The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I'm on the lookout for a couple of straps for my incoming PAM000 or 312. Anyway I've checked out a few places on the internet but finding it kind of difficult to choose something. I know a few of you guyz are big into your Panerai's so can anyone recommend a few sellers to me?

Cheers

Andrew

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Currently:
Avenger Skyland(Black)
Super Avenger(White)

Moved on:
Montbrillant Legende(Silver)
Panerai 312
SOHC 125th Ann. LE(Silver)
Navitimer World(Pearl)
Panerai 441

I reviewed a bunch here:

http://www.paneraisource.com/aftermarket_straps.shtml

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BreitlingSource Admin
http://www.breitlingsource.com - http://blog.breitlingsource.com

People seem to like straps from ABP. They have a great selection and you can get pretty much any combo of leather and color you want. I don't have one but I'm considering getting one from them for my Blackbird.

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"Leave the gun, take the cannoli."

I'm a big fan of the Panerai gator straps. My favorite would have to be the black gator with white stitching. It's the standard strap that comes with the 312. The anitque brown gator is also very nice.

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Justin
Please contact me via PM for the contact details for Govberg Jewelers
Govberg is an AD for over 50 fine Swiss and German watch brands.
Visit them on the web at http://www.govbergwatches.com or call 800-528-8463

My advice? Controversial comment, but I'd say be original and don't follow the usual Paneristi route of going after-market, and stick with OEM!

Personally I really dislike massively thick straps favoured by most after-market Panerai strap makers - I always think it can look like you're wearing a car-tyre round your wrist! If you think of a 5mm thick strap, where it goes through the buckle, there's double the thickness, and when you add in the thickness of the keepers you can quite easily have close on 2cm of leather on the underside of your wrist! Errrrr, no thanks. So if it was my watch I'd be sticking with the OEM croco range. Panerai seem to make a few really nice colours, so you don't have to stay with black.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Thanks for all your comments boys.

Driver I tend to agree with you, mostly, the straps I've seen on some pics do look massive and generally I'm not a fan but I have seen one or two I like. I tend to think of Panerai as an elegant type of watch and some of the more robust looking straps don't work IMO but as I say I have seen a couple I like.

I've not looked on the Paneria website but would that be where I would fing their OEM straps.

Once again thanks for the input.

Andrew

_________________

Currently:
Avenger Skyland(Black)
Super Avenger(White)

Moved on:
Montbrillant Legende(Silver)
Panerai 312
SOHC 125th Ann. LE(Silver)
Navitimer World(Pearl)
Panerai 441

Although I usual value Driver's comments, I have to say I strongly disagree here! One of the highpoints of owning a Panerai is that teh whole strap culture has evolved to such a level that you can find whatever you want at great prices and with great ease. The combinations are nearly endless and can add a whole new look to the watch.

I must admit though, I am admittedely quite mad when it comes to straps, and I have always been a non-conformist to a degree, take my Deepsea on a pilot strap post for instance, allot of people find that totally illogical and weird, to me it looks great and is different enough to entertain me, and thats all taht matters to me.

That said, I can see why some people, like Driver, would not enjoy after market straps. My guess is that these people usually enjoy things in their "proper" form, and there is nothing wrong with being stereotypically accurate if that is what you are into, but i think it is important to note that many of these straps are indeed outlandish and somewhat ridiculous, as they are meant to be.

As in example, I think this is what Driver was talking about, extra thick strap from the underside view:




And here is the front view, look at that character!







Now I can see if someone wanted a standard looking strap that conforms to the norm and casts more emphasis on the watch itself then yes, that would not be for them. personally I find the character, colour shift, patina, and outlandish proportions of the strap extremely enjoyable and transforms the watch from the mundane one of a billion to a unique and personal thing. I had contacted a very skilled strapsmith with my request for that strap, when I asked for it I never thought he would be able to nail it since I had wanted an Ammo strap from WWII with a very specific patina and colour shifts. The joy of recieving the strap from Micah at vintagerstraps.com , my bewilderment, and the act of strapping it on my 305 is no less that what I experienced when buying the actual watch, and that strap will be with me forever, the watch might not.

It is also worth noting that being original is a very relative concept, many of the straps in the Panerai catalogue where introduced as market reactions to after market straps, take for instance the new vintage line. In thsi case being original would be buying the distressed straps that started the style, rather than the reaction to them.


To each his own but please, do experiment! Worst case scenario is you end up selling the strap and loosing a 100 dollars or so, and you might just find that you have opened up a whole new world of enjoyment!


As for strap makers, my favorites are: ABP Paris, Ted Su, Micah from Vintager Straps (the maker of that fine specimen and an absolute solid fellow to deal with), and Greg Stevens. I also say visit the Paneristi.com accessories corner for used straps, some bargain to be had. Shoot me a PM if you want more info.

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Certified watch nut.

You simply cannot go wrong with aftermarket straps on your Panerai. I think Ahmed's pretty much summed up my thoughts.

There are some incredible OEM straps also - JV for example. Absolutely stunning. Here's a few of mine.. by no means the lot.

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PAM359M | PAM311L | PAM305L | PAM219M | PAM292K

Where are they?

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SA-Baton White Dial/ProII
Tissot Le Locle

I thought you might disgree there Altair! And there's nothing wrong with a bit of healthy disagreement.

I always think that most Panerai look too elegant to be on a rough looking distressed strap, but it's each to their own. I just like the thinner more classy looking OEM croco. And there's no way I could deal with all that leather on the underside of my wrist. Oh (and this is real Panerai heresy!) I prefer the deployant clasp anyway!

But yes, it's each to their own, so experiment away!

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I only wear straps made by aftermarket makers for a few reasons:
1) Size - I have ~8.25" wrists. The Panerai XL straps barely fit and are hard to find.
2) Options - There are a lot more options for materials and colors.
3) Access - I can communicate with the strapmaker directly, talk about colors and sizes, and if I don't like the results, they'll work with me to make it right.

Thanks for all the comments, I'll get looking. I can see both opinions quite clearly and I will be trying a strap or two. Altair, you have some awesome looking straps but I'm not sure if I fancy that thickness sitting under my wrist but I will have to try it and see.

On a side note I phoned the AD today about straps and they have quite a few so I will be trying some in a few weeks.

Cheers

Andrew

_________________

Currently:
Avenger Skyland(Black)
Super Avenger(White)

Moved on:
Montbrillant Legende(Silver)
Panerai 312
SOHC 125th Ann. LE(Silver)
Navitimer World(Pearl)
Panerai 441

Here's just some recent ones..

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PAM359M | PAM311L | PAM305L | PAM219M | PAM292K

which PAM is in the picture with the black edition PAM? Third pic from the bottom?

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SA-Baton White Dial/ProII
Tissot Le Locle

That's the holy grail my friend. PAM127 "Fiddy". My most prized Panerai

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PAM359M | PAM311L | PAM305L | PAM219M | PAM292K