We recognise that cut-to-size straps may not be familiar to everyone, and you’ll probably have some questions about our spanking new deployant clasp as well. Ask away! You’ll probably find most of your answers below, but we’ll add your questions to the list as they come up!

1. What if I cut more than I should have?
   We've included an additional strap (on top of a full set of 2 straps) on the off-chance that this happens. You can rest assured that if you follow the instructions above, there is very little chance that your experience will go wrong. If you do require an additional piece, do reach out to us.
   
   
   
2. Must I cut the same number of segments on either side? The strap seems to fit even when I cut different numbers on each side.
   No, you don’t! Wrists come in a variety of shapes and widths, and this means that straps may actually need to be uneven in order for the butterfly-style clasp to sit comfortably on your wrist.
   
   
   
3. After cutting, is there any way to adjust it for another watch?
   We’ve included a third strap for this exact reason! Typically, a different length is needed for one side of the straps if the lug-to-lug distance is different. All you need to do is take one of the existing sides which also works for you on the new watch, and trim the spare.
   
   This may admittedly be difficult if the lug-to-lug distance varies by a significant amount. For example, a Cartier Tank Large has a 19mm lug width, with a 33.7mm lug-to-lug distance. On the other hand, a Grand Seiko SBGH267 with the same 19mm lug width features a 47.4mm lug-to-lug distance. The disparity of 13.7mm (almost half an inch!) would place the butterfly deployant in a very different position on one's wrist. In this case, we would recommend purchasing a second set.
   
   
   
4. Will you be releasing more colours in future?
   Hopefully, yes! If there's a strong demand from the community for more colours, we will be happy to produce a wider variety too. If you do have suggestions on what colours we should add next, please let us know and we will look into it!
   
   
5. Can I place a custom order using the same rubber on this strap?
   No, rubber straps are not available for custom order, as these straps are made via injection molding, which require the use of specialised molds.
   
   
   
6. Can I buy the clasp separately? What if I want to change clasp colours between watches?
   You can buy the clasps separately. Do note however that the clasp is designed to work only with our rubber CTS straps.
   
   
   
7. Will the clasp cause any issues for those of us with more hair?
   It is unlikely that the clasp will cause any issues, we've tested this ourselves! However, as with any metal mechanisms near skin, we advise taking some care while wearing the strap not to pinch yourself by accident.
   
   
   
8. How do I care for the rubber strap?
   The FKM rubber is chemically stable, and is highly resistant to the elements. If it does happen to require cleaning, running it under water and cleaning with a cloth should do the trick!
   
   
   
9. Can I wear the strap to swim?
   Definitely! Both the strap and the clasp are largely made of materials which do well in water, and even sea-water. However, we offer no guarantees as to the viability of your particular timepiece in water. As with any metal, prolonged exposure to water may cause issues, so we would advise drying and cleaning your watch and strap after any water activity.
   
   
   
10. What if my watch requires a larger diameter spring bar? (e.g. some Seiko divers, etc)
    Do indicate via the checkbox above during purchase to indicate if you will require the larger spring bar, and we will swap it out for your use! Do check out our article here for more information on whether you need this spring bar or not.
    
    You may also remove the existing spring bar (link here on how to do it), and use your own OEM spring bars, to ensure that there's an even more secure fit with your watch.
    
    As always, once the strap is mounted on the watch, do give it a few good tugs to make sure that the strap is properly installed, and that it won't accidentally fall off.
    
    
    
11. Will the strap suffer from “case rub”, commonly seen in watches with short lug arms?
    We’ve seen no issues so far, do let us know if you do come across such instances in your experience. If you are considering curved lugs to combat this issue, do see our articles on curved lugs here, and yes our rubber strap can accommodate our quick-release curved spring bars.
    
