Today, we are introducing some changes to our handcrafted straps in a bid to continuously improve on the quality and craftsmanship of our straps. These changes are driven both by a desire to improve on the overall durability and aesthetics of our strap, but more importantly, to make the best straps possible, because we know we can do it. These changes may be small and you may not even notice them at first glance, but we know the watch enthusiast community will appreciate it.
Upgraded Tang Buckle
Elevating Quality, Functionality & Aesthetic Appeal
The first change is that all of our handcrafted straps will now come with an improved Delugs tang buckle, designed by our team with the goal to elevate both quality and functionality, while also enhancing the aesthetic appeal.
This newly designed tang buckle was first seen and used on our Spring Deployant Clasp, and the response to the design and construction of the buckle has been very positive.
Making it Ergonomic & Functional
The shape of the buckle head and the tongue creates a very natural and ergonomic flow of the strap when worn on the wrist, through the buckle and into the keepers.
The vertical rise in the middle of the buckle tongue also reduces the stretching and wear on strap holes compared to a traditional straight buckle tongue.
Refining our Tang Buckles
The buckle is also finished with a mix of brushed and polished surfaces. Surfaces with high contact received the brushed treatment for better durability, while surfaces with low contact were mirror polished for that additional reflection when the light hits just right.
Available in different sizes & finishes
The upgraded S tang buckle will be immediately implemented across all straps in buckle widths of 16mm and 18mm. It is also available in yellow gold, rose gold and black DLC finishes, which can be purchased separately. We will eventually have this buckle in all other widths (14mm, 20mm, 22mm) as well.
Improvements in Crafting and Construction
We are changing some details on how the straps are constructed, having not made significant changes to the construction of our straps since the early days of Delugs, back in 2020. Nonetheless, over the years we have noted some areas for improvement in terms of durability and aesthetics, and we've also recognised that, as a brand in the luxury watch segment, it's important for us to strive for perfection in our craft.
Fair warning - the following section may contain leathercrafting explanation and jargon that can be a little dry and overly technical. But don't worry, the main point is that these changes should improve on both the durability and aesthetics of the strap, at the expense of more time and effort needed to craft each strap.
Above is an image of our straps with the old and new construction side by side. If you're wondering what's the difference between the two straps, here's where the technical explanation comes, so strap in!
Finer stitching on our straps
First, you'll notice that the stitching is a little finer - the stitch spacing will decrease from 2.7mm (10 SPI) to 2.45mm (11 SPI). This means that there are more stitches for the same length of strap.
Second, stitching will now start closer to the top of the strap, with the first stitch holding the main and lining leather together. This helps to increase durability and reduces instances where the lining leather may separate from the main leather over time when the glue wears down.
Third, all stitches will have two rows of backstitches instead of just one for that extra assurance that the stitching will not loosen and unravel. The keepers are also stitched with additional rows of stitching for a more complete look.
Swapping side stitching with row stitching
Fourth, the construction at the buckle end has changed. Where once the buckle and keeper was secured by side stitching, it has now been replaced by a row of stitching (with additional backstitching). This helps to cinch down the strap even more, and also results in a cleaner edge without the side-stitching, which brings us to...
The final change, where the construction and edge paint at the buckle end of the strap has changed, where additional work has been done to seal the edges together.
(Unlike the upgraded buckle, changes to the construction of our straps will be rolled out over time. All straps crafted henceforth will have these changes, but the strap you buy and receive from Delugs may be from an older batch with the previous style of crafting. We are unable to guarantee that the strap you buy and receive will be with the new or old crafting details, but rest assured that there are no concerns over the durability of the older style of construction.)
These changes to our line of handcrafted straps may be minor, but taken together, it brings about a refreshed look to the straps, and showcases the best possible craftsmanship that we can bring to the straps.
