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How long should strap "appear" to be on a leather strap with double-deployment clasp?

Malthus101
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Howdy

Just that ^^^ - bought a custom leather strap for my Speedmaster - followed the instructions for ordering, chose the correct length for my 16.5 cm wrist - problem is, the strap was for small wrists (15.5 - 16.5) well that's me, 16.5, so I'm at the exact extreme end of that scale.

However, once I got it on my wrist, I need to use the second to last hole (the other 3 are too tight) and the end result is that the end of the strap that feeds through the "keepers" is so short, it doesn't even go through the second keeper!

To my eyes it needs at least another cm of leather, maybe 1.25 or even 1.5 to look right.

Maybe I am comparing it to normal leather straps where you need that extra length - perhaps it's normal on deployant straps to not need the extra material?

Thsi is my first strap with a deployant clasp - any experienced members who can give me their opinion?

Thanks.
20250604_171430.webp
 
YY77
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So you're talking about a butterfly deployant clasp, correct?

Could you show how it looks like with one side closed (12 o'clock side)?
 
Malthus101
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Yes it's a butterfly type - here are 2 pics with just the 12 o'clock side of the clasp snapped shut:

20250604_201640.webp 20250604_201648.webp
 
YY77
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Could you show it closed without the 6 o'clock side strap on the deployant?
 
Dan S
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IMO, it should look the same as with a buckle. No difference.
 
Malthus101
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Dan S Dan S
IMO, it should look the same as with a buckle. No difference.
It seems to me having tried the smallest wrist size hole (at this point the strap sticks out enough to easily fit through both keepers) that's it's simply because it's the smallest strap that will still just fit my wirst - maybe I'd have been better getting a medium sized one, and being on the smaller end of that.
 
YY77
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Dan S Dan S
IMO, it should look the same as with a buckle. No difference.
Some butterfly deployants have a gap which necessitates a longer strap, Zenith for example, left is 112/72mm, right is 127/72

IMG_20250307_150032.webp 20250604_213044.webp
 
Malthus101
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This one is 105/70mm

I'm thinking I should have got a 115/70mm
 
YY77
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Malthus101 Malthus101
This one is 105/70mm

I'm thinking I should have got a 115/70mm
Agreed, 120mm (if they even make that size) would be even better.
 
Malthus101
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YY77 YY77
Agreed, 120mm (if they even make that size) would be even better.
Annoyingly it was a fully bespoke strap where exact millimeter changes are possible - sadly, I took their guidance as I have never ordered one before....
 
Dan S
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YY77 YY77
Some butterfly deployants have a gap which necessitates a longer strap, Zenith for example, left is 112/72mm, right is 127/72

IMG_20250307_150032.webp 20250604_213044.webp
Yes, it might have to be longer. I just meant that cosmetically one would want to have the same amount of extra strap showing
 
Evitzee
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It should go through the second keeper to look right. In this case get rid of that keeper because it's not doing anything. Next time you'll have a better idea of the correct length for your wrist.
 
Malthus101
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Evitzee Evitzee
It should go through the second keeper to look right. In this case get rid of that keeper because it's not doing anything. Next time you'll have a better idea of the correct length for your wrist.
I might try and convince them to make me the longer side a bit longer, see what they say. Otherwise, yeah, I'll just snip it off.
 
Evitzee
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Malthus101 Malthus101
I might try and convince them to make me the longer side a bit longer, see what they say. Otherwise, yeah, I'll just snip it off.
That might be a stretch because that's a croc strap and croc lining.....not cheap. If it was a more common leather like calf or goat they might be amenable to remaking it. Anyway, no harm in asking since they recommended those dimensions.
 
Malthus101
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Evitzee Evitzee
That might be a stretch because that's a croc strap and croc lining.....not cheap. If it was a more common leather like calf or goat they might be amenable to remaking it. Anyway, no harm in asking since they recommended those dimensions.
Exactly. You have a keen eye!
 
Malthus101
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So I contacted them with photos and he came right back to me saying "yes you chose the wrong length, you should choose next time 115/75mm"....! I have explained that I chose what their website told me to chose.

Now he's saying well it depends on the case size of the watch. Uh huh..... 😏

So why on your website when it asks which watch and model the strap is for....? Is that info just for fun?

We shall see how this goes - I hate to be "that customer" but it's pretty expensive and I did follow all their instructions and I messaged them privately several times making sure that the lengths were definitely correct.

I know my wrist size too...

🤷‍♀️
 
Dan S
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If you used that strap with a tang buckle, it might be OK. The strap probably needs to be longer when using the deployant, because it is routed around the bulky clasp. So put a buckle on that strap, and buy a longer strap for the deployant.
 
Malthus101
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Dan S Dan S
If you used that strap with a tang buckle, it might be OK. The strap probably needs to be longer when using the deployant, because it is routed around the bulky clasp. So put a buckle on that strap, and buy a longer strap for the deployant.
I'll just sell the thing or give it to someone with smaller wrists! I'm done with it.
 
Evitzee
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Malthus101 Malthus101
I'll just sell the thing or give it to someone with smaller wrists! I'm done with it.
I wouldn't give up on it so quickly. Like Dan said, try it with a tang buckle and see if that works. It looks like a nice, well made croc strap, use it if at all possible. You won't get much if you try to sell it, and giving it away is just money down the drain.
 
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