The Panerai Source Forums

So now that I'm getting more and more familiar to high end watches such as Panerai's and Breitlings I've noted that some collectors have quite the number of straps and bracelets.

What's the most straps anyone has collected for their watch and how often would you change them out?

Norman

I've seen some crazy collectors with dozens of straps.. I'm really digging the strap thing and I've been picking up a few here and there. When I move and get settled in I will probably pick up several more.

With the ease of changing straps on a Panerai - made even easier by the new sprung-loaded pin system - it's very easy to get carried away and get different straps for different moods, to go with different handbags (closet queen that I am... ) etc. I went this route and ended up with 6 or 7 really nice pieces from a variety of sources.

However, there is a problem - it all boils down to whether or not you like a deployant buckle. The Panerai deployant needs a tail much thinner than most of the strap makers provide - approx 1,5 mm MAXIMUM otherwise the tail will not pass thru the clasp.

I personally prefer the deployant buckle as I find it both comfortable and very practical. And this is why I have almost exclusively OEM straps.

I do miss the possibility of changing, for example the colour, from time to time (although I do have a growing collection of OEM straps now!) but the conventional buckle just isn't as comfortable for me.

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Own: 219, 253, 270, 308
On order: 28 Selling: 164 OOR
Past loves: 000,176,199,240,250,251,252,288

I've noticed that many Panerais now come with the Deployant strap, and most aftermarket straps are designed to be used with the chunkier Pre-V or GFP style buckles... or are even sewn-in. That kind of sucks if you're a deployant fan... however I find that the panerai deployant is a bit uncomfortable, as the edges of the butterfly clasp sometimes dig into my wrist a bit oddly. It might be that on a standard length Panerai OEM strap I am "between hole sizes"..

a key question is why? not how many. especially for panerai, the simple change of the colour of the strap or replacing the strap with a bracelet gives the watch a whole new look! really as if it is a totally different watch.

with that said, i think it justifies the number of strap collectors out there

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Time is precious, keep it with elegance!

- Alien13 -

I do not think there is limit, except financial, of course...Me myself have 2 PAMS and about, all-in-all, 16 straps.

Only 16 ?

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Own: 219, 253, 270, 308
On order: 28 Selling: 164 OOR
Past loves: 000,176,199,240,250,251,252,288

I like having several straps. It makes me feel like I am wearing a different watch when I just swap the strap... I don't feel this way about any of my other watches.

Right, I'm going to go out on a no-doubt very unpopular limb here, and say I hate the thickness of most of the aftermarket Panerai straps out there. If a strap is around 4 or 5mm thick, it means that at the buckle you've got about a cm of leather sticking out from your wrist. Add to that an extra bit for the keepers and you might have close on 1.5cm of leather. I'm just not a fan of that at all.

I guess my love of all things OEM comes from owning quite a few Breitlings as nothing suits them more than OEM stuff.

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Driver 8

I have to agree (must be old age setting in... ) as this is one of the reasons I unloaded the 4 or 5 non-OEM straps I once owned. (I did however keep the Greg Stevens Crazy Horse - it is magnificent)

The OEM are damned expensive, in my opinion, given that they are produced in sufficient numbers, and I guess this is one of the reasons why the after-market in Panerai straps is so popular, as they're nearly always considerably cheaper.

Reading various fora postings related to straps, there's a real 'vintage' culture out there, with people insisting on wearing huge thick straps with long tails sticking out everywhere.

Luckily it's all down to personal choice - and I freely admit to prefering the OEM for the colours, fit, shape etc. Also there are very few who make for the deployant clasp, which further limits the choice. I am getting used to the tongue buckle (finally) and I've got a good mix of both in my little collection.

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Own: 219, 253, 270, 308
On order: 28 Selling: 164 OOR
Past loves: 000,176,199,240,250,251,252,288

Ah yes, the strap question. Adding my views to the pot, i'm very definitely in the deployant camp. The level of this is determined by persistance and downright refusal to give in, when i wanted a OE, Ti, friction locking deployant for a recently acquired PAM 89.

The good people in the Panerai London office finally located this rare Ti buckled item, from a dealer somewhere. The factory apparently withdrew the remaining stocks when the superior 'two button' model arrived. That is indeed a nice and well made buckle but not authentic to an 89.

It's actually do to arrive on Wednesday

I don't think I've put an OEM strap on my Pams in... oh ever since the day I got them

I like both thick and thin straps, but really when I want to be dressy I rarely wear my PAMs. I wear them when I want a chunky military looking watch.

I completely see where Sportback is coming from. I too would like to feel and see the strap in person before buying. Each online purchase is a calculated risk for me, and out of the 16 straps I have 5 are duds that looked much better online. I mounted these once and then left them in the drawer, probably will sell them for half price but in my opinion it was worth it as the rest are great straps that really change the look of my PAMs dramaticly.

The OEMs are also hit and miss in my expirience, for instance the tan calf and black croc are amazing, but the brown croc and black calf are awfull.

Regarding the original question, its all about personal prefrence. I personally enjoy changing straps at least every other time I wear one of my Panerais, keeps things fresh. My brother, who has a 104, keeps his on a black heroic18 calf all the time.