Panerai Strap Review – DaLuca Straps “Neuchatel”

Introduction

This my first review on a series of DaLuca Straps that I recently purchased. Right off the bat this strap is a bit different than most of the ones I have seen around and that’s what caught my eye. I mean one of the biggest reasons that we decide to buy Panerai watches other than their beauty is that fact that with one watch you can turn it into hundreds of different watches with a quick change of the strap. This strap brings so many flavors to the plate that I don’t know where to start. The fact that the material is from Neuchatel was important too…

Looks

Seeing the strap on DaLuca’s site, I ordered the strap expecting it to have a bit more of a yellow/brown tone to it. However, upon opening the package, I was quite surprised to see that it was a rather natural color, which turned out to be even better than expected – working well with any outfit. Everyone’s seen the standard ammo strap with marks indicating the various armies around the world; but how often can you say that you’ve seen an ammo strap that’s flipped inside out? In other words, the strap shows off the manufacturing company’s seal, which happens to be from Neuchatel, Switzerland. To me, this was particularly great becuase my PAM 312 features a movement also assembeled in Neuchatel! This rough-out strap is amazing because of it’s minimal stitching, all topped off with a brushed DaLuca Etched Pre-V buckle (tubes included).

[slickr-flickr tag=”neuchatel” type=”galleria”]

Comfort

Because this strap is still very new, I’m still in the process of breaking it in. We all know that generally speaking, a thicker strap is going to take a longer time to break in – eventually wearing “just right”. DaLuca doesn’t include any conditioner with the strap, beleiving that each owner has a unique preference in what type to use, if at all. The top side of the strap is so soft that it’s actually quite hard to keep from running my fingers over it. Interestingly enough, the inner sides of the strap also features the rough-out material because no liner was applied. Although a strange sensation to wear at first, I’m sure he leather will soften up, adding to the comfort! This strap is by no means uncomfortable, but will surely need my love and attention like a new baseball glove getting ready for a long season out on the field.

Durability

Based on looks alone you can tell this is a rugged strap that can take a beating. One thing to keep in mind is that these straps are made with 60+ year old leather so they are definitely going to be more delicate then something made today. Even with that being the case the construction of this strap is very well done and it goes to show you that the amount of effort that was put into making this strap. The only thing that I can find at the moment that makes me worry about the durability is the keeper. It’s a bit on the thin side for such a rugged and thick strap. But not to worry DaLuca stands behind every strap they make with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If for any reason a problem arises they say they will take care of the problem within a day and have it right back out to you and they pick up the tab on shipping. Second hand buyer? Well apparently the warranty carries over to the next person so you can sell it and buy it with 100% confidence. Can’t go wrong with that for durability. Of course we will have more to say on this topic after some good wear and tear.

Overall Impressions

Being a fan of ammo straps, I wanted to stick to the vintage leather while achieving a different look. For me, the “Neuchatel” was the perfect choice to achieve just that. Having owned many ammo straps, I can say that DaLuca did a great job in sourcing this particular leather – it’s simply high quality! It is going to take me some time to get used to the natural leather underside of teh strap, but overall I think this strap is a good purchase to let some personality shine through. I’ve already gotten compliments from friends, coworkers, and even strangers due to its unique look!

Good

Competely unique and different
Soft suede like leather with manufacturers markings
Natural untreated leather that will patina nicely over time
Incluses buckle and tubes
DaLuca backs their product 100% (transferable warranty)

Bad

Stiff, but all straps need breaking in
Keeper seems to be a bit thin
Falls into a higher price range

Availability

DaLuca has a number of one off straps and this is one of them. This style strap is available but most this one is a bit of a prototype to see how it fairs on the market. I think it’s going to be a best seller over time as long as the materials are there. I have a feeling only a few can be made from each bag. Maybe just even one per bag so you will definitely be in an exclusive club if you can get one.

http://www.dalucastraps.com/

Strap size 24/24: