Aquanaut Deployant Clasp Wear

[Ranger822]

In looking for a used Aquanaut I have seen quite a few of the deployant clasps that appear misaligned or with significant gaps between the two halves. This seems to be very different than when the watch is reviewed on videos or in pictures of new watches.

Can anyone relate their experience with the wear on the clasp and perhaps how to prevent premature misalignment of the clasp? Or, perhaps the clasp can be serviced and realigned during regular maintenance.

[CamSLC]

Nearing exactly a year of almost daily wear. Buckles perfectly. Some hairline scratches.




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[Flex368]

My clasp looks fine after three years and I wear my 5167 very often.

[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by Ranger822

Can anyone relate their experience with the wear on the clasp and perhaps how to prevent premature misalignment of the clasp? Or, perhaps the clasp can be serviced and realigned during regular maintenance.

Just gently bend it back, that's what i did as she was a daily beater... to a point. Expect scratches if you plan to actually wear it. Guess you could use some transparent tape (helicopter / leading edge tape) or some such and just tape up the clasp as best you can for protection against scratches. You also might want to tape up the bezel, as it's a scratch magnet. Also sides of case too now that i think about it because as you know it's easy to accidentally bang your case on the side. The lume fell out of the '1' in "10' on mine, thank goodness the local watch guy was able to put it back in order. Other than that she was pretty good and never had water enter into the movement.

[codecow]

Mine has hairline scratches only.

[Ranger822]

example of possible misalignment - is this an easy fix of just bending the clasp a little bit?

[subtona]

My experience was the clasp exhibited metal fatique in only 1 year.

It was disappointing and I sold it.

[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by Ranger822

example of possible misalignment - is this an easy fix of just bending the clasp a little bit?

Yes. Personally, don't bother as it'll probably just go back. You could swap ends of the clasp so now you'll be naturally 'readjusting' it back the other way as you wear it.

[lzz73]

Would PP replace the clasp during a service if it was misaligned?


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[kvossoughi]

Mine got misaligned. You have to slightly bend the inner prongs of the clasp to increase tension and that should do the trick.

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by lzz73

Would PP replace the clasp during a service if it was misaligned?


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they would probably just fix it. I doubt you are going to want to pay for a new clasp unless it is absolutely necessary.

[tng11]

6 months old, nearly 3 months of daily wear by me:

[enjoythemusic]

Awesome, great to see someone wear their timepieces and not another safe queen. Bravo!!!

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by tng11

6 months old, nearly 3 months of daily wear by me:

saved me the trouble. Mine looks the same

[Xerxes77]

Looks very good

[red1108nyc]

My previous 5164 clasp was perfectly aligned but will catch some wear over time as in any watch.

[Ranger822]

Here are examples of some gaps . . . when I was opening and closing the clasp of a new watch at a store last week, I didn't see any such gap - the two halves locked together in perfectly alignment and there was no gap whatsoever.

Is this another example of worn clasps? What causes this?

[LPPP]

Mine is perfect after 3years but plenty of scratches.
Wear to sleep sometimes and pretty tight fitting.

Didn’t think it will misalign easily unless someone lies on it in the bed.

[ct.matt]

Bringing this thread back to life. My 5164A is from 2017 and the clasp definitely shows some signs of fatigue. The two halves are sloping/caving in on each other, there is a minor gap and misalignment and some of the paint/finish in the Calatrava logo has disappeared. Would a Patek salon be able to tighten the clasp or is this something that has to happen during service?

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[ts3]

Originally Posted by enjoythemusic

Just gently bend it back, that's what i did as she was a daily beater... to a point. Expect scratches if you plan to actually wear it. Guess you could use some transparent tape (helicopter / leading edge tape) or some such and just tape up the clasp as best you can for protection against scratches. You also might want to tape up the bezel, as it's a scratch magnet. Also sides of case too now that i think about it because as you know it's easy to accidentally bang your case on the side. The lume fell out of the '1' in "10' on mine, thank goodness the local watch guy was able to put it back in order. Other than that she was pretty good and never had water enter into the movement.

PS No leading edge tape on the helicopter I fly... Leading edge is protected by what looks like titanium (or some sort of SS) and inside the composite blades there is steel and lead for added rotor inertia = safety margin during autorotation (in case the engine quits)...

[subtona]

Originally Posted by ct.matt

Bringing this thread back to life. My 5164A is from 2017 and the clasp definitely shows some signs of fatigue. The two halves are sloping/caving in on each other, there is a minor gap and misalignment and some of the paint/finish in the Calatrava logo has disappeared. Would a Patek salon be able to tighten the clasp or is this something that has to happen during service? Attachment 1017705Attachment 1017706Attachment 1017707

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In hindsight, I believe anyone with an issue of a clasp that is not performing as expected, should bring it to the attention of Patek service.

In my dealings with them they have resolved issues the right way and they should be informed of the clasp fatigue so they can develop a proper response.

[soundserious]

A small peice of clear tape over the clasp easily fixes most of these issues. Initially I used 2 peices of tape, one for each side of the clasp but found that the area between continued to get wear and misalignment issues. Eventually I switched to a single peice of tape that I simply removed every time I wanted to take the watch off and reapply when it went back on. I usually carry a dispenser in my briefcase or pocket for the occasional instances that the watch has to unexpectedly come off. YMMV.

[ap1]

Originally Posted by soundserious

A small peice of clear tape over the clasp easily fixes most of these issues. Initially I used 2 peices of tape, one for each side of the clasp but found that the area between continued to get wear and misalignment issues. Eventually I switched to a single peice of tape that I simply removed every time I wanted to take the watch off and reapply when it went back on. I usually carry a dispenser in my briefcase or pocket for the occasional instances that the watch has to unexpectedly come off. YMMV.

Can we sound serious

[codecow]

Originally Posted by ap1

Can we sound serious

Sometimes I can’t read the numbers so I write them bigger in crayon.

[SDDS]

I am not sure if the new deployment clasp that is found on the 5968A has this issue as well, i think it should be resolved, can anyone with 5968 confirm that ???


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[ct.matt]

I spoke to the Henri Stern Agency in NYC today and they told me to have the salon in Beverly Hills take a look at the clasp and take it from there. I should have time to go there on the 14th. will let you guys know what they say

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[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by soundserious

A small peice of clear tape over the clasp easily fixes most of these issues. Initially I used 2 peices of tape, one for each side of the clasp but found that the area between continued to get wear and misalignment issues. Eventually I switched to a single peice of tape that I simply removed every time I wanted to take the watch off and reapply when it went back on. I usually carry a dispenser in my briefcase or pocket for the occasional instances that the watch has to unexpectedly come off. YMMV.

i would love wearing a Patek held together by tape

[yoast]

It also happens when the rubber strap hasn't been cut properly. I really notice it closes less easy when the cut isn't perfectly aligned with the notch, - if that makes sense, as it keeps constant tension on the clasp.

[subtona]

Originally Posted by SDDS

I am not sure if the new deployment clasp that is found on the 5968A has this issue as well, i think it should be resolved, can anyone with 5968 confirm that ???


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The clasp on the 5968 has been redesigned. If there is an issue with closing it would be a new one

Hopefully the redesign improves the clasp experience for the owners, perhaps there may be a low cost retrofit option for previous versions?

[soundserious]

Originally Posted by ap1

Can we sound serious

Heh, sorry. Ahem.