Does IWC make any deployant closures which provide 'infinite adjustment' using straps which do not have holes?

Can anyone tell me if the shape or thickness of the deployant straps is different to the tang buckle straps, or is the only difference between the deployant straps and the tang buckle straps the lengths of the 2 individual pieces (total length is the same according to IWC)?


'Pin buckle use – strap width 22-18mm, strap lengths 115/75mm
Deployment use – strap width 22-18mm, strap lengths 135/55mm' IWC