    
    
12. Can I use these straps with a watch that requires curved lugs?
    Yes! While the strap does not come with curved lugs by default, the strap is able to accept our curved, quick-release spring bars, which you can purchase here. Here's a guide on how to perform the simple spring bar conversion: Converting Regular Straps to Curved Straps. Do note however that since the strap is not designed specifically for curved lugs, there may be a slight shortening of the strap's width once a curved spring bar is installed (e.g. 20mm may seem closer to ~19.5mm). Here's an example below!
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
13. Can I use these straps with my Apple Watch?
    Yes, however a caveat is that since our largest size for the Rubber CTS stands at 22mm wide, they can only be used with the Apple Adapter (ready to purchase here) for the smaller 40/41mm sized Apple Watches.
    
    
    
14. How does the clasp work? Does it have any magnetic or other harmful parts that may damage my watch?
    The clasp relies on the deflection of a long metal bar built into the center of the clasp whenever the two wings are pulled open or shut. This solid bar provides security and rigidity when the clasp is shut, and the longevity for repeated use. There are no magnetic parts whatsoever that could risk harm to your mechanical movements!

 

Product Review: Delugs – FKM Rubber Cut-To-Size (CTS) straps

[Disclosure] Delugs contacted me two weeks ahead of their latest product launch to ask whether I would be interested in trialing it. I received two straps for free, one in grey, the other in olive green.

Nevertheless, the views expressed in this review are my own.

The first Reverso I owned was one of the forgotten references of the 1990s, the Reverso Gran’Sport 290.8.650. The Gran’Sport was a departure from the dressy Reversos that had preceded it. Thanks to its muscular case shape, integrated metal bracelet or rubber strap, and 50m water resistance assured thanks to a screw-down crown, it was a bona-fide sports watch. I wore mine on the integrated rubber strap – unlike a conventional rubber strap, the two strap halves had to be cut down to the correct length, with the ends of the cut straps attaching to the deployant clasp with a standard springbar.

The concept was a novel one for me and I appreciated the fact that I could achieve a better fit than with most conventional rubber straps thanks to the tightly spaced cutting options. Though I had tried other third-party rubber strap offerings, I lamented that I could not get an optimal fit.

So, when Ken, the founder of Delugs (Instagram: @Delugs) reached out to me with the offer to send me over his latest strap creation – a cut-to-length rubber strap – ahead of the official release, I knew I had to go for it.

Delugs, for those of you who do not know the company, is a watch accessory company based out of Singapore that was one of the frontrunners in the boom of the aftermarket watch strap market, specializing in a broad assortment of skins and color combinations. I had never owned a strap by Delugs (dealing with the local customs authority makes the proposition unappealing) but I was an avid follower of the company on Instagram.

So, what is the Delugs launch all about? The Delugs Cut-To-Size (CTS) is a strap made of FKM rubber that comes on quick-release springbars and a leaf spring deployant clasp made of 316L stainless steel. The underside of each strap half has eleven indentations perpendicular to the length of the strap. These are your sizing options. The strap’s too long? Cut a segment off, reattach the strap to the deployant clasp and try it again. It’s an iterative process that may take a few goes, but once you get a perfect fit, it really feels great. And, fear not: should you be overzealous and accidentally cut off too many segments of the strap, Delugs has thought of that by including another long end of the strap with the set!

What is my opinion of the Delugs CTS strap? Here are my thoughts:

Strap:

The strap makes a strong first impression - full marks when it comes to fabrication quality. Let me give you some examples of what I mean: the color is uniformly distributed throughout the entire strap. The holes for the spring bars are very clean, i.e. there is no excess material blocking the openings, and the overall look is that of a refined product befitting the watches that these straps will end up on. There is no strong chemical smell, which is a definite plus.

The matte surface of the strap feels hard-wearing, of the sort that will not pick up scratches or scuffs easily. Additionally, the good thing about rubber is that it doesn’t pick up dust and lint, unlike silicone. The rubber is thin enough at the wide end that the strap does not rub against and scuff the watch case. The quick-release springbars make fitting the strap to various watches an absolute breeze.

