To Deployment(Deployant) or not to?

[ehou333]

My biggest dislike about deployments is that they are really thick and stick out far beyond the strap unlike bracelets. Deployments do keep the wear and tear on your straps to a minimum and keeps the holds from stretching.

[Monocrom]

What are your guys opinions on deployment clasps? comfortable? traditional? It seems all luxury watches nowadays have them...

Deployment clasp = Pretentious buckle.

Someone apparently had plenty of time on their hands and decided to recreate the buckle. I've owned one watch that used a deployment clasp. Didn't really find it very comfortable, but it didn't make my wrist bleed either. Still, the concept just felt very silly to me. I've never had a traditional buckle come undone. Plus, if a springbar fails, it's not as though a deployment clasp will prevent the watch from falling off your wrist.

[balla]

Deployment clasp = Pretentious buckle.

Someone apparently had plenty of time on their hands and decided to recreate the buckle. I've owned one watch that used a deployment clasp. Didn't really find it very comfortable, but it didn't make my wrist bleed either. Still, the concept just felt very silly to me. I've never had a traditional buckle come undone. Plus, if a springbar fails, it's not as though a deployment clasp will prevent the watch from falling off your wrist.

Totally agree I much prefer a normal buckle on a leather strap. I think they are not very comfy and also mean you cannot easily lay your watch flat.

[stevenkelby]

I always remove my watch to shower, and sometimes in bed, plus I sometimes swap watches a couple times in the day, so my watches get lots of on/off activity.

I played around a lot at first as I loved the idea but couldn't get a good comfortable fit with many, but now I won't wear a watch without a deployant clasp. Every single watch I own gets worn on a metal bracelet or a strap with deployant, even natos/zulus etc. get a deployant.

I do only have half a dozen deployants in different sizes and colors but it only takes 30 seconds to swap them over to a different watch before wearing.

All mine are double fold, I couldn't get along with any single folds I tried.

The main advantages for me are that I can take the watch on and off in the dark or while walking around or while not paying attention, quickly and at the same length I had it last time with complete confidence that the watch will not fall off my wrist as it can while fiddling with a normal buckle, especially while fastening them. A deployant is so simple and convenient compared to a normal buckle. Not that a buckle is a great challenge or anything, I have very dexterous fingers, but am always looking for little ways to make life easier :)

I also like how gentle they are on some expensive leather/croc straps with far less wear on the strap.

RHD are nice but quite thick and fat. Hadley Roma probably make my favorite. Panatime sell good ones too. Even these ebay ones are good for me:

okaybuy11 | eBay

The main factor in getting a good fit is having a strap that is the correct length on the buckle side if it's too long or short for your wrist it's not going to work out. 75mm is perfect for my 7.25" wrist.

I put Hirsch allergy free stuff on all the metal parts of a deployant (or bracelet clasp, not the whole bracelet!) that touch my skin and they are much more comfortable, all my watch backs have it too.

[Otto Phan]

Personally, I love em and immediately switch out ANY buckles to deployment clasps. Having said that, it's all in the execution and not all deployments are created equal. Some are too fat and some don't close securely. Deployments allow me to wear the strap not so tight without it sticking up which happens with buckles. Additionally, I prefer the look which is cleaner.

As far as whether it is pretentious or not, sometimes a guy driving a bright red corvette is not a jerk, he just prefers driving a bright red corvette. Wearing a Rolex can be pretentious or maybe the person is just wearing a Rolex. For me, its a better way to keep a watch on the wrist. That's all. I honestly don't think I'm better than others because of it. It's the socks I wear that do that....

[GuySie]

I'm picky about deployants, many of them are uncomfortable to me, but if they fit I absolutely love them. Not only do they help my straps last longer and make it easier to put on a watch, they also add some thickness to my wrist. I have very tiny wrists and would usually need to either punch extra holes or buy more expensive special short straps. Often the added few millimeter helps me use a regular strap.

[CheapThrills]

I also like how gentle they are on some expensive leather/croc straps with far less wear on the strap.

RHD are nice but quite thick and fat. Hadley Roma probably make my favorite. Panatime sell good ones too. Even these ebay ones are good for me:

okaybuy11 | eBay

The main factor in getting a good fit is having a strap that is the correct length on the buckle side if it's too long or short for your wrist it's not going to work out. 75mm is perfect for my 7.25" wrist.

I like the idea of deployant clasp but I have not tried it ever.
OTOH, I like metal bracelet quite a lot specifically because it is easy/fast to take off and put on to same lenght.
I take watch off always for shower, always for work, most of the time for night. Metal bracelet works nicely but as you can understand, for some reason I'm now investing on more than just a one watch, so...


What clasp would you recommend as a "tester"? I use and probably will be using not-too-expensive watches, so High-End might be obsolete for me.

[Luisão]

I think it depends a lot what strap you are using the deployant on. Some straps just seem to feel more comfortable (my opinion) with a regular clasp. On the other hand, I have a few straps that are perfectly comfortable with a deployant-clasp. And if you have more expensive straps it might be good to know that you probably strain (hm, is that the correct word?) or abrade them much less with a deployant. My one and only croco-strap is on one and is very comfortable to wear.

Hi Vemrik,

I agree with you, it depends on the strap and also own the deployment clasp. Just as there are bad bracelets, there are also obviously, bad deployment clasps.

A combination of a bad strap, with a bad deployment clasp, can be very unpleasant and extremely uncomfortable.

And above all, which works very well for some, not always results to others, just as well.

With regards,
Luís M

[Monocrom]

I always remove my watch to shower, and sometimes in bed, plus I sometimes swap watches a couple times in the day, so my watches get lots of on/off activity.

I played around a lot at first as I loved the idea but couldn't get a good comfortable fit with many, but now I won't wear a watch without a deployant clasp. Every single watch I own gets worn on a metal bracelet or a strap with deployant, even natos/zulus etc. get a deployant.

My curiosity got the better of me. How do you incorporate a deployment clasp on a NATO or Zulu strap? Especially a quality Zulu strap which has the rings sewn into the strap itself.

[stevenkelby]

What clasp would you recommend as a "tester"? I use and probably will be using not-too-expensive watches, so High-End might be obsolete for me.

Will this place sells the cheapest decent ones:

okaybuy11 | eBay

But these are worth the extra money IMO:

Holben's Fine Watch Bands items - Get great deals on deployment clasps, butterfly and flip-lock items on eBay Stores!

I'll mention that I do not recommend buying from Freda watch straps, a nightmare to deal with unless you get lucky and have no issues.

My curiosity got the better of me. How do you incorporate a deployment clasp on a NATO or Zulu strap? Especially a quality Zulu strap which has the rings sewn into the strap itself.

Same way as with any other strap with a Nato. Zulus that have the solid ring for the buckle get the buckle cut off and replaced with the deployant. I still use the 2 other rings to hold the loose end of the strap.