Here's a rundown of the "who's who" of straps:
example: size for a regular wrist on a 44mm watch (24mm lugs) is 115/75 24/22. long would be 120/95 24/22.
115/75 regular size:
115mm = long side with buckle holes
75mm = short side with buckle attachment
120/95 long size:
120mm = long side with buckle holes
95mm = short side with buckle attachment
24 = width at top lugs
22 = width at buckle end
strap prices:
$ VALUE = $25-70
$$ MID = $75-125
$$$ EXPENSIVE = $130-250
strap makers:
OEM Panerai - best straps made-pressed and rolled sides $$$
ABP Paris - rare hides like frog, beaver, snake, eel, bone croc , python etc $$$
Camille Fournet Paris - connolly leather, pigskin, lamb, ostrich etc $$$
Dirk - toughest seawaterproof straps $$
Don - lower value but nice croc, gator, calf $
Enzo - lower value calf line $
Mario Paci - original Panerai OEM strap maker now limited series $$$
Sirtoli - nice leather straps value priced $
Banda - value line of croc grain, calf, shark $ - $$
TC - shark, buffalo, karung snake, ostrich, calf, chicken leg, many brands $-$$-$$$
Strapworks - Fusion line is a bond of calf and rubber $
Walterstrap - nice croc, gator, stingray, pangolin, monitor lizard $$
Taikonaut - mid priced line of everything $$
DinoZei - now called Strapmasters, Spartacus straps, gators, thick "dirk" style $$
Europelli - sports balls, bomber jacket, carbon, shell cordovan $$
BigB - OEM Panerai, Hermes designer leather, racer hole straps $$$
Wojtecki - Pre-W straps w/ Pre-V buckles. closest to OEM vintage $$
jetan - BWB bigwatchboutique. mid priced calf, blackseal, gators $$
adam-co - OEM parts and straps $$$
strap dealers:
TC TimeConnection : Elliot runs the viapaneristi site and owns tcstraps.com and is the premier dealer for Dirk and Mario Paci straps. carries ABP, Camille Fournet, and many others.
--contact: www.tcstraps.com
Europelli : Drew Watson. super great guy. nice selection of interesting leathers like basketball, football, bomber jacket, shell cordovan, carbon fiber, Alligator. discounts for repeat orders.
--contact: www.europelli.com
Acetimer : Anthony is in California. very nice value priced line of embossed leathers, genuine crocs, gators, sharks. ships quick.
--contact: www.acetimer.com or BANDA direct at: www.banda.com
Strapworks : Jonathan Kui. nice guy. has a line called FUSION where they bond rubber to leather. very neat. value priced.
--contact: www.strapworks.com
BigB : dealer for OEM straps at good prices. also gets designer leathers and makes them into straps like Hermes, Louis vuitton, Coach, etc. has the Metta Catherina 150 yr old Russian leather straps. very COOL.
--contact: bigb1124@aol.com website: watches24seven.com
Walterstrap : SMAT is the maker. sells as pam2pam on paneristi. best crocs and gators next to OEM. pressed edging, very detailed. neat materials like monitor lizard, pangolin, etc.
--contact: pamorelse@yahoo.com
Taikonaut : sells at Pluto on paneristi. lots of mid prices straps. sells in lots at times. Ostrich, snake, military suede, calf, snakes. thick and flat sided.
--contact: www.taikonaut-time.com
DinoZei : Meyers Jewelry. jeff and valerie meyer. exclusive seller for these tough as nails straps. everyone comes numbered and with a pre-V buckle. have the "Spartacus" line of fat leather wristband type straps.
--contact: valerie@meyerjewelry.com website: www.meyerjewelry.com
Wojtecki - Closest to the Vintage OEM 24/24 line you can get. pressed edging, thick, sewn in Pre-V buckles. and all for about $99. unbeleivable value. OEM PAV Straps run about $275-300 and they make less than 300 per year. these rival the PAV's for sure!!!
--contact: nowa@tiscali.se
jetan - BigWatchBoutique BWB forum moderator. nicest Blackseals next to OEM. lots of screw in buckles like OEM style and Pre-V. ships form Asia. good value but sometimes overpriced. sells same straps as TCstraps.
--contact: jetan@easternwatch.com website: www.bigwatchforum.com/boutique
Adam-Co - Mike in in Tel-Aviv and somehow gets ahold of lots of OEM parts like crown bridges, dials, movements, and toms of OEM Panerai Straps. usually priced at retail or about $5 below. but he gets stuff nobody else can.
--contact: adam777@netvision.net.il
I've probably missed a few but these are all folks I have presonally dealt with from time to time.
Recommended straps:
Camille Fournet Tan Connolly white stitch (closest to OEM Tantalum w/o $200 tag)
OEM Blackseal (comes on the PAM195 and the PAM127 aka 1950)
Metta Catherina 150 yr old Russian leather (just plain F'n cool)
Wojtecki Pre-W strap in Congac (exactly like PAV Vintage strap)
TC shark in mustard (very soft and supple)
TC eel in burgundy (slick and classy)
OEM honey Alligator white stitch (best Gator strap in the world!!!)
Taikonaut bone croc in light-brown (saw this on a PAM196 and it was off-da-chizzy)
OEM Gold semi-mat calf (standard on the 111 & 113-everyone should have one)
