Tiny holes on OEM strap?

[rogerthat]

Somehow this new OEM JV strap I just picked up has tiny little holes compared to the standard shape and size holes.

The problem is the tiny holes will not fit a standard Pam deployant nor a standard Pam buckle tongue.

As you can see on the 2nd picture, there is some minor strap damage as a result of a previous owner using the standard Pam deployant on these tiny holes.

Curious if anyone has seen this before.

I assume I would in theory have 3 options:

a.) have the holes re-punched to be the correct size/shape (could be very difficult to do and not damage the strap, I did reach out to Big Chief, a strap maker in the US and it was not something he could do)

b.) buy a 20Mm tang buckle with a very thin tongue/pin ; Breitling style for example may work as I believe Breitling leather straps have small holes

c.) buy some type of deployant that does not attach via holes, again I think Breitling style deployant's work in this manner.

Guess I kind of know my options and can look at Panatime.com

for these solutions just mainly curious if anyone has ever seen this before? And why would Panerai have made a strap like this in the first place???

[lfovco]

I recently purchased this punch set. It works really well and you can make standard Panerai shape holes.

http://watchbitz.com...8;productId=276 - rwg forum members get a very good discount as well.

Also that strap does not look like a genuine OEM Panerai strap at all (hope I'm wrong). I have never seen small round holes in any Panerai strap.

Edited March 14, 2012 by lfovco

[rogerthat]

I will look at that but worried about damaging the strap further

Strap is genuine found the dealer listing of oem straps and buckles

27/20 Nubuck was sold for folding buckle (deployant) and also for ardillion buckle part pav00567

The ardillion buckle version at this size comes with the tiny holes apparently

Since I likely won't find nor want to pay for a gen buckle and I don't think they rep those skinny Pam buckles, I will need to experiment with some different types of tang buckles I think

[lfovco]

Ahh, cool... that's good it's a gen strap. Not sure if it would really damage it a lot if you punch through existing holes, I have never done it. I only added holes.

Hopefully you end up with a good solution.