The Breitling Watch Source Forums

What are the plusses and minusses on the deploy vs tang for leather straps? Is the deploy more comfortable? Does the fixed position of the deploy pose any problems as the leather starts to wear and "give" a little? Seems like most of the stap pics I see on this forum are with the tang??

Thanks,

_________________
Breitling Chrono Colt II
Tag Heuer Professional

My personal views:

Tang:
+ Cheap, comfortable
- Causes more wear to the strap (ie the particular hole you use), less sizing option (if you're not a perfect match you'll have to settle with the closest hole)

Deployant:
+ Much less wear on the strap (prolonged life), good sizing options, comfortable
- Expensive

For me the deployant wins, there's hardly a contest.

_________________
Collection: http://s540.photobucket.com/albums/gg32 ... mview=grid

Plus the fact that the tang & buckle also causes wear where you have to bend and pull the strap through the buckle.

Deployant absolutely hands down every time for me.

_________________
Driver8

Site Moderator

in fact both of them

_________________
Al

“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"

No Brainer.......... Deployant is the best

_________________
STAFFWOLF - NAVITIMER

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=4090

Just to disagree with my learned friends, I don't find the deployant comfortable at all. Give me a tang buckle any day!

Stef

_________________

+1. Especially uncomfortable when the strap is new and somewhat stiff. Further, after a couple of months, the strap takes a "set" crease where it bends through the slot of the deployant. Any adjustment afterwards to accomodate wrist size changes is useless because the deployant "seeks" the "set crease" and remains there. They are perhaps nicer in appearance but the extra expense is not justified IMHO. The most positive thing about the deployant is the safety issue of the watch remaining on your wrist should it slip while you are putting it on for wear. A tang/buckle user learns quickly to hold the wrist over a bed or other forgiving surface when putting the watch on or removing it. I'll take the tang anyday...
Best,
Ron

_________________
"The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea"...

Click to view: 500px Photo Gallery "Flow" or... 500px Photo Gallery or... Breitling Pics Slideshow

I have several deployants and hate them all. Tang only choice for me. Deployants are a pain and not worth the money.

Have them both and it all depends on the watch and type of strap, each has its plus or minus

Thanks, everyone, for their input so far. I was not expecting such differing opinions (and adament ones, at that ). Everyone seems to have very valid points. Crap , and I am also guessing that I could not "test drive" the deployment given the custom fit/sizing, right?

Timebandit's input is interesting. What are the differences in stap types in terms of my questions? I am thinking of the standard leather strap, not the croc (too shiny/dressy for me), as well am thinking of a CSO (black face with black leather strap) if that has any bearing on this issue. I am less concerned over cost and more concerned about comfort, both short term and long term. I do like how the deployment hugs the wrist, as this works well on the steel bracelet I have on my Colt, but the steel is flexible and moves at each link, whereas the deploy on the leather would seem to make the leather more rigid like.

Any more input to make this decision "easier?

Thanks!

_________________
Breitling Chrono Colt II
Tag Heuer Professional

Straps will always be more rigid than bracelets by their very nature. The problem that I have always had with tang is that I never seem to be able to get the right size - one hole is too lose, the next is too tight. With deployant it's infinitely adjustable to the right fit.

The strap definitely does adopt the deployant position and if your wrist size changes then you may have challenges, I've not personally had that problem. I am a big fan of the comfort of deployant.

I took a pair of plyers and tightened my deployant buckle and have found that this problem has completely gone away. I was careful not to press too hard and leave an imprint on the buckle. I find the deployant is the way to go. It's more comfortable and can have a more custom fit. Once the strap breaks in there is no question to me, deployant all the way.

Dave

_________________
Breitling Navitimer 01 46mm
Breitling Chrono Avenger
Breitling Chronomat Evolution
Breitling Chrono SuperOcean
Breitling Avenger Seawolf
Omega Seamaster Pro James Bond LE Co-Axial Auto

I'm with Roff all the way on Deploys.












Black Calf and a couple of 'spares'.
However I do see my matey Ron's point (I just differ in opinion)

_________________
Al

“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"

Have to say, I kicked off a similar post several months back; had just purchased a new navi on a black croc with tang and was having major issues with the fitting; one hole was too tight and the next one had the watch slipping and sliding up and down my wrist. Other watches I had with tang buckles fitted fine, so this was a real frustration. It really was ruining the watch for me. There were several good suggestions on the forum, but I eventually decided to buy the deployant version of the strap. Of course, I should have purchased it on the watch in the first place, but hindsight is 20/20 etc. I take all the points about the deployant giving you a longer wristlife for your strap etc, but for me, the only reason to go deployant is the fit. If a tang buckle works for you, that's great. But if you have an awkward sized wrist, and it just doesn't feel right in the shop; spend the extra money; it makes a big difference.

My wrists are changing quite much depending on the temperature, and I have no problem adjusting the deployant to that. Sure there is a crease where the strap normally folds, but if I change the strap a few mm in either direction the strap stays there - for me it doesn't creep back to the crease.

_________________
Collection: http://s540.photobucket.com/albums/gg32 ... mview=grid