Victoria

would look good on a 089, I think

Interesting! It certainly is one of your more intricate PAM models, but I think the PAM 111/PAM 112 are a perfect match for this strap.

Jawo has a similar one on his PAM 111h, only by HKTAN, which he showed TeeJay earlier.

When this Toscana croc strap gains patina, it'll be the bomb. Notice, no outside stitchwork to take away from the eye's perspective from the croc.

Looks to me like you got the wrong strap. If you would like to pm me and i can contact Seth for you. People lets not forget that I am a distrubutor of these straps and usually offer great prices to forum members

I would be purchasing these from you right and left, but for the problem that I have gotten a HORRENDOUS smelling strap that actually seeped into my 8-watch case, and affected the way the other, costly straps smell too. Ugh, I've tried everything to get that smell out.

And that was the replacement strap. I even wondered if they sent me the evil-smelling replacement on purpose...

I know StrapCulture straps look awesome. With your discount, they are worth the price. But without it? No way. Awful, tough leather in the Radiomir line.

I have one too. How do you like it? I really like his work.

It's on its way to me, so I'll let you know later. Looks interesting.

Why can't all nations adapt to the metric system, drive on the right hand side, and read time in military standard (instead of pm and am)?

That would make sense to me!

Beware! Beware! The New World Order Lord Sith!! Other than George HW Bush obviously.

(Can you actually believe there are people who believe this crap?)

P.S.: I don't mind Metric, but I prefer Imperial, and Metric confuses me to this day. I don't see cultural variations to be problems. If you adopt this, then why stop there?

How about if we all have PAL or NTSC or SECAM? We have 8 Regions now.

Or if we all use the same eletrical plugs? OR the same currency for that matter.

I genuinely do not understand why people find all these differences terribly exasperating. It's like complaining why don't we all eat the same food.

Because folks is diff'rent. *shrug*

I should've known you'd like that one. It's my wifes gen and I think you'd have a hard time ripping it off of her wrist.

She has GREAT taste, as if you didn't know.

Funny thing with her is that she won't touch a rep. yet....

Don't start her on this dastardly path!! Less rep watches for you!

I was thinking more Monty Hall

Thanks for looking

I'll take what's behind door Number 3. Oh My God. It's Charles Nelson Reilly on a camel!

Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice!

I do have a Franck Muller Conquistador from a few yrs ago that is really close imo to a gen and the mvm't is great or should I say the same as the gen. Too bad it never gets any wrist time.

You know who loves Frank Mullers? The Risti folk. They seem to show them in their wrist-checks every week, and one chap posted he received in the post a brand-new (gen obviously ) Conquistador only two days ago. Showed the box and everything.

Very pretty watch. I may just have to get me one of those, AA1.

No offence to anyone there, but their wrist-checks are not as imaginative, or well-photographed as ours. Not even close.

@Vbarret - 130 straps!! That's incredible! I have about 20 and wonder what the heck I'm doing. I still keep buying them though.

When I said 130 straps I was being, as ever, conservative. Maybe more...I don't want to know. Just got a Delaurian yesterday night...

I know it's not like someone died or anything. Sorry everybody...I just needed to blow off some steam.

Dude, don't knock yourself. That's what this forum is for.

My suggestion is AFTER you check to see if the original seller may not help you out (you're in luck if it was Andrew or Joshua)...

...is to get another one, just like it. Maybe you had a good one, but this was your favourite and you will miss it. Keep this one for spare parts, which might come in handy.

Sorry, love. Happened to me already, and it broke me heart (for a day or so).

Actually, I will love this brand-new Toscana Light Chestnut Bone Crocodile strap a very SHORT time, as it's on its way to its rightful owner, TeeJay! Promise kept!

Here's a little preview, a mini-Caper if you will, since I would never mount it on one of my PAM 111hs, even if just to show him how it would look. But I thought he might like a sneak peak.

The overall quality is GOOD.

The croc Toscana one I got from Rolli is completely different, being more glossy and though more expensive than this one (albeit by a few dollars), I think this is perfect for a classy every-day strap, but not sombre and formal.

The colour is somewhere between dark honey and molten gold, but it is much thinner in the "long" end than I anticipated. So thin, I wonder if one can wear it with a Panerai deployant?

So guess what, TeeJay? Just in case you don't have one, I am throwing in a Diver strap with deployant for your use, as well as a Pre-V Panerai buckle.

And maybe another strap, but which one is a surprise! Just let me know your colour preferences.

Now you see???

Out of the 3, which one do you like? The old, new, or H series (last one)

I'd be lying to you if I knew exactly what was wrong, but that's the one I like best. Tell her what prize she gets, Don Pardo.

Love love the watch. But Jesper's eternal stovepipe-Teddy Boys-Mick Jagger trousers have GOT to go.

