TeeJay

Best wishes to you and your family

Or go mad and get a custom-made strap from HK Tan. This one was made from vintage, distressed leather reclaimed from a derelict railway carriage:

I've never been over keen on the California (I don't like the mixed numerals... Arabic or Roman, but not both) but I've always liked that strap. I saw another PAM strap a while back, which had been made from leather reclaimed from a doctor's medicine bag. Given I don't want a huge collection of straps, it might be worth spending the dollars on one really nice custom piece.

As you say your sister isn't a 'girlie girl', how about a PAM 111 or 112? Large, minimalistic, strong enough to live up to any 'site abuse' she might encounter in her work, and, with the variety of straps available, incredibly versatile and customizable. I'd be the first to admit, the Omega Planet Ocean 45mm on rubber is way more comfortable on the wrist than a PAM, but, it's not as customizable...

But the question is...what will the AD do?

Fit a new wrist band and scowl fiercely at Neba?

Or call the fuzz and have the owner of the rep taken away in cuffs? (Ah, no... not gonna happen...cuffs won't fit. )

I'm kinda curious...

Hopefully, they would just notify them that the strap has arrived and ready for them to collect. They will no doubt offer to fit it, but that's easy enough to avoid, simply by saying you are a watch enthusiast, and like swapping straps anyway. As for notifying the popo, unlikely, and, as mentioned previously on a similar issue, totally outside their jurisdiction as owning a rep (in the UK/US) is not a crime. In a legal sense, once you own it, it is due the same legal protections as any other item of property, ie they cannot 'confiscate it', or offer to repair it, and then return it un-repaired/missing parts. In that regard, that would make them the law-breakers for [censored]ing around with someone's personal property

Edit to add:

With regards the strap situation:

Neb, just go into any jewellers and choose a black leather strap which fits you, and has the correct lug-size. Then, all you need do is swap the buckles over, and you have a strap which fits, with the IWC logo on the buckle

Yipes, I'm pressed for time now (mumble having spent my time on lesser threads mumble), but quick hits for you! I'm sure others have replied already with some, like HKTan.

Budget: Risti Accessories forum, Don straps. Bob straps. FxrAndy straps (the best on a budget, bar none). RWG/RWI/Repgeek forums.

Regular cost: Timeconnection.biz "Daily Specials". Risti Accessories forum. Tootall, Savage, V, and other forum strapmakers, Strap Culture (with TWP 25% discount).

Money's No Object: Mario Paci. Simona. Zeugma. ABP croc. Manifatture Firenze. First generation Dirk straps. Vintage Ammo by VDBroucke. Original PAVs with GPF Dep-Mod buckles, Greg Stevens, Gregoire Texier, Micah Dirksen, Europelli, any OEM, especially OEM Riva.

Since people's money estimates are not all the same, here is my rationale for the pricing above, in US dollars:

Budget: $15-50

Regular: $51-110

Money's No Object: $111-$800 (average $200)

Thanks for the pointers, V I think, I might even be getting over my PlanetOceanitis. Several times this evening, I put it back on, and it felt like a feather, perfet fit etc, but, after a few moments, I put the PAM back on I guess it's because I'm still in 'casual dress'. Once I get a suit on, I'll be back to the Omegas

NIce TJ... seems like the lume colour is pretty near what you want more white than green..

Strap.. I have a brand new BOB strap chocolate brown that i will never use.. so for your dirt cheap strap i will offer it to you if you pay for the shipping.. is that cheap enough for you ??

let me know..

Aloha,

Lanikai

Sounds perfect, thanks for the offer If you PM me the details, I'll paypal you the shipping funds

This is the kind of thing I was thinking of strap-wise, or, as close to it as possible. In profile, it was about 3-4mm thick, perfect for the bulky PAMs

Edit to add photo... I was sure I added it earlier

Yep TJ the canon pin should be level with the top of the minuet hand but 3 of mine are not either it does not bother me that much. enjoy

That's what I thought. Ironically, the 111h I had to return with the defective power reserve had the level cannon pin, I guess that's just the way things go On the plus side, that watch also had some miss-spellings on the bridge stickers (Officne Panera, if I recall) this one doesn't have those problems It'll keep me happy for a while. I know what PAMs I want next, the only problem is having the spare cash to buy them

Congrats and that strap does look good, esp with that style buckle. I'm surprised, given how most reviews suggest v poor quality rep straps on the PAMs. From where did you get it? I'm getting dangerously close to taking the plunge...

Cheers,

Khumzi

(also a Norf London inhabitant)

PM sent

Is that Cannon pin NOT resesed? and i hve to say i like the brushed case in that as opposed to a polished one. Was it brand new TJ or from a trade?

