IWC EasX-Change Straps

I believe they have listing of the available straps on the websites by watch. It‘s not a very intuitive or informative website in the accessories department, but you can at least see the colors and styles available. 
 

I looked through options for the new Mark XX. They just don’t provide any buckles with any straps.. but annoying for $250. 
 

TAG uses a similar system for some of the Autavia line but I believe they’re all 21mm. I reached out to the guys at Delugs a few months ago about making some aftermarket stuff with these specific systems. The already cover the PRX and Santos lines. They said they didn’t have plans for any more company-specific stuff, but would have some straps for fixed lugs out “soon”. 

Thanks for the reply. The only page I've found on the IWC web site doesn't appear to provide any specifics or pricing.

https://www.iwc.com/en/straps-and-bracelets.html

I suppose that given the nature of the IWC EasX-Change system I could just use a "normal" 20mm strap, but that would mean needing to remove the spring bar when changing, eliminating the advantage of the quick change system in the first place.  The bracelet, with the push button on the fly micro adjust is extremely comfortable, but I really like the look of the watch with a strap, and would like to be able to change between them on a whim. 

It’s worth persevering - maybe try an IWC boutique or calling customer service. Although pricey, the system is excellent. I now have a couple of leather straps and a rubber strap alongside the bracelet and the ability to swap in seconds is great. 
If that’s not an option, removing or re-installing the springbar once the strap’s removed is actually very easy and you could get a third party strap with the built-in quick release type springbar which might be a workable compromise.

Thanks for the reply. If I don't hear back from my AD, I'll try contacting IWC customer service directly.  Do you happen to know the MSRP for the leather strap and pin buckle?  

The straps are £240 in the UK, can’t see a price on the buckle.

I agree, these are just killer on a strap. 
 

The strap finder on the US IWC site is here https://www.iwc.com/us/en/strap-selector.html

The buckle finder is here https://www.iwc.com/us/en/buckles.html

Looks like buckets are around $150 USD. 
 

That’s very pricey in total, but like others have said above could be worth it for you. 

Thanks so much for the links - greatly appreciated!!

I'm in Canada, and I think that some of the links on the IWC web site recognize a Canadian IP address and redirect, which may have been an issue with some of the links I had tried previously.

I've been able to follow the first link, and see the various strap options. It looks like the blue leather strap that I'd be interested in lists for $280 USD.

Unfortunately, when I tried the link for the buckle finder, after I enter my model # (either as IW3881 or IW388102),  the page I get is essentially empty (just the page header and footer).

The total price does look a bit on the high side, so I think I'll try to stop in at my local AD (which is not my preferred AD) to see if I can see one in person to determine if it's worth the price. Any idea of what type of discount I'd be able to get on a strap & buckle? 

Yeah I hate when the sites do that based on country. No idea but IWC doesn’t usually allow more than 5% off at most, from what I’ve heard. Again, maybe your AD is super cool and willing to help so who knows. Good luck man. 

So heres my controveraial take on this. 

I got my IWC 41 Chrono with both the rubber and the leather options.

The leather IMHO is absolute garbage. Really thin, not in keeping with the height of the watch at all.

They’re no longer using the Italian tannery they used to use for these “entry-level” options, but have switched to an Austrian manufacturer (Hirsch, I believe). Mine lives on the rubber (which to be fair is awesome) and I’m getting a custom flieger style strap made by thestraptailor in the uk for when I want to dress her up. 

Along with the embarrassing lume, I was super disappointed with what IWC are putting out as their OEM options, particularly when charging £400/$450+ 😱😱😱😡

All still to say… I freaking love the watch in the round 😍🥰🤩😘

Thanks for the reply. Disappointing to hear about the leather strap, since that's the option I was planning on, and was basing it on the quality of IWC leather straps I've seen in the past. I'll have to make a trip to my local AD to see the strap in person before ordering. I certainly don't want to pay a premium price if I'm not getting a premium product in return.

As for the lume, I find that it's very long lasting. There may not be much of it, but there's enough to be able to tell the time easily, and in my experience, it lasts through the night. 

You’ve got a better unit than mine then. I’ll wear it in the sun all day, then overnight it’ll be barely noticable in the evening and by midnight be completely gone. 

The fact they didn’t lume the arabics as well is a bit of a kick in the teeth. If hanhart, laco and cheap Chinese brands can do it, the fact IWC reserve that for the big Pilot range is a bit cheeky I think for a watch they’re asking $7k at RRP! 

Anyway, I keep reminding myself “it’s not a diver and I bought it for other reasons…“ then I look at her, stroke her face and whisper “I still love you baby” 😘🤪

I agree that they could definitely have done a better job on the lume - it would have been really nice to have all of the markers lumed, but I'm usually OK as long as there is enough lume to allow me to tell the time when I wake up in the middle of the night. I wear a watch when I sleep, and keep a UV flashlight on my dresser to charge the lume before going to bed. Mine is still readable when I wake up 6-8 hours later.

I don't feel that the watch is worth their $8,500 USD MSRP (for the bracelet version IW3881-02). I picked mine up as pre-owned, with box and papers in perfect condition for what worked out to a 38% discount from MSRP. It was originally purchased 04-03-2022, so I still have over 7 years of warranty remaining. Based on what I paid, I feel that the watch is well worth the price. The way that the blue dial plays with the light brings a smile to my face every time I glance down at the watch.  And while I'm not a huge fan of the aesthetics of the bracelet, I just love the on the fly micro adjust. 

Random question because I haven't found anything on this, but I have a Big Pilot 43 with a few different straps and the buckle/clasp has failed twice on me. The strap itself is easy to swap out, but the clasp seems really "flimsy." The EasX-Change is a great idea, but I basically have a watch I love but am too afraid to wear a lot of the time for fear of the clasp failing.

That really sucks.

Are you referring to the buckle/clasp on the leather/rubber straps, or the actual EaxX-Change mechanism that would also be found on the bracelet? What happens when it fails?

The buckle/clasp, the part with the “tooth” completely fell off. Twice now. 

Holy Crap. Have you talked to your AD about that? I'd be furious if I happened to drop and damage a watch because of something like that.  Given how expensive the deployant clasps are, you certainly have reason to complain, even if it could never result in a dropped/damaged watch. I'd like to think it's just one defective clasp, and not a design issue. In any event, I'd raise hell with the AD you bought it from.

It's the NYC boutique, they were cool about it last fall and gave me a new one. At this point it seems like a design flaw to me (thus my original question). I've asked a couple other boutiques about it and got nowhere. I don't know what to do at this point.

I'd suggest talking to them again, and seeing if they'd allow you to exchange the deployant for the standard (and less expensive) pin buckle and some cash back. May not be ideal, but I'd be way too nervous to wear a watch that I wasn't 100% sure was going to stay firmly planted on my wrist. 

In your picture I assume it's just for illustration? Because the rubber strap hasn't threaded all the way through the buckle. If you're wearing it like that, I see how that can be causing extra stress to the "tooth". 

There is no tooth. That part of the clasp fell off. Just called the boutique and they’re sending me a standard pin unit that should work with alol of my straps. And yes, they said I’m not the only one who’s had the clasp fail. 

This is very handy to know. I still haven't ordered a strap, so whenever I do, I'll need to make the choice between getting a deployant clasp or pin buckle to go with it. I tend to prefer a deployant (especially loopless ones, like those from Cartier or Omega), but based on this issue, it seems to make sense to save the money by going with a pin buckle instead.