The Panerai Source Forums

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum but i recently purchased a wonderful looking GeF strap 26/22 & 115/70 from TC Straps but i noticed something out of the ordinary when i received the strap. have a look at the attachment. the edges of the entire strap has been glazed with a layer of shiny coating, like paint but this particular area looked like it was scraped off and was revealling the suede/leather material unders the coating. i'd like to know if this is a quality control flaw or are all handmade straps bound to have things like these happen..?

looking forward to all paneristi's comments... Thanks & Cheers!

Tommy

I don't think it's normal, and its probably a QC issue, but after you use the strap a few times, and the edge paint rubs against the buckle a little bit that stuff will likely be a bit worn anyway and you will probably not notice it. But if it bothers you I would ask them if they would replace it. The photo doesn't look to bad to me... but it may be different in person.

I decided to include the chain of mails with TC Straps and all i can say is Caveat Emptor!

I personally feel that TC Straps do offer some of the best straps for paneristis... especially the Mario Paci's/Kodiak's/GeF's... but i do hope that theres quality improvement in the end for all of this... i may be a bit of a perfectionist but when it comes to my Panerai & the accessories i always expect the best from the people especially those who claim to be makers for Panerai OEM straps from 1937 - 1997.


Hi,



I'm sure there'll be a certain amount of rubbing BUT that only happens when the straps have been worn after a while am i right? it shouldnt be the case when the strap is newly made...



anyways, im a little tired of going back and forth trying to convince you my point. if you say its a normal thing then i'll take your professional advice for it... but i am going to take in second opinions from the 'panerai source' forum.



but i must say that the previous strap i got from you (TC Vintage Arezzo Tan) did not have any signs of rubbing whatsoever... it was perfect and so nicely seasoned over time when i wore it over my PAM253. i look forward to the outcome of this strap with my 183 while i hunt for another strap for my 111.



anyways i believe this is probably just 'my luck' and a 'one off thing'. i do hope in my future purchases the straps from TC should be most likely in pristine condition.



Cheers,

Tommy




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


From: Elliot@TCStraps.com
To: yink76@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: Your Time Connection strap order
Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:25:15 -0500



Hello,

In ALL non tapered straps, i.e. 22/22, 24/24 and 26/26 there will always be a certain amount of rubbing and that is normal.

Regards

Elliot
----- Original Message -----
From: yin chung
To: Elliot@TC Straps.Com
Sent: Friday, October 10, 2008 3:37 AM
Subject: RE: Your Time Connection strap order


here is a jpeg of the area at flaw which im trying to communicate to you.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: yink76@hotmail.com
To: elliot@tcstraps.com
Subject: RE: Your Time Connection strap order
Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 03:15:10 +0000

Hi elliot,

pls dont get me wrong... im not asking for anything... PAV98 is something i want for my luminor, not my radiomir. i just want to know if this is a quality flaw in the product i purchased... and if it is which i am pretty sure, pls advise what are the next steps if any.

what i see with my own eyes is that the edges of the entire strap has a shiny coating... except the area where i took the pictures are showing a suede finish... as though it had been scraped off and its showing the raw leather underneath the coating. if youre telling me this is normal then i have nothing to say. its just that the rest of the edges are smooth with the shiny coating to protect the edges except the art where i took the pics...

pls look at the photo i put in the ppt file... its the area im talking about.

Regards,
Tommy




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


From: Elliot@TCStraps.com
To: yink76@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: Your Time Connection strap order
Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 22:01:14 -0500




Hello,

What are you trying to tell me......I guess you want the PAV 98 in place of this strap for the same price?


There is nothing out of the ordinary with this strap.




----- Original Message -----
From: yin chung
To: Elliot@TC Straps.Com
Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2008 9:52 PM
Subject: RE: Your Time Connection strap order


Hi elliot,

sorry, i did not mean the line. i know the 2 pieces of leather are glued together...

what i meant is the edges which have been painted/layered with a coating. attached are more pics. perhaps you can see what i mean... notice the shiny areas which are normal coated area on the edges vs. the areas which have been scraped from the shiny coated layer...pls advise. the files taken from my digital camera is sufficient enough for you to zoom in and see the differences.






