The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I recently bought a new navitimer world; black dial on black croc, but the strap is really starting to ruin the watch for me. It's on a tang buckle and it's either too tight on my wrist or loose enough that it starts sliding around when I'm driving etc. Compared to a radiomir that I have, there just doesn't seem to be any give on the Breitling strap. I'm weighing up my options at the moment. I'm not really a bracelet wearer; although I do like the one for this model. And it just seems like a waste to go out and buy the deployant version of the strap I have already. I knew it was tight when I bought it, but I really did expect it to be broken in by now (and I have left it tightly fastened overnight etc). Any advice would be welcome.

Why don't you drill new holes in the strap to get the proper fit? If your not comfortable doing it, take it to a watch shop and have them do it. I looks like you just need to drill a hole between the tight and loose holes.

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Breitling Evolution White
Tag Heuer Carrera Automatic

Breitling croco takes much longer to break in than the calf leather versions. Additionally the sizing thing is always going to be an issue on a tang and buckle strap - unless you find a hole that is just right, one is always going to be too small or too tight.

Basically you have four options if you want to stay with a strap and not get a bracelet (which is very adjustable incidentally) -

1) Persevere and break the croco in for a while longer.
2) Use the slightly looser hole and wear your watch a little higher on the wrist.
3) Have an aftermarket strap made to fit exactly - try ABP Paris - http://www.abp-paris.com/watchbands_cre ... id=7&cid=1
4) Bite the bullet and buy the deployant version. This would be my choice as it's infinitely adjustable, and after breaking in, it's one of the most comfortable options around IMHO.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I did consider drilling an additional hole, but I think it would wear through to an adjacent hole fairly quickly. I'll give it another couple of weeks and see if it loosens up some more.

I wonder if getting an aftermarket deployant that can be used on your existing tang strap would make a difference, I do not know if they work on holding the strap by friction of if there is a pin that goes through the hole on the strap, if one can get one that holds the strap by friction that would solve the problem, I will see if I can see anything about that and add to this post if I do!
In the meantime you could go to a cobbler and see if they have any thing that accelerates the softing of leather. I know when my brother was in the Marines years ago they used to put rocks in their boots and stand them in water for half a day, take them out and put dubbin on them and that would soften the boot!

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All the best.
Ian

I never thought I would see the day when D8 suggests an aftermarket strap

You might also try a simple butterfly deployant, as it might change the fit just enough to make it right for you, and will only cost $20 to try.

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I use a aftermarket deployant on my tang style straps and it works really well. They last much longer and you can have a croc without buying a 400.00 deployant. I have the in between wrist as well. Try this one it is a little better quality than most but still afordable.

http://www.thewatchprince.com/s.nl/it.A ... tegory=936

Good luck, Mark

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Rolex 42mm Explorer
IWC Ingenieur

A few others too.

I have a croc strap on a deployant and it's the most comfortable band I own. It took a while for it to soften up. I don't think a tang would work for me...

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Breitling Chrono Cockpit, Breitling Chronomat MOP/Diamond Bezel, Breitling Starliner MOP/Diamond Markers, Rolex Sea-Dweller "Z", Tag Heuer Aquaracer, Tag Heuer F1 Aqua, Tag Heuer 2000.

I'm going to give the aftermarket deployant a go; some good suggestions on where to buy; thanks. Follow on question; how do I remove the stock buckle from the croc strap? Is it held by a spring bar?

As a rule yes it is and I cannot recommend highly enough using a proper spring bar tool like this
http://www.chronoworld.com/new/product_ ... uct_id=165

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All the best.
Ian

I'd go with the 6767F over the 6111, but definitely need the right tool. It will be the round end of the tool that just pushes the springbar out form the outside.

I've never had a deployant clasp, so I'm a little curious. It appears that the Breitling deployant will work only on the strap without holes that is designed for it. The mechanism that grasps the strap is infinitely adjustable as others on the forum have confirmed. Conversely, the aftermarket clasp uses the holes in the regular strap as an attachment point at one end and the strap buckle loop at the other end. I must be missing something here. How does the aftermarket clasp provide any more adjustment than the original strap? They both use the holes in the strap. Looking at the pictures of the clasp, I see no intermediate adjustments. Help me out!

Onewatchnut

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1809 Cosmonaute
1903 Navi
Navi Olympus
Super Avenger

It's not that it will offer any further adjustment, but the expectation (and my hope) is that depth of the butterfly clasp when closed will take up some of the slack of the looser setting on the tang buckle, and, as a result, stop the watch sliding around so much.

Fingers crossed.

So, your hope is that the additional space required for the clasp inside the strap will effectively shorten the strap to prevent slippage. Now I understand. I guess as the strap eventually softens you might be able to go back to the original buckle and use the next hole where it is now too tight. Hey, it might fit just right! Good luck. Please post the results as this unfolds so the rest of us will know if it works.

Onewatchnut

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1809 Cosmonaute
1903 Navi
Navi Olympus
Super Avenger