I have just received from TD Precious Time a lovely IWC Portuguese 5242 manual wind in yellow gold plate. I was rather keen to see it on my wrist, but there was no way I could do so, due to the length of strap fitted, which would have been more suitable for a 5 inch wrist, rather than my 8 inch. (I expect a few ribald remarks) It has a well made deployment clasp, but even considering a hole in the strap right at the end, it would still not be long enough. Surely my wrist size is not abnormally large?
So, it sits there as a box queen looking gorgeous, until I can resolve the problem. Precious Time say that they will attempt to locate a longer strap, but I am not too hopeful and I will keep you informed if they do. It is a fairly standard 22mm strap and it would be no problem buying one that would fit the watch, but I would guess that getting one with the correct IWC marking would be rather more difficult - and I have already paid for a strap in the $383 price.
I have a few GEN pieces, where the standard strap supplied has been suitable (although not over generous in length) but I am new to REP watch collecting and I can only assume that the Chinese factories have not been adequately advised on Western wrist sizes - compared to the somewhat smaller Eastern wrists.
Any advice from more experienced RG members would be appreciated and is there any way that the factories can be asked to manufacture longer straps, or at least make a longer strap option available.