*Sigh* Strap problems... again.

I had hoped that all my strap problems were no more, thanks to my local AD, but to no avail... I was told the order would take about a week when I placed it three weeks ago.

Since I hadn't heard from them in a while I called them to inquire about the progress of the order. My inquiry was met with much confusion as apparently the order slip and the order itself had gone missing, and the person handling it had called in sick. When the notes on the order appeared, it was revealed that they had ordered the wrong strap.

Now I need your help.

I'm looking for an XS 20-18mm black crock strap for folding clasps to use on my port chrono. The reference number for the strap they ordered was IWA11618, which is the regular XS strap. (The straps for folding clasps are shorter on the buckle side and have a longer tongue.)

This is all driving me a bit loopy. I have been trying to get info through the service pages, but I'm getting nowhere.

My question to you all is if you happen to know if there actually is such a thing as a 20-18mm IWC strap for folding clasps or will I have to make do with a regular XS strap?

I'm deeply thankful for any input you might have,

/Jan, who is getting a healthy dose of reality checks in terms of AD competence

Sigh Strap problems... again...

Hello Jan,

Yes, there is a black XS 20-18mm strap for folding clasps, the reference no. is IWA 20076.

Good luck,
[i]Stefan

Delivery time for the XS...

....might be a bit longer. Two out of three XS straps I ordered took about 4-5 months before they became available. Probably bad luck (no stock?).

But you'll love the quality & fit ;-)

Groet,

Bob

Thank you! - But there is one more thing...

Now I just hope that IWC will change the catalogue structure. My AD wouldn't even look at straps outside of the portuguese chrono section, and my request for a folding clasp strap was only met with a "Yes, according to the catalogue the standard as well as the smaller Port chrono strap can be used with a folding clasp".

It was only until I asked if she would flip to the Da Vinci section and look at the IWA20076 that she accepted that there actually was such a thing as a deployant-specific strap.

The next logical question is whether or not I will need to order a Da Vinci folding clasp instead of the Portuguese... What is the difference between the IWA05337 clasp and the IWA13953? The description on the service pages are identical...

/Jan, who would have thought his research work on interorganizational systemology would have prepared him for this.

Yeah, thats my guess...

It does however take even longer when the AD after about a month has to place another order since the first one was incorrect.

I still come back to your post with the comparison between the standard and the XS deployant strap. I really should print that picture and take it with me so the clerk would understand what I was talking about. The concept of how a strap for one model could fit another seems beyond her, as well as the concept of deployant-specific straps...

I think I will love the fit of it though. When I tried the deployant on my standard strap I had to use the last hole, and it was probably the most uncomfortable any watch has ever been. (Apart from when the clasp on the fake rolex I tried on in the back streets of Beijing actually pierced my skin - and the subsequent tetanus shot didn't make it more comfortable.)

Thanks for all your help and encouragement!

/Jan, who is contemplating if one can be institutionalized for an unhealthy folding clasp addiction.

IWA05337 and IWA13953...

The difference between the clasps can be found by clicking on the link below (showing a pictures of the IWC buckles).

Regards,
[i]Stefan

Buckles 2005

Just opens a blank page...

Sorry Stefan... I just get a new window with about:blank

/Jan

It doesn't work with Firefox...use IE

On a mac... But ran IE in VM, thanks!

That was very informative, thanks a lot!

/Jan