Comparing Deployant Clasps

You want the best deployant clasp for your favorite watch, but unfortunately many sellers' ads and photographs don't help you make the best choice. More often than not, other sellers say, in effect, "trust me," and offer a plethora of their own superlatives to describe their wares, and photographs that may not fully, or accurately show what they are selling.  They often describe their deployants as "high quality" butterfly deployants or "premium quality".  "Our Finest Deployant," they call them.

 

unfortunately, for customers, their "finest" is not the finest

 

Close up photographs of the works of different deployants give an excellent indication of the real quality of deployant clasps.

 

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The patented mechanism on my "rhd" deployant clasps is simply a brilliant design, impeccably executed and it functions smoothly and flawlessly.  It's been tested successfully to over 10,000 open/close cycles - thats over 27 years at once a day.  That superb design enables the "works"  portion of the deployant to be smooth  on the wrist and make the deployant only  2 mm thick - a definite plus on the wrist.

 

You can see the difference between the elegant design and finish of the "rhd" deployant and the deployants labeled #2 and # 3 which are often seen on the Web.  At best, those deployants have a 1-year "manufacturer's warranty - if they have a warranty at all.

 

I offer double that - -  a 2-year warranty.  But I don't believe you will ever need to use it.

 

for comments from customers on my "rhd" deployant clasps, please click here

 

So, wthat are those deployant clasps other sellers' describe as their "finest" or a "premium" deployant?  . . . #2 has been branded an "Axel Jost" deployant and # 3 is a deployant clasp that's frequently advertised on the web and on eBay.  I've seen sellers ask as much as $39.95 for that # 3 deployant.

 

 

 

Screw it?

 

Recently another type of deployant clasp has surfaced in ads on the web.  It uses  a screws  instead of the simple- to-use fold-overs and spring bars that are almost universal.

On the surface it seems to be an interesting design.   But beyond that first impression, it's really not the best choice.

The photos below illustrate why I've chosen not to offer that type of deployant.

That deployant uses two screws - one to hold the take up or pointed end of the strap, and one to hold the deployant on the buckle end of the strap. They're proprietary screws - not sold in watch shops or Home Depot - lose or damage one and you're out of luck - unless the seller stocks replacements.   It also requires two special-sized screw drivers. You might want to wear your specs because the slot on the smaller screw is tiny - it requires a screw driver with a tip that's .8 - that's 8/10 of a mm.

 

on the other hand ...


Fastening my "rhd" deployants to the buckle end of the strap is done with an "off-the-shelf" and easily replaceable springbar - I provide one with each deployant. No special tool is required for installation, but my Bergeon 6767F spring bar tool does make installing deployants ... and changing watch straps or bracelets a snap.




the easy way with the "rhd" deployant clasps

My deployant clasps have fold-overs that easily open to accept the pointed end of the strap and securely close. Because of its design and function it's easy to adjust the strap. And the post on the flip-lock on the bottom securely holds the strap. My deployants have the same tried and true fold-over flip-lock and post design that's used on almost every top-quality deployant clasp.

or ... the hard way with those other deployants

That "other" deployant uses a small screw that goes through one of the holes in the take up or pointed end of the strap. But first one has to thread the strap through the clasp and push it down onto the base of the deployant. Then fit the screw through the strap into the base. When I tried this with a thick strap, I didn't get it done because the screw wasn't long enough for thick straps until one compresses it into the strap so it can be threaded in. Then of course, one needs that extra screw driver.

 

 

the good fits ... and the not so good fits



I know many WISs now prefer thicker watch straps, and thicker straps are almost the norm for big watches.

So I had my "rhd" deployants custom-designed and specially manufactured with the fold-over on the clasp sized to work with those thicker watch straps as well as thinner watch straps. I spent months working with the manufacturer to get the specs of my "rhd" deployant clasps just right for WISs.

You can see in the photograph above how the so-called "German" deployant at $42.95 doesn't work with many thicker watch straps.   That's because the "German" brand name deployant is the "off the shelf" model and the fold-over on the clasp is too small for the strap - a Di-Modell Teju Chrono.  I did a quick check, and sure enough, the clasp is also too small for watch straps like the Di-Modell Crocodile Chronos and Imperators. Same holds true for many other Di-Modell watch straps, and other thick chrono and sports straps.

My "rhd" deployant clasp, as you can see ... works perfectly.

In addition to having a clasp that fits WISs' thicker watch straps, I had my "rhd" deployants designed and manufactured with a sculpted, more elegant fold-over.

And, of course, I offer double the warranty of other deployants - 2 years.