A question for all, Are these bridges correct for an E series movement and is the brushed finish also correct.

TJ i have a couple of 24mm straps that are sat in my desk doing nothing the two on the left the one on the right has gone PM if you are interested.

BTW nice watch i like it, even if it is not acurate (i dont know hence the questions) wear it well

The cannon pin is lower than the level of the minute hand. I thought that it should be level with the minute hand... Is this not so? It was indeed brand new, from my 'usual source' Indeed, I like the brushed case as well, it contrasts nicely with the polished bezel and crown guard. I suspect that the bridges are not correct...

Thanks for the offer of the strap, but that isn't quite what I had in mind

Indeed, even if it's not accurate, I like it way more than I thought I would, and, although the Planet Ocean remains my favorite watch, this is now my definite 'casual watch' for wearing with jeans and T-Shirt

looks similar to my first one

and yours cheaper!

and so many straps.....

cheers helmut

Indeed, very similar, especially the straps. The camera hasn't quite captured the color of my strap properly. The photos have given it a more ceramic/reddish hue, where to the nake eye, it appears more 'toffee' colored. Is that the same with yours?

I'm not sure if it's the same process involved in putting the lettering on the dial, but I was able to remove the dial lettering from an Omega Aqua Terra with electrician's tape. Took a few applications for it to get it all off, but it was just a case of 'press and lift', and it all came off in the end

Nice watch Teejay!

What is it about Panerai's and straps??? I bought a 111h and now have 5 straps for it To answer some of your questions, it's probably worth checking out VB's Panerai Strap Caper threads - full of good strap reviews.

If you want a nice strap to get your collection going though, I can highly recommend FXRAndy - great straps and really reasonable price (if you want to see the one that I bought, there's some pics in the member trade review area).

prof

Thanks for the suggestions I know what you mean about PAMs and straps, it is somewhat fetishistic I wasn't planning on having a lot of straps, it was more a case of I wanted something similar to the strap I put on my dad's customized Aqua Terra, and thought asking for opinions might be a good way in either tracking one down, or getting better options

Well, it's here at last. Certainly not the most flawless rep of the 111h, but, certainly good enough for my requirements, and nothing that anyone I know would comment on, other than 'nice watch' (I caught two people checking it out yesterday in a bar )

Initial impressions...

Absolutely loved the strap and was glad to see that it had a 'thumbnail buckle' rather than the 'whale-tail' buckles, which, personally, I find uncomfortable between my hand and wrist, and I think look like they're 'trying too hard', so I was very pleased with the strap. I know I want a new strap, but, this will certainly suffice until then. The lume's not quite as green as I'd like, and, there is the recessed cannon pinion flaw, but neither of those are issues I'm concerned enough to want fixed. It's been on my wrist solidly since it arrived (other than photographic purposes) and I haven't once had the 'getitoffgetitoffgetitoff' feeling of PlanetOceanitis flaring up. My fiance said she prefered it on my wrist to my Planet Ocean, so, although that remains my favorite watch, this is certainly my new favorite substitute. Onto the photos

Angled shot to highlight dial cut-throughs:

Watch Porn :

Charging the lume:

Lume Shot:

Any comments or questions are most welcome. The watch was

Here's a sneak peak before the Big Reveal in the Panerai section

I never figured out why it's called a wife-beater.... I take it you don't have a wife

They're now refered to as 'wife-beater's as that's what a lot of Trailer Trash guys wear while, you've guessed it, beating their wives...

Soo, despite my PlanetOceanitis flaring up last night, this morning, there was a new arrival. Yes, the Panerai 111h I've been waiting on. I'd hoped it would arrive friday (as that was 7 days after I bought it), but, a miscommunication over shipping caused Monday to be the actual shipping day, so it arrived in precicely 7 days Thoughts and opinions... I rather like the dark brown strap it came on, and, best of all, it has one of the 'thumbnail' buckles rather than the 'whale-tail' buckles, which personally, I find a tad fetishistic and almost 'over compensatory'. The lume could do with work, but, reacts very well to UV and holds a charge nicely. There is also the common recessed cannon pinion problem, but I can't be bothered to get it worked on. Strange though, that the 111h I had to return for a faulty power reserve did not have the flaw

I wore the watch all day, and never had the 'getitoffgetitoffgetitoff' feeling that I wasn't wearing my Planet Ocean, and should be wearing it rather than anything else. Also, my fiance said she prefered how it looked on me to the Planet Ocean, so I can't really argue with that. Even though I am a self-confessed PAMophile, this is only going to be my 'casual watch' for jeans and T-shirts. Suits will still get the Omega treatment I'll try and get some actual photos of the watch tomorrow

I'm sure it's Monday somewhere in the world

It is here in the UK.