(They're as annoying as the late Payne Stewart's "knickers")

Again, one of the many former boyfriends?

Boris Johnson, Conservative MP for my dad's hometown of Henley-on-Thames.

Think of your country's most outlandish, outspoken, outrageous but yet lovable politician. That's BoJo.

(My hair is also wispy fine, but I can't get it to be like his...not sure if that's good or bad)

Boris confusing soccer for rugger.

Boris = Legend.

This photo did nothing for me.

But I suggest contacting Narikaa for his delectable Hublot Big Bang Aspen.

Just one word, Dave -- RED!

Oh, and welcome to the forum, of course.

Sometimes I like to relate the rep collecting from watches to art. Everyone knows you can't really buy an original Matisse, but if you were able to obtain a facsimilie, you'd probably hang it on your wall and people would admire it for its' beauty, not its' authenticity.

Kinda like how no one asks you, "nice watch. Is that real?"

I think a lot more people would question me (in my own home!) if I were to hang a Picasso on my walls.

Heck, even a Hockney.

BTW, just to throw this out there -- as I observed the other day to my boyfriend, it is women who keep the replica business afloat.

For every guy who buys a Breitling Navi TT, there have been two decades worth of women who have bought fake Le Must de Cartier watches and fake Christian Dior bags.

I remember them being very big in the mid-1980s. My mother had a local rep bag seller who actually went to gaol shortly after the big crackdown (late 1980s-early 1990s?).

Somewhere I read that Aldo Gucci would go up to American women in NYC, and question them about their bags. If he found a fake, he would chastise them very strongly, but in that gallant Italian way -- "Nonono", shaking his finger.

I like how the OEM calf fits on me. It's also buttery soft and doesn't show stress lines. Do you find yourself using the two much, or do you have literally A KATRILLION straps?!?!?

I'm nearing 130 straps now. With that kind of strap rotation, even if some are now "married" to certain PAMs, it's hard to get any patina on them.

Speaking of V, his fabulous Greek hide is still as light beige as it was when I first received it. It just doesn't get more than a fortnight's wrist-time, but that's all right! Knowing I have these straps, makes me feel good.

P.S.: Agreed about the softness, and lack of stress lines on my OEM calf. The OEM calf black looks MINT, but it was worn by a gen 112 owner for a year.

Maxmillian, this may be THE PERFECT strap for the PAM 082.

It makes the blue of the dial (already so beautiful) POP OUT. It's wonderful. Guess what? I'm interested in getting a blue-faced PAM now.

Gosh, thanks.

P.S.: OH! I see you got those two "lines" to the sides of the stitching too. I thought it was only me.

Of course I won't mind.

Whew, getting that poll sorted was like giving birth!

But in your case, do you mind answering the same question, but in strap form?

Sure!

And yes, you can include aftermarket high quality straps in the category of "gens" as well.

I buy OEM straps to legitimise the look of my reps. There. My honest answer.

Whilst I saw how nice the OEM Bordeaux was in the Orlando Bloom Fiddy thread, and how much I personally like the look and feel of the OEM calf tan which Raymond searched for DAYS to buy, I cannot say they afford me the same pleasure as a PAV 91 or a Simona Cherry Bordeau.

In fact, the OEMs are no where close to quality and looks as the aftermarket straps, that I have seen.

Since I got into straps because of my Panerai interest, I by force got into aftermarket straps first. After quickly buying the OEM calf tan and OEM calf black, I have no interest in OEM Rivas, and the like.

I'd rather save for more Pacis or a really nice V strap.

A poll where we determine just how RWGers react to genuine versus replica watches. Perpetual Poll.

Multiple Choice possible.

See --> Anton's post or Dieselpower's post for replies.

My first rep was a Rolex DJ with a jubile band and silver face (in 1989, a very crappy rep), I bough my first gen, the exact same model, two years later

I'm going to post a Poll-only thread regarding this phenomenon. Hope Anton won't mind!

My answer is yes. For many years I bought only gens. Then I bought only reps. Now I am buying fewer reps and the occasional gen. But I will say this much. I only buy gens that are not easily copied now.

Personality-wise, I seem to be closest to Kruzer00 in this.

He already predicted that I would buy a Panerai gen sooner than later, and I fully intend to next year (God willing). I NEVER would've bought a gen Panerai, if I hadn't already bought 16 PAM reps and counting.

I guess like so many people, I'm tired of the minor and some major "issues" one has to deal with in the replica watch world.

Things I love about reps:

- COST

- Good cosmetic similarity

- Decent movements

- Peace of mind in losing/or having one stolen (though it doesn't lessen fears of being mugged)

- Having found a great forum like RWG!

