Patek strap life

[FrançoisCzapek]

Couldn't find a thread for this, but how long do Patek straps last if the watch is not worn everyday (worn only when going out or part of a rotation)?

How much longer do calf leather straps last, and do linings like Zermatt help?

Any difference if there is a deployant clasp involved?

And how much shorter do straps last in the tropics (like humid Singapore)?

The more I think about it, there is little reason to get official straps as you have to keep replacing them and keep paying the premium for them.

[mykii]

Originally Posted by FrançoisCzapek

The more I think about it, there is little reason to get official straps as you have to keep replacing them and keep paying the premium for them.

Yeah that is kind of the point...

Leather straps are a terrible idea for anywhere that's hot and humid, or anyone that sweats a lot.

I only wear mine in the Fall and Winter. Rest of the year, it is metal bracelet weather.

[Calatrava r]

Any strap will last much longer on a deployant/folding clasp type buckle because the leather is not being bent and tugged at one point as with a tang/pin type buckle. If the strap is not regularly exposed to moisture through water or sweat, it should last for several years. The shinier the finish, the faster the finish will dull. This is cosmetic and does not affect the strap otherwise.

[Horologista]

Worn daily on a deployant a Patek leather strap will last 4-5+ years.
If part of a rotation it could easily last a decade or two or three or more depending on the frequency of use.
A strap with a tang buckle is likely to last much less given the forces it experiences from the buckle.

The 2nd keeper loop on the strap has a tendency to fall off after a year, but the watch can be worn comfortably without it.

Beware...when changing straps on a deployant it is common to lose the tiny screw that is part of the clasp. (Not at the time of the change, a few days later. I believe a special adhesive must be applied to the screw to keep it in place.)