SMP 300m Rubber Strap - deployment or buckle?

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Michael Sinclair

·Mar 11, 2022

I've got the white dial Seamaster and looking to get the OEM rubber strap but not sure whether to go for the standard buckle version or splash out for the deployment version.

For reference I was told the deployment version is £490 all in. How can I justify paying almost £500 for a rubber strap

Anyone got experience of both versions?

 

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YY77

·Mar 11, 2022

M Michael Sinclair

justify

You'll regret not going for a deployant when you drop the watch whilst putting it on or taking it off.

 

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CharlieM0uze

·Mar 11, 2022

Its easier to justify $20 for a Seamaster strap from Aliexpress, you can toss it in the bin if it doesnt work out and lossing $20 should not cause too many tears. It looks the same although may not feel the same but $20 vers $500... the real deal cannot be that much better.

 

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texasmade

·Mar 13, 2022

£500 also includes the clasp which can be used with other leather bands.

 

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dtd

·Mar 13, 2022

I do not have experience with both, only the buckle version. Beside the price, my choice was based on that when I have the watch on a rubber strap, it will be used as a tool watch/beater. Meaning everything from playing with my kid, working on my bike, whatever water activity etc. And even though I have never accidentally opened an clasp/deployant (knock on wood etc!) I feel that a regular buckle is safer…

Call me crazy 🤪 But that also saved me a couple of bucks, which I put towards a leather strap with a deployant for my speedy (still waiting though)

 

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Leviathan

·Mar 13, 2022

Unpopular opinion here, but keep it on the SS bracelet. Looks and functions so much better that way.

 

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scapa

·Mar 13, 2022

I keep trying to like deployants, but I find I rarely do. Just find a buckle more comfortable and straightforward to use, and the OEM strap with its fixed keeper is an elegant piece that was supremely comfortable for me.

 

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CarloUK

·Mar 13, 2022

The deployment looks fantastic and is a step up. Buy it. My plan is to get it. Forget the cost just do it. The watch is 5k so why wouldn't you. To buy into omega and then put an ebay strap on is just dam sad.
Im in my AD tomorrow to try the rubber out.

 

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Tom Bombadil

·Mar 13, 2022

When I bought my Diver 300M Nekton Edition, it came with the standard buckle. Later I bought the Omega deployant and related Omega strap from my AD. I've not regretted my decision once. Two reasons: speed and safety. The watch is my daily wearer. I can take the watch off/on in around 2 seconds and I never worry about dropping it. Especially going thru metal detectors at airports.

Edited: Mar 14, 2022

 

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Butik

·Mar 14, 2022

Please note that the pin for the SMP300 pin-buckle is annoyingly curved, so closing or opening it is real pain in the a*s. It is very secure when you close it, but difficulty of closing / opening was an absolutel no-go for me.
Deployant is surely much easier & safer to operate, but then you must be aware of 3 layers in the buckle area - 2 layers of rubber and the buckle itself.

 

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CharlieM0uze

·Mar 14, 2022

Has anybody tried Artem clasps?
$68 seems so much more digestible then $250: https://artemstraps.com/products/omega-style-deployant-clasp-ss
Good reviews here:

Edited: Mar 14, 2022

 

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CarloUK

·Mar 14, 2022

CharlieM0uze

Its easier to justify $20 for a Seamaster strap from Aliexpress, you can toss it in the bin if it doesnt work out and lossing $20 should not cause too many tears. It looks the same although may not feel the same but $20 vers $500... the real deal cannot be that much better.

Not for me. You could buy a 20 dollar watch on Alibaba and toss that in as well 😀

 

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CharlieM0uze

·Mar 14, 2022

CarloUK

Not for me. You could buy a 20 dollar watch on Alibaba and toss that in as well 😀

Sure, but I think I'd rather burn $20 on AliExpress first to see how that works before dropping $250 on an EOM strap plus an additional $250 on an OEM deployant clasp. I also posted a note about Artem deployant clasps as that is a $68 option worth consideration.

 

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CarloUK

·Mar 14, 2022

CharlieM0uze

Sure, but I think I'd rather burn $20 on AliExpress first to see how that works before dropping $250 on an EOM strap plus an additional $250 on an OEM deployant clasp. I also posted a note about Artem deployant clasps as that is a $68 option worth consideration.

Yes seen the Artem sail cloth ones and waiting for them to come in-stock on the deployment. Looks good. But first I want the omega one, as that will stay part of my watch for the rest of my life and beyond.

 

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Butik

·Mar 14, 2022

Guys, and if I may ask - deployant, not deployment.

 

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CharlieM0uze

·Mar 14, 2022

Butik

Guys, and if I may ask - deployant, not deployment.

Don't you mean "déployante", either way EVERBODY knows what is being referred to whether one calls it déployante, deployant or deployment.
Spellchecker likes to autocorrect the word to deployment which must be a nightmare for those with OCD.

 

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richiv

·Mar 14, 2022

I have the deployant on an AT and don't think I will ever go back to a regular strap and buckle. The convenience and clean look of the minderless strap is hard to beat.

Here are two other options:
https://www.watchstyle.com/accessories/deployment-clasps/speedmaster-clasp.html
https://www.watchstyle.com/accessories/deployment-clasps/navigator-clasp.html

 

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Bobcat Sig

·Mar 16, 2022

Deployant FTW! After I picked up my white SMP300M, I found the SS bracelet to wash out the beautiful white dial and black bezel. That particular reference really ought to come with the Omega rubber strap on deployant. The watch pops in that configuration. And the Omega deployants are really quite delightful.

In fact, I love that combo so much that I bought a similar setup for my Plant Ocean 8500.

 

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jets

·Mar 26, 2022

DeployANT for me

 

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arno

·Jul 21, 2022

R richiv

I have the deployant on an AT and don't think I will ever go back to a regular strap and buckle. The convenience and clean look of the minderless strap is hard to beat.

Here are two other options:
https://www.watchstyle.com/accessories/deployment-clasps/speedmaster-clasp.html
https://www.watchstyle.com/accessories/deployment-clasps/navigator-clasp.html

The speedmaster one in the link above is also 36/37mm length, like the artem, vs 45mm for the OEM. It’s also half price on ABP website directly (bit not sure of they ship int´l).