Things I hate about reps:

- The lack of quality control and general HASSLE of the rep world

- The feelings of scuzziness in dealing with an underground activity

- Nitpicking details; incorrect or hard-to-service movements (which take away from ultimate enjoyment the more knowledgeable you become)

- Increased risk of being mugged (as recently heard on RWI), whereas before we weren't able to buy SO MANY expensive watches

Unlike Kru, I'm going to continue buying reps and not thin out my collection FOR NOW. It's fun and you can have unimagined variety in watches.

But like Kru, I am also going to start buying more gens of those I genuinely like and admire, as time goes on.

I have no problems with paying a comparative king's ransom for a gen watch I could get on the cheap, because I honestly believe that intellectual property is not to be dismissed as mere capitalist excess. There is nothing wrong with charging a high price if you believe your R&D, your marque's high performance record and history demand said price.

But not being rich, I cannot do so.

Should there ever be a serious crackdown with the hobby, however, I wouldn't have any problems with that either.

No word on the mistress.

LOL.

First, thanks World Traveller! A good read.

Yes, a very interesting article, but not too in-depth. I wonder how in-depth one can make such things, but it strikes me that without Chinese investigative reports WITHIN China exploring the piracy issue, it will never be solved or controlled.

The real failing of the East is not quality control, customer service, and little white lies which foment such problems for us on RWG -- but the very real problem of institutionalised bribery.

Bribery exists in any country, from the US to Japan. But public accountability and systemic breakdowns are what separate the First World from still "developing countries", and always will.

Haven't you ever wondered if our collectors slipped EMS officials a little extra so that certain packages could go on their merry way quicker, and more safely, than others?

BTW, World Intellectual Property Day? I see a funeral pyre of DVDs, CDs and Rolexes going up in flames in Shenzen Town Centre, you? OMG, Kyoto Treaty abuse, run for the hills!

P.S.: Anyone wonder how much money our collectors will make during the Beijing Olympics IN China? Everything is pointing to a greater crackdown during that time. That and other already mentioned factors, and I'm not now surprised they've been raising prices right-and-left.

Get it, whilst you can.

...But Victoria, how are you?

Guys, thank you for your concern.

It turns out it's a little more complicated than we anticipated. Without going into personal details, it seems it's a reaction to some medication I have been taking this past month. Certainly touching petroleum-based products like Cape Code Cloth, and the added misuse of leather conditioners, and diamond paste in a short span, didn't help -- but it wasn't that, apparently.

Part of me still contends it was, because the problem started on my hands, which became reddish and full of bumps the day after using these products. Being vain, I inspect my body thoroughly every morning and night, as many women do. I didn't notice ANY problems save for my hands, that day. Unfortunately, I'm not in a position to argue with medical doctors, so there we are.

Bottom line is, I am dealing with a problem which will be around for 2-6 weeks.

Those of you who are physicians probably already know what that is, and those who don't, and have made it up to here, are probably just going, "Gee, Vic, hope all is well, but don't bore us any more with all this."

Don't worry. I won't.

And thanks for all your help, DBR, Sssurfer! I appreciate all the good wishes and prayers thrown my way.

I still wear this 42mm diameter baby often! Look at the airplane propellor!!

42mm Pilot watch. Yup, an Art Deco masterpiece. At least once a week I've been wearing this for 7+ years.

:wub:

Scary Germans and their navigational mirror reverse dials. Scary Waffen ".." dial.

But something about it draws one...I hate how Fascists have the most alluring uniforms and symbols (consciously, of course).

I am also reminded of Sssurfer calling people "fascist enthusiasts" in the case of that horrid new Panerai-type watch. Well, I'm afraid I may qualify, because I collect WWII German memoribilia (don't worry, I understand what you meant, Sssurfer!).

Some of that attitude is present in Bernard-Henry Levy's book on exploring the US, in the footsteps of Alexis de Toqueville, "American Vertigo".

He went to a military memoribilia convention, you know the kind of thing (not very common in Europe, as you can imagine, but VERY common in the US and Canada), and walked away disgusted.

Well, everything he saw in America disgusted him, but this one really did.

He wondered out loud if the people who collect WWII German military watches, etc., secretly had a yen to put them on?

I presume he meant "do the funny walk", and give Hitlergrus, whilst wearing their collectibles...oh boy.

Some people just will never understand.

Oh, my. That is spectacular!!!

For the past 10 minutes, since I clicked on the thread, I've been looking at Euno's photos. Just phenomenal...you're lucky EUNO. A military watch AND a Breguet.

Rarely am I jealous. I am jealous now!

@Eunomians: Did I ever tell you that I thought you were a Yukio Mishima type -- err, that is a Imperial Japanese military enthusiast? I honestly thought, when I first joined, that you were Japanese (in Japan), who had a love of the quasi-samurai ethic!