V

Thanks guys for the kind words.. I was certain that someone would comment abotu the prices of the buckles. Are they normal? Do they worth it for a small piece of steel? Again in everything else in life price is relevant to rarity and demand. That's why Vintage Panerai watches go for 100.000$+ and if the watch's value is 100K it makes great sense to me the buckle to worth 2K.

Well since there is a lot of talk about GPF Mod Dep buckles lately and since I have became an expert in the field I decided to share some of my knowledge with my fellow members. Those buckles are very important in the history of Panerai and it is also I think an interesting read. These are the following types of GPFModDep buckle available (photos are taken from the web + my own): 1) Vintage GPF buckle found on 40's-50's watches on leather straps This is the buckle found on the vintage watches attached on a leather strap. It has a brushed finish. These sell on vintage straps for up to 2000$ but they are extremely difficult to find. 2) Vintage GPF buckles found on Compasses and instruments on nylon straps These are the genuine SANDBLASTED buckles found on compasses and mostly attached on velcros. These normally sell from 1000-1500$ but they are also very difficult to find. This is my latest acquisition and i love it: more photos 3) Strapmasters GPF Here is the controversy.. Strapmasters claim that they took original old compass buckles and they refinished them. A very important collector was involved in the process for more credibility. They are claimed as reps because it seems: 1. the buckles were laser cut because they have round inside corners something that is not obviously correct for even the 70's.. 2. the font is completely different than anything vintage and finally 3. there was NEVER posted a photo of one of those straps attached to either a velcro or vintage strap. plus some other small details as inside measurements etc... They were sold not long ago for 700-800$ each until the controversy pushed the Psti forum owners to forbit the sale of such items. Not very difficult to find. I have two of them... one in 26mm sandblasted and one in 24mm polished. Photos on the original straps: 4) REP - Kevin/Adeeos GPF buckle Not much to say here.. Kevin has replicated (very accurately) the original vintage GPF Mod Dep buckles (Nr 1) and he sells them attached to his Ammo straps for special customers. 5) REP - TC's GPF Mod Dep Again nothing more to say here.. E's has repped the Nr 3 buckles. So probably they are the rep of the reps

David that is an INSULT !!!!! For those who know something more about GPF, he repped probably the bad rep of Strapmasters.. This Vintage brushed one (not my sandblasted) has only be repped by Kevin/Adeeos for use with some of his Ammo straps to specific customers. When I will have some time I will make a nice interesting post about GPF Mod Dep buckles and the controversy about them.

NEVER!

I think up to 5$-60$ is perfect. At least that is what I voted.

This combo all weekend:

Thanks my friend.. Some of the Strapmasters are really nice straps and indeed the smell of the SImona straps is amazing

What about my 196? THis is the FIRST EVER 196 7750 sold on the old Rwg from Tommy for 400$ in the beginning of 2005

Yes this is perfect

Thanks Warren.. I do love it too.. Very old skool with the extreme tail. It is a 170/90 strap

Looks nice my friend Wear it well.

Yeap..

Well I wouldn't expect everyone to understand what that is, especially from someone with a Rolex in his avatar I can agree that visually it is not the best combo but historic and value wise it cannot be better

Well, I am still thinking of it.. I might get a nice cleaner large scale one and not one so gnarly and boney because it has cleaner straighter stitching and less crooked holes. We'll see

Thanks Bruce.. Simona's strap are very nice.. not the best out there but still very nice

OK.. but I might be a bit anxious and get another one before that happens.

Why me? I didn't get it so we 're in the same boat

Thanks guys for your kind words.. Yes I know this would be more appropriate on a vintage Angelus project but the 112 is my favourite watch and it should have gone there. The 112 is modern but with a historic look not the contemporary the automatics like the 104 for example has. This sandblasted buckle being quite dull I think it would be PERFECT for a titanium base like the 176 or the 036. As far as the leather I think my process on this strap has been 100% succesful with a very nice result

Yeap.. I got this as a wallpaper for tha last week.. 112 BASE rules

Thanks.. that was my reaction when I opened the package this morning

My buckle strap grail it is.. A 100% genuine (no doubts blah blah blah) GPF-Mod Dep buckle from a Vintage Panerai Compass that was attached on a velcro Extremely expensive but with the amounts of money the vintage Pams cost I think it is a good investment to have one. I have put it on my V Dark Ammo style strap in 26/26 and since it is butter soft it squeezed nicely through the 44mm lugs of my 112 So my 112 will have some actual WWII element to it and not only my war to change my son's nappy I only need to find a nice khaki thread and re-stitch it and it will be finished I think...

So this strap is 115/75 and not 135/80? Edit: Forget it.. I misread what frogfalls said. THey are all 135/80

GREAT

Can I have it please if you are not in love with it? (worths it a try )

Hey.. you bought it? I asked Seth and requested paypal adress and then it was sold