aquatimer steel straps

Hello watch fans, i hope that someone out there can give me a little
information on straps for aquatimers,

i have recently been lucky enough to purchase a watch that i have admired for
years its a model 378201 caylipso tribute with the wood insert in the back the
watch dates from 2006 and is in excellent condition but altho the rubber strap
looks ok with no signs of wear it feels a little stiff due to its age and as i
want to be able to wear the watch regulary i dont think it will last long with
daily use, as i am going to have to replace the strap at some time soon i
would like to swap to a steel bracelet, due to the unique way the straps
attach to the case on this model it will have to be a genuine IWC item, i
think that most of these model aquatimers were sold only with the blue rubber
strap but there was a stainless steel bracelet avaliable but they do not come
up for sale very offten as they are quite rare. i have recently found someone
selling a model 354805 which has both straps and he has agreed to sell me the
stainless steel strap on its own but cant confirm that it will fit my watch
altho from looking at the pictures it looks like it is the correct shape at
the ends. i have tried looking at the straps section of the IWC web site but
there is no information on older models so if anyone has any info to help me
make sure i am buying the correct strap it would be much appreciated, also if
anyone reading this message has the correct strap for sale please get in
touch.

thanks ian

I don't think it fits because the watches have different diameters (yours
44mm, the other 42mm), but I'm not 100% sure about that. My experience says
no.

Maybe Bas Dekkers could help. He's the AT expert.

though question..

I personally have never seen a Cousteau calypso with SS bracelet, and Tilo is
right about the sixe of the strap.

You could trie a (out of the box idea) SSstrap (IWA20594) of the AT cousteau
3782, they
have the same dimensions.

I bought a bracelet from IWC for my Cousteau Calypso, as the rubber strap
irritates my
wrist during the summer, and it also was getting stiff due to age.

The reference number is IWA20594 and I ordered it through IWC Concierge.

thanks for the replies the serial number for the correct strap should prove
very useful, unfortunatly i am not in a possition to buy a new one direct from
IWC as i fear the cost will be out of my budget but having the number will
hopefully help me to track down a used example, as for the comment about case
size yes the model i have is 44mm (378201) but i dont nesscsarly see that the
42mm model (354805) would have a different size strap as when i look at
pictures of the two models side buy side the lugs appear to be of the same
design/shape i may be wrong as i am new to IWC ownership but it would seem
lodgical that a strap would fit various models in the aquatimer range with the
same lug design, is there a data base that has the spefications of different
models so i can check to see if the width at the fitting end is the same ?.
from looking at pictures of the IWA20594 it looks the same as the used one
that i have been offered and i am just waiting for the seller to get back to
me after he has checked to see if his one has the 20594 serial number on it
altho i do not know if these straps carry a number on them or where to tell
him to look for it, if anyone reading this has a 354805 model and can
measurethe lug width that might also be helpful.

thanks ian

You will need an end link of 16mm for your Cousteau.

The radius of the endpiece will be different for a 42mm and 44mm case
diameter!

It will not fit as the part numbers are different:

For Ref. 3871 and 3782, the steel bracelet hast part number IWA20594

For Ref. 3548, the steel bracelet has part number IWA16054

once again thank you to those that have taken the time to reply to my
questions your knoledge has been very helpful,

i had only considered the fitting width and had not taken account of the
radius difference, but now it has been pointed out

it makes prefect sence that it would not fit correctly even though they look
the same to the naked eye.

i shall continue to enjoy my watch and be carefull with the rubber strap and
hopfully it will last long enough for me to find the correct

steel one at an affordable price.

regards ian