PANERAI PAM000 ON CHEERGIANT STRAP

After wearing my PAM000 on Gunny Saree straps for sometime, decided to change it to another strap that I got from George of Cheergiant.

Ultrasoft brown calf strap.

Remember on my previous posting on Gunny Saree strap that I mentioned about 3 layered straps being thinner on the lug ends compared to 2 layers?

This is the comparison picture.

Top is Gunny Saree Strap and bottom is the Cheergiant calf strap.

The Cheergiant strap have been edge sealed so it is smoother than the rough and raw edges of the Gunny strap.

I liked both equally.

Just personal preference for some.

No advantages of one over the other, just cosmetically more pleasing. 

Remember to use the tubes supplied with the watch... it will protect your screw bars in the long term.

My watch did not come with any tubes.

Fortunately a good friend of mine gave me a pair as a gift.

It was thoughtful of him.

As the strap is thicker at the lug ends, once mounted, there are no gaps on the lugs.

Now THIS I like very much.

As Cheergiant does not have any sew in buckles, I ordered this strap without a buckle and decided to mount the OEM buckle instead. Perfect fit as usual.

Looks really good.

Straps are comfortable and looks really good.

Stitching work is top notch as usual.

I am happy that the threads for this strap is well waxed and it's not hairy like the strap for my Seiko Dracula.

Overall, I am extremely pleased with the strap.

For the price, there are no complaints and there's nothing more than I can ask for.

I have bought 5 straps so far from Cheergiant and each one have been excellent to say the least.

I can see myself being a long term customer of Cheergiant... :-)

SAREE SERIES STRAP BY GUNNY

Once I got my PAM000, the 1st strap that I purchased was from Peter Gunny.

The Saree Series strap in Taupe colour and black stitching.

Thick and soft.

Raw and rough edges... I like this look.
Strap is 4mm thick in 3 layers.
Meaning the outer layer (Taupe colour) is a rather thin leather sandwiching a thicker middle layer.

Which makes the lug end of the strap thin.
This is the picture with the tubes installed.

And when mounted, there will be gaps on the lugs.
I don't really like that... But that's just me.
From now on, I will stick to 4mm thick straps but only 2 layers.
Lesson learned, moving on.

Sewn in flat buckle.

Straps are really comfortable.
The supple and soft leather does not exude any pressure when wearing.
After wearing a couple of times, it will sort of mould it's curve to your wrist.

Despite the things that I don't like, it remains a very nice strap and I really like it.
I have been wearing the watch with this strap for over 3 weeks now and it's comfortable.
This is my 1st nice strap and I believe there will be more that I will purchase from Peter Gunny.
I also got one B42 waterproof strap for my Brother in Law as a Xmas present and I can't review that because I did not have any usage experience with it.
Overall, I am satisfied with this strap.

PANERAI LUMINOR BASE LOGO PAM000

This is the last watch for me this year... I think.
I like this one more than the PAM005 earlier.
This is more true to the heritage of Panerai watches.

The Panerai Luminor Base Logo PAM000.
Watch is as bare bones as they come.
Only 2 hands... hours and minutes.

Huge 3,6,9,12 sausage style painted numerals.
Legibility is 2nd to none I would suspect.

Case is 44mm and comes with Panerai's famous patented crown guard which locks the crown in place providing a guaranteed water resistance rating of 300m.

I really like the Logo on the dial.
It wouldn't be complete if a base Panerai watch does not have a logo.
The logo itself is stylized OP (Officine Panerai) with arrows pointing up and down means that Panerai watches are made to conquer the highest skies and the deepest depths of the seas... Funny thing is there is no Panerai Pilot's Watch... :-)

Part of the charm of owning a Panerai is the watch's uncanny ability to look good with a variety of straps and colours.
I have the watch currently mounted on a Gunny Saree series strap.
(Will review the strap in a separate post)

I find the watch big and brash.
Well made and well built tool watch.
Movement is of course nothing much to shout about.
Manual winding. Just give it a few twirls, set the time and go.
It does look the part of a tough watch... and also feels like a tough watch.
Alot of complaints are on Panerai pricing strategy... but I think an entry level piece like this is enough.
Let the hardcores deal with the Special Editions and Limited Editions.
I find myself wearing this one when I couldn't care less about having to be careful of scratching it.