If I could have one thing, though, it would be an added texture on the straps – I feel a simple pattern like two grooves that run parallel to the length of the strap could provide some visual interest and spice up what is, at the moment at least, a plain strap. I assume that patterned straps will follow should there be a positive response to the first run

Deployant Clasp:

The deployant clasp is of the leaf spring type, which has undoubtedly been popularized by Richard Mille.

The chassis of the Delugs deployant is made of thick-gauge 316L stainless steel with a brushed finish. All surfaces of the clasp that will come into contact with your skin are smooth, with no sharp edges. I prefer a snug fit and can report no discomfort after several days’ wear.

I’m currently wearing my Seiko SARB017 Alpinist on the olive green strap and the Rolex Explorer II polar on the grey strap. I’ve worn the strap to the gym (gotta to do the sweat check!), to the pool, hiking in the Styrian mountains, and in desk diver situations. Despite my best efforts to get the clasp to open during vigorous activity, it stayed resolutely shut. The strap feels incredibly comfortable on the wrist and the spring closure is incredibly satisfying.

The outer portions of the clasp have a refined satin finish with attractive polished bevels. If there is one area for improvement, I feel it is in the tolerances of the closure of the deployant clasp - there is a slight mismatch between the two ends. Of course, it could be because there is some excess material on the cut ends of the strap that’s pulling or pushing the deployant ever so slightly out of alignment. But unless you wear your watch on the underside of your wrist, this shouldn’t bother you too much!

Ken also tells me that the Delugs team is working on a micro-adjustment system that is built into the clasp itself. Suffice to say, as much as this would be a welcome addition, the current absence of micro-adjustments is not a big negative in my opinion.

Competitive Landscape

I think it’s worth spending some time describing the competitive landscape in the rubber watch strap market. First, at the bottom end of the price spectrum, a quick search on Amazon results in plenty of options around the 20-30 USD range. I have not had the chance to try out the straps in this price segment – I think a comparison might be worth a future post! At the other end of the spectrum, there is the trio of companies Everest, RubberB, and Horus, that sell vulcanized rubber straps, the most popular of which are those with an integrated lug profile. The straps are available in two configurations, either with a tang buckle or with a strap ends that are compatible with Rolex clasps. Since the lug integration is specific to the watch reference, these straps are not interchangeable between watch models. At upwards of USD 200, they are also not cheap.

My own experience of Everest straps is mixed. As much as I like the lug integration and thickness of the rubber, the spacing of the holes leads to a less-than-perfect fit, while the lug integration has its own downsides, namely making the watch wear larger. Also, the tail end of the strap proved far too long for me, so I had to resort to cutting and filing down the cuts to make a round edge!

Moving on to competitors to the deployant clasp, there is only one other third-party manufacturer offering a leaf spring deployant clasp, namely Artem.

In the cut-to-size market, I was able to find little else. RubberB offers a cut-to-size strap specific to the Patek Philippe Aquanaut, however there is nothing available for other watches at the time of this writing.

I think the combination of a rubber strap with a universal lug junction (i.e. no integration), leaf spring deployant, and sizing by cutting make the Delugs CTS a unique product in the space. Though none of the features is necessarily new to the market, the combination makes it a compelling product at a competitive price. Also, Kudos to the team for the huge range of colors and lug widths on offer. With 21mm lug width becoming more and more common in the industry, it is great to see a 21mm width being offered straight out of the gate.

If you’re a fan of rubber straps, you owe it to yourself to take a look.

Feel free to check out more pics on my Instagram

 

Big fan of 'm!!

 

I got my Delugs CTS as part of promoting their launch and I couldn't be happier with the look, quality and feel. I decided to go with the orange for my Grand Seiko SBGN003 and blue for my SBGA413. Cutting to size was no problem. I'm wearing them a little loose and might remove one more section. For future releases I hope they incorporate a micro adjust on the clasp. The blue strap on my SBGA413 is my favorite look of the two. My other favorite strap for that watch is a blue leather strap from Delugs. I think blue straps just pair very well with it.

