The short answer: most deployant clasps, including the ones fitted to many original-equipment straps, have no micro-adjust. You can add it without replacing the clasp by fitting an inline micro-adjust link between the strap and the clasp. The Fitwell M4 link is designed to fit most deployant clasps, and that's what it's most often used for: two positions 3mm apart, roughly half a hole, on straps 16mm to 22mm wide, changed by hand with no tools.
Why keep the clasp you have
A good deployant is comfortable, secure, and saves wear on the strap. On some watches, a branded pin buckle is part of how the watch was designed. Neither is something you should have to give up to get a better fit. The catch is that an ordinary deployant clasp has no fine adjustment, so if the strap is between holes, it stays between holes.
How an inline micro-adjust link works
The M4 link fits between the end of the strap and the deployant clasp, or a pin buckle, using spring bars like any strap fitting. It adds about 5.5mm of length, less than one hole, so you may end up one hole tighter than before. Then it gives you two fixed positions, 3mm apart.
To change position, take the watch off, move the slide by hand, and put it back on. No tools; it takes five or ten seconds. The action is firm, so it never moves on its own.
If your strap has a plain pin buckle you're happy to replace, the Fitwell M1 buckle is the simpler fix and adjusts on the wrist. You'd use one or the other on a watch, not both.
Will it fit my watch?
| Strap widths | 16mm, 18mm, 20mm, 22mm, measured at the clasp end of the strap |
|---|---|
| Works with | Most deployant clasps (its most common use) and pin buckles, on leather, rubber and fabric straps |
| Doesn't fit (current version) | Omega deployant clasps and Panerai |
| Spring bars | Standard 1.5mm (1.6mm on the 22mm link) |
| Installation | Spring bar tool, once; no modification to the strap or clasp |
| Adjustment | Two positions, 3mm apart; tool-less, by hand |
| Finishes | Stainless steel, black, yellow gold, rose gold |
If you're not sure about your watch, send us the reference and we'll tell you. Installation videos for deployant clasps and pin buckles show every step.
If you're buying a clasp anyway
Some deployant clasps come with micro-adjust built in. Delugs' micro-adjust CTS clasp, for example, uses the Fitwell mechanism. If you're shopping for a new clasp, that's worth looking for. If you're keeping the one you have, the link is how you add it.
Questions people ask
Can I add micro-adjust to my rubber strap's deployant?
Usually, yes: fit the M4 link between the rubber strap and the deployant. The current version doesn't fit Omega deployant clasps or Panerai. For other brands, send us the reference if you're unsure.
Does a micro-adjust link make the strap longer?
By about 5.5mm, which is less than one hole. You may need to move up one hole, then use the link's two positions to fine-tune.
Can I adjust it on the wrist?
The M4 link is changed with the watch off, which takes five or ten seconds. If you want to adjust on the wrist, the M1 buckle does that, on straps with a pin buckle.
Will it come loose?
No. It's held by spring bars like any strap fitting, and the slide is firm, so it stays in the position you set.