Rep pam gator straps any good?

[rukus187]

Hi Guys


Just looking to finalise my purchase of a Pam 111N and I wanted to know if the rep gator straps are any good.

Im looking to get my pam with a rep brown gator strap as an optional strap as I am also purchasing with the watch a rep brown asso strap with the deployment buckle which I will probably use most of the time.
Im just wondering if its a really bad move to get a rep gator strap and not a rep brown calf leather one instead with the watch.

The strap Im looking at is this one with the 111 http://www.puretime.co/product/pam1...ar-best-edition-on-brown-croco-leather-strap/

 

[TESLA760]

No no no no

 

[boostin20]

I didn't mind my black gator on my 111n v2, but the brown looks like crap to me. If you can spare the extra cash, get it on rubber or whatever and buy a gen gator or custom strap.

 

[rukus187]

Right, is the rep gator rubbish because its stamped with the gator print? The brown one looks okay to me, since im going to buy another asso strap with my watch I might just chance it

 

[TESLA760]

It's up to you obviously, but to say they are garbage is putting it lightly. I'm not even sure if you can it leather. 99% of rep straps are pure junk. I think the Asso strap is one of the few that's decent. There are many strap makers on this forum that can make you something that is worth putting on your wrist.

 

[boostin20]

It's up to you obviously, but to say they are garbage is putting it lightly. I'm not even sure if you can it leather. 99% of rep straps are pure junk. I think the Asso strap is one of the few that's decent. There are many strap makers on this forum that can make you something that is worth putting on your wrist.

He's right, you can find a used custom strap for $30 in the sale section, or somewhere in the neighborhood of $70-140 on a new custom strap. The beauty of these watches are just about any strap (as long as it's made well) will go great with the watch. By using that manner of thinking, it won't matter so much what you initially get as a strap with the watch.

 

[tootall]

I posted this a few years back. It still holds true unfortunately.

Ok guys and gals, I have been wanting to do this for some time now. I doubt anyone else cares (except me), but for the sake of knowledge I am going to post this little photo exhibit.

So then, I have always wondered what was inside of a rep strap. Ever since I distressed my own, I knew there had to be something fishy with these straps. They just did not act like leather.

This looks a leather/croc strap right? I mean it has a nice finish and the stitching is decent.

But let's take a closer look

1. This a faux embossed pleather croc belly material. It is very waxy and feels like plastic almost.
2, 3 & 4 This is a rubber material. Think rubber as in rubber pam strap material. Almost like silicone.
5. This is a fabric cotton or polyester lining that goes between the bottom layer and the rubber layer.
6. This is the bottom layer. It is a bonded leather. The same kind on a really cheap couch or recliner.

The only layer with leather is #6 and it's a bonded leather. (bonded leather is much like particle board. they take a bunch of leather grind/chop it up and paste it together with glues, then dye or paint to finish)

Ok, so you don't have a croc rep strap, what's in the other ones? It has to be leather with a little padding right? Well, let's see.

Looks normal. Got good stitching, nice brandings.

But let's take a closer look

1. This could be leather, but it is a very crappy bonded leather if it is.
2. Now this is leather. Finally. But it is very bad quality. It rips waay to easily and is too thin.
3. Not quite sure what this is. It's looks and feels like cardboard to cover the fabric below
4 & 5. This is a cotton or polyester fabric. This is what makes up for the "padding" of the strap.
6. Same as #3
7. Same as #2
8. This is that bonded leather again. It is called pleather in most fabric outlets.

As you can see there is a lot going on under each straps shell. Most of which is not leather. And that which is leather, is of very poor quality or a bonded leather.

And a bonus shot of the short side of strap 2

As you can see, this has different layers from it's counterpart. It's mostly the same material, but in different amounts and colors. The red layer is actually more like packing foam.

So then, thanks to all who made it this far and have indulged in my crazy world of knowledge. I plan one day to do some cross sections of TC straps. My main goal in all of this was to inform. Leather straps from reps are not at all leather. Even the ones you pay extra for (the Navi and others) are not all leather, or good leather at at that. So be informed when going to pick out your strap and get a quality product.

 

[Ruski91]

Tootall,

I literally just read your review, looked down at my rep pam that I am wearing and cringed.
I have been reading all over this forum that the rep leather is junk, but i kept telling myself that hey it looks 'ok' so don't worry about it for now.

After seeing your review, ehh i am so disappointed that i have not made the switch to something better already.

In any case, great writeup - sticky worthy
Thanks for the valuable info.

 

[JoehwrfcJ]

This is why I have gen leather straps

 

[MMs]

OMG. Why have I not done that before? I have a brand new black strap from a
Noob 111 V3 here that I haven't even wanted to touch since it's arrival. Now I
fully understand why.

I've been trying to make my own straps for quite some time now, never like rep
ones. And you know what? I've often wondered about something. I see a
Panatime strap, or a rep pam strap and the stitching is different top and bottom.
Different colors, different size threads, it's clearly a multi-layer design. Yet in terms
of thickness, these straps are quite thin, so there really can't be many layers.
right?

hahaha.
this is fantastic.
8 layers?

 

[tootall]

OMG. Why have I not done that before? I have a brand new black strap from a
Noob 111 V3 here that I haven't even wanted to touch since it's arrival. Now I
fully understand why.

I've been trying to make my own straps for quite some time now, never like rep
ones. And you know what? I've often wondered about something. I see a
Panatime strap, or a rep pam strap and the stitching is different top and bottom.
Different colors, different size threads, it's clearly a multi-layer design. Yet in terms
of thickness, these straps are quite thin, so there really can't be many layers.
right?

hahaha.
this is fantastic.
8 layers?

I don't mean this in a rude way, but you should go back a few years and look at the older posts on these subjects. There is a lot of information that can be gleamed from us Fogey's. Here is a write-up I did on the very issue of different color threads.


Hey here are some pics to describe what I am talking about:

In this picture you can see that the stitching on top and below are different colors. This is caused when the bobbin thread is a different color than the main thread on a machine. Usually the bottom thead is thinner as well, like the pictures show. Now this doesn't help in every case, because some makers use the same thread for bobbin and main. But in every case where you see different colors, it is a fact that it was sewn on machine.

Here you can see some other "tells". Notice how there are two grooves that go around in perfect symmetry. Now you can get close with handmade, but that usually is a sign of a machine. A better line to judge by is the presser foot line. This shallow but wide groove is created when the paddle foot of a sewing machine presses on the strap. Some leathers don't stamp as well and therefore do not show as much of an indention.

Hope that helps someone to determine the differences. This is for information purposes only. I am NOT trying to promote myself, I am only trying to inform.