Aftermarket Panerai Review

Heroic 18 Watch Straps Review

Heroic 18 Panerai Straps

Origin: Hong Kong
Construction: Hand-Stitched and Lock-Stitched
Materials: New Leathers, Shark, Alligator, Carbon
Buckles & Tubes: Both Included
Price Range: $85-184
Website: Click Here
Date of Review: July 7th, 2008

Perhaps my favourite of the Asian strap makers is Heroic18. With a pricing and style very similar to many of the straps from Strap Culture, they sort of come off as a me-too of Panerai straps. However, they come in at a slightly lower price point, with a slightly more attractive buckle. Heroic straps also have an option of hand-stitched and lock-stitched straps for you to choose from.

I’ve owned two Heroic18 straps, and both are exceptionally well made. The buckles are interesting in that they do not have one but two screw heads in them requiring the use of 2 screwdrivers to remove. I have to say that the Heroic buckles are probably my favourite reasonably priced buckles on the market. I am not sure if they sell them separately.

In these photos, the black strap is the lock-stitched strap and the brown strap is the hand-stitched strap. Both straps have beige stitching. The Black model pictured here is called the Historic Black, while the Brown/Tan strap is a prototype Hand Stitched model that is kind of a light chocolate more so than a Tan. It is stiffer than the Historic Black, but still quite flexible. Both of these straps measure in at 4.6mm thick.

One of the nicest straps I’ve seen lately is the Heroic 18 Especial Ecru with milky stitching on their site right now. It is one of the straps on my shortlist, and if it weren’t for the huge 6mm thickness, I would probably have bought it already.

Overall, I highly recommend Heroic18 straps, especially at their price point. I don't know if they are made in a Chinese sweat shop or if they are made in a small one or two man shop, but these straps are very nicely made. All the straps as of this writing are under $110 including shipping. The only downside of buying from them is the lack of selection. I am sure their inventory will grow as they sell more straps.