Is the buckle that comes on the rubber different from if I order the watch on leather?
depends.
some OEM will come with a similar style buckle, some with a deployment.
no aftermarket strap will come with that buckle, unless it's some cheapo
strap for like $50 or whatever. most will all come with more substantial,
stronger and larger buckles.
OEM straps are very thin, and I really don't like that. at first I thought I
would, that I wouldn't want a thick strap, but after buying a couple OEM
straps and thinner handmade straps, I found I don't like them one bit.
Panerai's, no matter the model, are thick watches. and the strap on it
should really also be thick to compliment this. the most popular thickness
for straps I've found is right at 5mm. some like 6-7+mm, but that's
getting a bit excessive if you ask me. I think 5mm is indeed the sweet
spot, so I make all of my own straps to be 5mm.
the buckle the rep comes with is a 22mm, super thin, super flimsy, common
rep buckle. there's nothing at all special about it, and it looks very much
out of place on any aftermarket strap. unless the strap is also thin and
flimsy. which is why I'm sure all aftermarket strap makers choose to use
either their own crafted buckles or other aftermarket ones.
on my 177l, I built a 24/24 sueded black gator, 3 piece, 5mm, 130/80 strap
to be worn on it. and I have a heroic 18 titanium pig buckle to go on it.
it's going to bring the watch to a whole other level. for my brown choice
I'm going to make a same spec sueded brown shark strap.
