A Few Good Straps

Sharing my modest stash (certainly waaaaay far off than what I have seen from the others and I am hope I dont get to that stage as my wife wont be too happy!!)...

This is what I have now after buying off and selling others as I am trying to get a good mix/ balance in my inventory. I also plan to really rotate and wear them and not just stash them away as I dont want to waste money. I am so far quite happy with the mix of Simonas, a few David Lanes, Greg Stevens, Mario Paci, Gunnys, Paolo18 and of course OEMs...certainly missing a few. Hmmmm...what could be next??

Any suggestions?????

Certainly a Rob Montana is still not there. 

Another Mario Paci. 

Then you can never have enough of a Simona or an OEM leather or Croc. 

Then I found Panatime not found in fact!!  I was quite surprised.  I will definitely but a lot more as it is I think value for money.

A Delaurian strap intrigues me.  But his site is down and not talking any additional orders.  Will rethink this again when I already have some unique design in mind.

I found Paolo18 one of the best one so I will wait if he has the stone washed strap and I will definitely order.  Then I will definitely order other straps as well from him.

I was supposed to order a Kostas but got turned off because he started chasing me when I sent him a query!!  I was still thinking about it from the tons of choices around...

The other one that intrigues me is the Kevin ammo strap which is priced over US$ 250 in the 2nd hand market!!!!!!! I'm like, wtf??

From left to right:

Mario Paci, a Sharkie, a Simona Bruno Tan, Dark Blue Croc I think from Panatime, David Lane Bridle Leather black, Paolo18, OEM JV Gold Nubuck, Gunny Caitlin 2, David Lane Swiss Ammo, David Lane French Ammo, Gunny BB, Simona Bruno Navy Blue XL, OEM Croc Black, Greg Stevens Design

Straps and the PAM 359

As I have discovered, Panerai is as much about the straps as the watch.

Having a Radiomir as a 1st Panerai would not give me the fun of swapping straps to have different looks depending on your mood or having those custom made leather to fit your wrist to the millimeter!!!  So I had to get a Luminor right??!!

I looked at the models and the PAM 359 is the one that appealed to me the most...

I got this via a private sale from a popular watch exchange website.  2 months old.  I had to hurry as I read everywhere about the April 1 price increase.

Pure bliss...now my strap hunt begins.

As a Maven, I devoured all the strap information as much as I can - who is the best strap maker in the world, most expensive, value for money, etc.  Found out names like Simona, Rob Montana, Gunny, Paolo18, David Lane, Kain Heritage, Heroic18, Kevin Ammo, Mario Paci and tons more which before did not even mean anything to me or did not know even exist, i.e. that there is a whole industry or economy just for Panerai straps!!!! 

Then there is the OEM strap - I have seen OEM all over but took a while to figure out what this was.  As a Maven, I definitely have to find.  Turns out to be an expensive one!!...as this refers to the original make from the company (OEM - generic term for Original Equipment manufactured or something like that, could be made by the company itself or outsouced).  True to maven form, found out that there are coveted ones that you have to have one...so I searched for one that fancied me the most - an OEM JV Gold Nubuck with Ecru sttich model no MX003863 (in true maven fashion). 

Saw a brand new one on paneristi.com (THE website or place for newly converts/ addicts/ fans or whatever you want to call it)

I researched that it will get a nice 'patina' over time...(Patina as I understand is the natural ageing to give a vintage look in watches that makes in even more attractive).  I have to wear this strap every single day then!!!