--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


From: Elliot@TCStraps.com
To: yink76@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: Your Time Connection strap order
Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 21:33:20 -0500




The line is not a flaw.....

The line is where the 2 pieces of leather are glued together as you cannot find a leather of this quality in 4.5mm thickness.
----- Original Message -----
From: yin chung
To: Elliot@TC Straps.Com
Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2008 9:22 PM
Subject: RE: Your Time Connection strap order


Hi Elliot,

thanks for the affirmation of the waterproof matter. i have no issues if the strap is waterproof or not... i guess im just confused when it talks about the ciampi process.

but what about the edge of the strap which i mentioned? any reason on why theres a long scrape which bears the inner leather on the strap while the rest of the edges have a smooth layer of coating? its quite a visible quality flaw if you ask me...



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Elliot@TCStraps.com
To: yink76@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: Your Time Connection strap order
Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 21:13:59 -0500



Hello,

The GeF Valdarno is NOT made with any waterproof coating in any way whatsoever. A Giovanni e Figlio Valdarno strap which we have had in 4 colors has never been claimed to have a waterproof coating.

On the PAV 98 and Original Kodiak straps, which you asked for a special price on the 98, there is the Kodiak treatment.


Elliot
----- Original Message -----
From: yin chung
To: Elliot@TC Straps.Com
Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2008 6:54 PM
Subject: RE: Your Time Connection strap order


Hi Elliot,

Any feedback from the below mail?

Regards,
Tommy

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: yink76@hotmail.com
To: elliot@tcstraps.com
Subject: RE: Your Time Connection strap order
Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 07:47:35 +0000

Hi elliot,

further to my findings below, i understand that this strap is also made with the original Ciampi process (looking at the chop at the back of the shorter strap) to make it waterproof? if this is the case, the long srape would allow moisture to get in correct? its quite a visible quality flaw. shouldnt quality control catch this? quite displeased with it honestly as i dont think anyone would be able to catch on the internet pics.

regards,
Tommy




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


From: yink76@hotmail.com
To: elliot@tcstraps.com
Subject: RE: Your Time Connection strap order
Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 06:50:59 +0000

Hi Elliot,

Just received my GeF strap today and upon inspecting the strap i noticed the edges on the 115 strap had some worn out edges while the other is like glazed right through thoroughly. is this normal thing from straps like these? attached is the picture i took. pls advise.



regards,
Tommy




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



From: Elliot@TCStraps.com
To: yink76@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: Your Time Connection strap order
Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 22:12:40 -0500





Hello,

Sorry...but the PAC Basic colors move pretty fast and you never see them on the daily specials.

regards

Elliot
----- Original Message -----
From: yin chung
To: elliot@tcstraps.com
Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2008 9:58 PM
Subject: RE: Your Time Connection strap order


Hi Elliot,

I'm really keen on purchasing a MP PAV98 but am not able to pay for it at the regular price. would you be so kind as to put one out (24/24/115/75) as your daily special and priced as beautifully as the kodiak tan /MP XV santa croce currently?

Tommy

It sounds like he thinks that the rubbed out area occured after you wore the watch. It was like that right from new though, wasn't it?

Anyway, his english is pretty poor, and he doesn't seem to know what you're asking.. I've never tried the mario paci straps myself, though i've seen some in person. They're not cheap.

Yea, it was so difficult to get my point accross. im told that some rubbing on the edges is normal... BUT that when someone starts wearing it after awhile right...???

i just got the damn straps right out of the ziplock pack and found those edges worn out... and whats worse is that the edges are too far up there for the buckle to be wearing them out.

anyways i been reading the other 'talks' about straps in this forum and found that theres this guy (ahmed) who bought 4 straps and one of them was faulty and they (Elliot-TC Straps) immediately asked him to choose any strap @ any price and they'll ship it out immediately for free. sometimes i feel a little discrimination here... perhaps my business transaction of one measly strap is not as important as another who bout 4???

anyway, i'll let this forum find truth in all of this is possible... i'm tired of going back and forth on this. Mario Paci straps are nice and all but i do believe brands like Kaktus, Micah, and Strap Culture make straps just as great... if not better.

Salute! Paneristis!
-Tommy C-

I feel the same way. I've never handled a Kaktus strap, but I think one of these days I will give one a shot.