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- ASSHAT
- Posts: 9873
- Joined: March 31st 2010, 10:00pm
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CLERC STRAP ADVENTURES
Sigh.
Clerc makes some unique watches with customer service to match.
In sneering French CS circles, unique a synonym for merde.
My CXX Scuba 250 LE came with a proprietary 22mm real rubber strap tapered to maybe 14-16 mm in the lugs.
Recently the rubber snapped - brittle with age.
Emailed and called Clerc looking for OEM replacement. Hunted the web. Nada zilch.
And, surprise, Clerc never responded, which is the boutique brand's pattern of arrogance.
Had it happen before when a bracelet screw fell out and, in the end, had to have one custom made.
Traditional high-end jewelers, Tourneau etc. couldn't find OEM and said there was no after-market replacement.
Call Clerc they all suggested.
I told them the reality and resigned to use my watch as a desk cube.
Fuck.
Then I wandered into a Fast Fix watch battery shop in the mall. Low-End stuff, Timex, etc.
Sold me a Hadley-Roma stitched silicone. Handsome and more supple than the OEM, which probably goes for $300-plus - if you can find it - like many high-end rubber strap ons from Switzerland and Italy.
Cost $29 then $20 more to custom cut the lug refit the OEM tang.
Most excellent job for $49 out the door. Looks great, feels great.
Happy clam!
But Clerc is a douchebag brand - despite some exceptional products that will cost you your left lung.
What good is a $2800 chronograph (retail in the year 2000) when you can't replace the strap or wear it?
Fuck you Gerald Clerc - and stick your $6900 (retail) Hyroscaph where the sun don't shine!
Side note: I'm off natural rubber straps for keeps. Learned a hard lesson.
Clerc makes some unique watches with customer service to match.
In sneering French CS circles, unique a synonym for merde.
My CXX Scuba 250 LE came with a proprietary 22mm real rubber strap tapered to maybe 14-16 mm in the lugs.
Recently the rubber snapped - brittle with age.
Emailed and called Clerc looking for OEM replacement. Hunted the web. Nada zilch.
And, surprise, Clerc never responded, which is the boutique brand's pattern of arrogance.
Had it happen before when a bracelet screw fell out and, in the end, had to have one custom made.
Traditional high-end jewelers, Tourneau etc. couldn't find OEM and said there was no after-market replacement.
Call Clerc they all suggested.
I told them the reality and resigned to use my watch as a desk cube.
Fuck.
Then I wandered into a Fast Fix watch battery shop in the mall. Low-End stuff, Timex, etc.
Sold me a Hadley-Roma stitched silicone. Handsome and more supple than the OEM, which probably goes for $300-plus - if you can find it - like many high-end rubber strap ons from Switzerland and Italy.
Cost $29 then $20 more to custom cut the lug refit the OEM tang.
Most excellent job for $49 out the door. Looks great, feels great.
Happy clam!
But Clerc is a douchebag brand - despite some exceptional products that will cost you your left lung.
What good is a $2800 chronograph (retail in the year 2000) when you can't replace the strap or wear it?
Fuck you Gerald Clerc - and stick your $6900 (retail) Hyroscaph where the sun don't shine!
Side note: I'm off natural rubber straps for keeps. Learned a hard lesson.