The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi guys,
How do you break in a new Croc Strap ?? I have been going back and forth between my ProII and a New Croc on my Avenger and still having hard time with the Strap. It is very stiff I wore it on the strap about 10-12 times but it is kind of uncomfortable and still very stiff. Any other way to break it in ?? Is there any leather products that I can apply to it ??
Thanks in advance

Simply wearing it is the best way to break it in, pretty much like a new pair of shoes. If you decide to try some kind of leather care cream, make sure you only apply it to the outer surface as the inner surface is has a kind of nubuck finish and cream will spoil the finish of it on a new strap. (Once a strap is a bit older, the nubuck finish will have become worn with sweat etc, so it's less of a problem applying leather cream to it).

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I find the croc on tang buckle looses up much quicker than the deployant.
In the depolyant they start and stay much stiffer becuase the depolyant kind of holds them in shape if you will.

Would getting it a little wet help ??

No! Firstly is won't help, and secondly leather straps (like leather jackets for example) can quite easily be ruined by getting them too wet too often.

As I said in my first reply, just think of leather straps in the same way that you think of a pair of shoes. To break in a pair of shoes you just wear them. You may find a leather care cream that may help a little, but basically it's just wear and use that breaks leather in.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Thanks Driver8,
I guess I am going to have to wear it a little bit more on that strap
How long would you say before it breaks in ??
Thanks again.

Hard to say how long it takes really. I've never really timed it.

I'd just suggest wearing it and one day you'll suddenly realise it's so comfortable you'd forgotten it was there!

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Driver8

Site Moderator

So do I, but my guess is that it's mainly because you apply more wear to the tang/buckle strap than to a deployant strap.

For me it's taken about a month to break in a deployant strap - maybe a little bit shorter if it's been warmer days. And that's of course breaking in gradually, you don't have a month of stiffness and then suddenly a smooth strap.

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

I find breitling oem straps very hard to break in compared to other watches i have on straps. I don't know if it's the padding or just a very sturdy strap but mine never felt like they broke in right compared to other watches.

I gave them all about 6 months, (tang+buckle and deployant) on croc and calf and i did'nt like them. Very nice looking but wat too stiff for me. The aftermarket ones i got are very, very soft and comfortable.

Try some aftermarket ones when your fed up with trying to break in the OEM ones. There is a nice selection to choose from too. Unless your an OEM stickler.

Just my 2 cents

Peter

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Bentley Motors T- White dial

I have done this and it helps. Put the watch on a cushion of your watch box. Thread the strap through the keepers or the deployant so it slides and tighten it on the pillow. This puts the strap in a curved/rounded attitude. Pop it in the watch box for a day or two with the lid closed to hold it down and this will help it start to conform to your wrist without any conditioners. Kind of like putting a base ball in a new glove and putting it under your mattress to form it. It puts it in a nice curved shape. Best, Mark

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Rolex 42mm Explorer
IWC Ingenieur

A few others too.