Just

Much as an SS bracelet lover myself, some watches just do not belong with SS bracelets... e.g. Radiomir, Fiddy.

Turning it around, try imagine wearing a sub on a leather strap...

You mean like this?

Or this?

Sorry folks, the PlanetOceanitis flared up again, so no prizes for guessing what's back on my wrist

Thanks, I expect my UPO 45 mm with pumpkin numbers (I recompared the two gens side by side and to my opinion the pumpkin numbers looks very beautiful) from PT. I will try to post pics once I receive it. The Silix PO looks nice, does it have the correct logo on it? it is not the Casino Royal version. Silix also sell a black leather strap with pumpkin stiches for the "UPO", they have it on the gen also (look at the omega website) this may fit the pumpkin nunbers version.

Hi, sorry for the delay. I'm not sure if the Silix PO has the correct logo on it. As for 'Casino Royale version', that depends entirely which watch you are talking about, as there are two which come under that catagory.

The 2900.50.91. The 'standard' Planet Ocean Big Size. Black bezel insert, white numerals. This is the watch Daniel Craig wore in Casino Royale, and the watch I have. There is also, however, a 'Casino Royale Limited Editon' variant. Essentially, the same watch as standard, but it has a different second hand, with 007 in pumpkin at the base of the hand, and has a case back which, rather than the Omega Seamonster, features the words Casino Royale. This is purely a marketting-created watch to appeal to collectors of Bond Memorabelia. Only problem, is Bond would never wear a watch with his serial number on it, and personally, I'd rather wear the watch which was featured in the movie

The black strap with pumpkin stitches fits very well with the pumpkin numbers, as the stitching and numbers complement each other. The only problem with this strap, is it has a 'square' end, and leaves the rest of the lug space 'open', where the Planet Ocean rubber strap (as Daniel Craig wore) fills up the lugs. At the end of the day, it's just a matter of personal taste

I have just got the x 33 replica from silix ,looks very good but did not coume with instructions, have managed to set hands to corect time , but do not know how to set the digital time etc , any help would be apreciated ! .I am new to replica watches very interested in space exploration have got a moonwatch replica with automatic movemet .

Robert

Sorry for the delay, but PM sent

I think it's going to be a casual few days, so this'll do me

Doesn't get as much wrist time as it deserves due to my PlanetOceanitis, but it's still a nice watch

(The strap's true color is as per the static shot rather than wrist shot)

I've noticed Chip Foose wear a red and black GMT Master II on occastion. Other times, I think he might wear a watch by Oakley.

Da's crazy.

Seriously, I'm just as OCD about my stuff only in reverse. I have instruction manuals around of electronics I don't even own any more -- some from gulp, almost 2 decades ago! (Like the mini-white portable TV I got when I was a kid). A Minolta camera I got 14 years ago still is in its original container, and has plastic all over it. It looks MINT.

I think I'm like this because both my scientist/absent-minded professor parents are careless people, to the point of vagueness. They ding, scratch, bang, and clunk, not to mention lose..., anything they get within minutes of acquiring it. It's ennervating.

I have to admit, somethings I do like to keep mint, others, I feel a little wear gives character

TeeJay, I went the diamond paste route, and bought some on *bay!

I couldn't find the TZ directed 3.0/1.4 microns, and just got the 3.5 micron diamond paste. Do you think I'll be all right?

I haven't ever used it, so I wouldn't like to say for sure if it'd be okay. One thing I would advise though, would be to mask off the watch case with electricians tape so the paste only affects the crystal, or you could wind up with a few extra polished spots on the case Best of luck

A few lilght scratches on a crystal are like the fine lines that accentuate the beauty of a woman's face: you can relate to that, can't you, Miss Barrett?

Something that looks too new, too perfect, lacks a bit of life, don't you think?

I quite agree. When I was younger, I used to feel that a watch wasn't really 'mine' untill it'd received a few dings. That said, that was when I was wearing Casios, not Omegas and Rolexes Now, I have the same philosophy, but my 'tollerance' for the dings has gone down... A few hair scratches on the crystal won't bother me (unless they obscure the lettering, hands or markers) but scratches on a bezel insert (especially ones removing the color) will bug me, and, although I'll still wear the watch till I can replace the insert, it is always something that irritates me to see, and something I always want to get fixed.

Someone on Biker Build-off once had a really extreme form of this, (it's not mine till it's scuffed up) almost to the point of OCD, and any time they got anything new, they would throw it on the floor so it would no longer be pristine, and they didn't have to worry about getting it scuffed up anymore. While I can understand their logic, personally, I think that's taking things a bit far

V: You could always buy a new PAM (on the cheap, of course ) and swap the crystals over until you can either repair yours, or aquire a sapphire replacement