 

Unrelated. Can you message me please? I'm interested in your Fortitude for sale, but I'm a new user and I can't post to it or message you. Had to get creative to reach out! lol

 

I received the blue and black CTS straps from Delugs as part of their promotion to test drive them before launch. These straps are super comfortable once you size them correctly to your wrist, and the spring loaded clasp opens/closes with satisfaction. Each set of CTS straps come with 3 straps, just in case you mess up on the sizing. The texture is a bit bland looking, but it also is versatile to use with many different types of watches. The price of $145 per set isn't cheap, but it does come with 3 straps, a solid clasp, and the overall comfort, ergonomics make it a great package. I've also seen some people mention the molding line at the lug end, while it is there in photos, it isn't nearly as noticeable once the watch is on the wrist and doesn't bother me at all. Perhaps it's more obvious on lighter colors.

Pros:
-Super comfortable once sized properly
-Versatile, can be used with a variety of watches
-comes with extra strap as insurance
-Clasp is satisfying to use, finishing also quite decent

Cons:
-Can look a bit bland
-Sometimes sizing won't be perfect depending on watch
-Clasp could use a microadjust mechanism
-Price isn't cheap, but is fair IMHO.

 

I did a First impression/guide video of the strap on YouTube if any of you are curious to see

 

These look great. Any recs for color for GS SBGA 375? Favor the dark blue but might clash with the dark blue dial if a mismatched tone. Also, do these come with the deployment clasp or is that an additional purchase?

 

You can consider either black or grey for something that is a little understated, or white for something a bit more fun and sporty. My personal preference is white - I think white rubber is an extremely luxurious look.

The leaf-spring deployant clasp is included in the price, not a separate purchase.

 

Looking for a CTS for the PRX
Is there a color you do called Marine?
As seen in IFL site…
Thanks

 

That's our Navy PRX CTS. IFL gets it from us.

 

I was referring to this color

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That is our Baby Blue PRX strap

 

Thanks
Looks like the CTS version is in development
I think the medium might be a smidge small

Any ideas, other than patience for the CTS?


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Got the black CTS for my PRX in yesterday.
Now working on the install.
Mine came with the single action "knob" vs the "dual knob" shown in your video for the PRX
It's a very tough fit with only the single version
Any pointers to get it installed?

 

Got it done now
Looks good!

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Just got mine in. Crazy comfy and super clean look with the lack of keepers.

Love how I can cut it so the deployant sits closer to 6:00 instead of 12:00.

Clasp is very fun to fiddle with

 

Baby Blue CTS mounted up to my PRX.
Hot look for summer!

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Can anyone with a truly tiny wrist share their experience with the rubber CTS strap? I'm talking 14cm / 5.5" here. Does the deployant clasp end up being too long to work for this small of a circumference? I'd love to get a decent rubber strap on my 36.5mm Omega SMPc, but I'm having trouble finding anything suitable.

 

no harm in asking Delugs directly - they might have a photo On hand showing how it fits on a small wrist and they’re very responsive.

 

no harm in asking Delugs directly - they might have a photo On hand showing how it fits on a small wrist and they’re very responsive.

I did initially ask (website chat which then moved to email), and got ghosted. LOL

Sorry for the late reply.

We've had customers and people within the Delugs team that have wrist size as small as 14cm. The clasp does work okay. Yes, it would be better if the clasp was shorter for this wrist size, but it doesn't stick out from the sides of the wrist either.

Would you be able to share the length of the deployant clasp when closed? I'd love to see photos from those on the team with this wrist size using the strap as well!

 

Enjoy mine. Would really prefer an option to buy without a clasp, and would be great to see some different taper options.

 

Write in to Support Team via the live chat or support@delugs.com, they'll be able to help you out if you want to buy the straps without the clasp!

 

very good looking