1 piece NATO straps

The people at DaLuca straps have released a 1-pice NATO strap handmade from Horween Chromexcel leather. The straps are 270mm long and comes in various sizes from 18mm to 26mm. The hardware on the straps is either polished or PVD black. The edges have a raw finish. The thing I like about the straps is the colours.....

I just love the colours....

Photographs: DaLuca Straps.

For more information:

1 piece NATO straps

DaLuca Spontagio strap

The "Spontagio" watchstrap that I bought comes from DaLuca Vintage Strap collection. It was handcrafted from a vintage Swiss Military Ammo Pouch that dates back to the 1960s. It was cut in a way that shows some of the original stitching from over 50 years ago and includes that original stitching in the strap.

The strap measures 24 mm wide and is constant through the length. It is 3 mm thick throughout as well. The strap measures 82 mm on the buckle side and 140 mm on the other side. It is dark brown in colour. It has 5 holes for the buckle and the holes sit in the middle of the strap. The strap comes with a single floating strap keeper. All the straps (24 mm at least) are tested on actual Panerai watch for fit and look. 

This strap was 100% hand stitched using a 2-needle saddle stitch method. It would have been nice if DaLuca had matched the colour of the threads to the original stitching found on the strap.

The strap is well made and finished. There are no traces of glue or tool marks on the strap. Although it looks ‘tough’ the strap is very comfortable when worn and sits well around the wrist. There is no need to ‘shape’ the strap before you use it. It is actually very supple.

The 'notch' you see in the centre hole is because of the pin buckle and not a defect.

The underside of the strap has an ‘unfinish’ feel to it. It looks raw and rough, but it is smooth and comfortable. It is also stamped with the DaLuca logo, although it is a tad light and hard to see.

The lightly brushed buckle includes a hand engraved DaLuca logo on the top left hand corner. The buckle is of the historical GPF Mod Dep design that was used in some of the original Panerai watches and dive compasses.  It is engraved with the ‘GPF-Mod Dep’ legend on the under side of the buckle. DaLuca has given the buckle a ‘used’ or vintage feel to the buckle. As with the original buckle, it is sewn into the strap.

Tubes (2 off) are included with the straps.

The interesting thing about DaLuca Straps is each watchstrap is backed with a lifetime warranty that is 100% transferable from owner to owner via 2nd hand sales. Something you don’t see very often. 

Overall, I like the strap and how it feels on the wrist. 

For more information:

DaLuca Straps

How to put on a NATO strap

Here is an interesting video courtesy of DaLuca Straps on how to put on a NATO strap. In this video, the NATO strap is fitted onto a Panerai watch. This is the first time I have seen a Panerai fitted with a NATO strap. Enjoy.

How to put on a NATO strap

DaLuca Straps

Finally ordered my first DaLuca Straps strap. I ordered one of the straps from the Vintage Watch straps collection. Which one did I order? Well, we will have to wait and see. It should be here in about 10 days time and I can't wait. Full review once I get the strap. 

By the way, they are currently having a Pre-Summer Clearance Sale. For more information:

DaLuca Straps

DaLuca Panerai Straps

I just put in my order for the Panerai Assolutamente strap for my PAM00367. Sadly the local boutique told me that it will take about 2 months to get the strap. Emmm.. looks like I may need to get another strap to satisfy my thirst for a new strap. 

Before we go any further, the Assolutamente (absolutely in Italian) is the stressed strap that comes with the limited/ special boutique edition Panerai. I like the look of the strap. The model number for the straps:

MX006ZBZ: standard length tang buckle

MX006ZC5: XL length tang buckle

Anyway I was looking at DaLuca straps, especially their collection of Panerai straps. I have to say that the straps looks very interesting. All their straps are one of a kind and they use premium leather. The straps are made in San Diego and the best part is that they do test the straps they make on a Panerai for look and fit. The straps also comes with the screw tubes and the models I am interested in, comes with sewn-in polished buckle. I wonder if they they can change the buckle to the GPF Mod Dep type. Perhaps I will need to look at their Custom Watch strap option. 

They also have vintage watch straps, made from vintage leather that DaLuca source from all over the world. These straps have a distressed older worn look. Interesting. The straps I was looking at are the following:

Despair.

Sevilla de Anco.

Smokehaus.

Spontagio.

Vulan.

Photographs: DaLuca Straps

Have a look at their website for other straps that they have. 

DaLuca Panerai Straps

DaLuca Straps

DaLuca Straps, based out San Diego, Ca in the US was founded in 2009 and creates 1 of a kind, handmade, individually named watchstraps for Panerai and other high-end watches. The company offers an alternative to the original strap that comes with your watch and also to other strap available in the market.

They can turn custom watchstrap orders around in 1-2 days. DaLuca Straps use vintage ammo pouches from Switzerland, Sweden, Germany and many other countries. Many of the ammo pouches they use, dates back to the early 1900s.

They have also started to create Croc watchstraps. Best of all DaLuca Straps are constantly looking for unique sources of leather in the shape of belts, jackets, boots and other leather based products to create their standard 1 of a kind watch straps.

The watch straps they produce comes in the standard 22, 24 and 26 mm and are based on the Panerai design. They also offers straps for B&R watches.

In a natural progression, they are proud to introduce their newest products in their belt line, which use the finest strap leather in the world, which come from Sweden. The leather belts are completely handmade as are the alligator, croc and lizard belts.

For more information:

DaLuca Straps 

A sample of their watch straps. You can see that the design is based on the popular straps used on a particular Italian/ Swiss watch brand. 

Neuchatel.

Silver Wings.

Smokehaus.

Sylgon V.

The Orb.

I do like some of the straps that they have for Panerai watches as shown below:

Belp

Cognolivo

Spontagio

Photographs: DaLuca Straps

A sample from their Belt Line. I guess once you are tired of the belt, you could send it back to DaLuca Straps and they can turn it into a watch straps.

Photographs: DaLuca Straps

How to make a strap

Firstly I have to thank the people at DaLuca Straps for sharing this video on how to make a watch strap. It is interesting to watch. For more information:

http://www.dalucastraps.com/

The link to the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAelAHcT7LA&feature=player_embedded

You can view the video on their website as well. Just click on the Watch Strap Video tab on the header.