The Panerai Source Forums

I recently discovered a way to darken croc straps with olive oil over on BreitlingSource. I thought I would take a chance on my new TedSu strap for the PAM 312. I didn't mind the color but it was a bit light for me and the features of the leather didnt show up very well. It was scarey to think that I might screw up this brand new $285 strap, but I took a chance!

When I first applied the olive oil, I thought "oh NO" but after drying the wet leather dried out to a beautiful patina. I coated the whole top side with one treatment and then (after drying with a hair drier for 4-5 minutes) I treated the horns and grain lines 2 more times to accent the dark color. I didn't want a super dark brown, just wanted to darken a orangey brown and to highlight the features of this particular leather. I love the results and now I breath a sigh of relief knowing that I DIDNT screw up my strap, but rather improved it. This method was very easy and the results are exactly what I wanted.

Here you go, with before and after (lighter, of course, being the before!)....

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PAM 312

Though not my taste, the darker version looks much nicer

Does the darkening effects last permanently ? or would it be back when it dries up after sometimes ? ...

I agree the darker one looks great ...

It is my understanding that the color change it permanent. It is pretty dried out, from the 5 minutes under the hair drier to the 12 hours of air drying, it did nothing but improve the color to a very natural look. I would think that the olive oil acts as a semi tanning base and tints the strap as its dried. But I dunno. We will see.

I have another regular (no big horns) honey brown TedSu coming in the mail (pre owned) and it will be getting the super treatment to try and really darken the strap to a medium to dark brown.

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PAM 312

I agree. I like that darkened one. Does it feel oily at all after all the drying?

I also noticed that the stitching becomes darker , right ? i hope it also permanently changed

The stitching was avoided during the treatment. My lighting might not have been exactly the same so it might make the stitching "look" darker but I was fairly carefull to not get it on the majority of the stitching.

ADMIN: there is no oily feel to it at all. Between the leather soaking up most of the oil, hair drier and air drying it doesn't feel oily at all.

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PAM 312

Being that olive oil is an organic food substance, is there any concern about the strap taking on a rancid quality? Would not mink oil or something similar create similar results? Just curious, because I'm interested in the technique.

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PAM 210

I did once too... but not on Ted Su... unfortunately I dun have photo of "before", only "after"...




but don't asked how I did it, hehehe...

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Peter.

Email: gunny.straps@gmail.com
Website: http://gunnystraps.blogspot.com

That is some beautiful looking patina on the croco strap there, Peter!

On a fake PAM, nice.

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PAM 210

can you read the brand?

can you refer the case model to which PAM?

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Peter.

Email: gunny.straps@gmail.com
Website: http://gunnystraps.blogspot.com

Obviously it is a custom PeterGunny model watch!

C'mon guys, there are specific rules on many fora that make no distinction between a project, homage or outright fake. I appreciate the effort that went into making that watch.

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PAM 210