Reply With QuoteSeriously cool mate, enjoy.
It does look massive though :shock:
Since buying my Panerai 305 last month I've been searching for a decent titanium Pre-V style buckle in 26mm, without success. It seems they are simply not around, which is a problem. In the end I gave up looking and started thinking laterally - it gave me an excuse to do something I've been thinking of for quite a while now - commission a buckle to be made from damascus steel. :)
I'd read good things about a chap called Ariel Salaverria, a knife maker in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He makes his own damascus steel and, while a knife maker by trade, he had made Pre-v style buckles previously. I contacted him and explained my dilemma and what I wanted. He very kindly made the making of my buckle a priority and a couple of weeks ago sent me over the following photographs of my finished buckle before it was shipped.....
Well, it arrived earlier this week and I've finally had chance to fit it to a strap for the 305. It's a big buckle, and I realise this won't be everyone's cup of tea, but I like it, and took a few Q&D pictures this morning to show you all....
and finally one pic of the 305 with strap and buckle :)
If anyone is looking for a damascus buckle I can't praise Ariel enough. I've had Pre-V buckles made for me before, but the quality of this buckle is exceptional. His website is http://www.aescustomknives.com/index.htm (lots of info on there about forging damascus steel, as well as past work - I'm not really into knives, but there's some very impressive work there for anyone interested :thumbup:)
Seriously cool mate, enjoy.
It does look massive though :shock:
8) 8) 8) 8) 8) lovely bit of steel rich, lovely 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)
you needs a nice zebraskin strap to go with that :wink:
Good luck everybody. Have a good one.
Pimping!
Definitely not my bag, but can see why some might like it, it is very different
It is pretty big, but then it's a big watch :lol:Originally Posted by crazyp
I think it can carry it ;)
Very nice indeed 8)
"I looked with pity not untinged with scorn upon these trivial-minded passers-by"
That is very cool 8)
It has also prompted me to look up what Damascus Steel is, having never heard of it, so I've learned something new today too!
Just fabulously 8)
Looks very striking, I was thinking that it might be called the Daktari buckle :)
Looks good, now if only you could find a strapmaker to tie in with the buckle, then release it as a complete strap and buckle :D
I love the buckle as quality piece of engineering and workmanship and it's very striking 8) , but I'm not entirely convinced of the combo.
But if you're pleased with the result Rich then that's all that matters.
That looks great - a really nice bit of metal. It dominates the watch a little, but that's OK. I hope you're a big fella!
I wish I was cool enough to get away with it!
Super workmanship and something bespoke and original - well done tracking that down!
Looks like a zebra and damn it looks cool 8)
Look's great and nice watch to....
Loving the buckle rich. Very tempted in getting one myself. But that would mean another strap from yourself too!
Fantastic buckle - thanks for posting the pics.
Pete
There's some good craftsmen there, as is evident from those excellent photos.
However, whoever did this re-dial, which I also received from Argentina, is not in same league!
Just look how far off that telemetre scale is!
I've also noticed that watches restored in Argentina can be over-finished to the point of bling :-(
That's a great buckle. Very striking. Not my cup of tea perhaps, but I can certainly appreciate the craftmanship invoved.
regards,
Nick
Rich,
Had a chat with Wagner and he wants his buckle back!!!
RIAC
Well he can't have it. It's mine now :lol: :lol:Rich,
Had a chat with Wagner and he wants his buckle back!!!
I respect anything that has a hand made quality about it, and that buckle has lovingly had made written all over it 8)
Not every watch could pull that off, but that strap combo looks superb!
Sorry, I'm sure the quality is great, but it's a bit "too much" for me.
Andy
Wanted - Damasko DC57
Are we talking about the buckle or Wagner?
RIAC
Pretty neat work, I like the idea of custom buckles :)
That's beautiful and goes well with that strap and the watch. Congratulations.
Br,
AP.
That's stunning, a bit big for my tastes but it looks amazing in its hand made glory, I want one. :D
Zebra 8)
I really like it - wonder if he does belt buckles too :)
very cool buckle Rich 8)
not sure about it on that strap though :(
Hi Rich,
Did you see these topics on The Watch Forum a few months ago? Some very impressive work by Ondrej Berkus from Czech Republic:
http://www.thewatchforum.co.uk/index.ph ... opic=57196
http://www.thewatchforum.co.uk/index.ph ... opic=57635
http://www.thewatchforum.co.uk/index.ph ... opic=58581
Not heard of "mokume" before...
thats amazing paul, thanks for posting the links
Good luck everybody. Have a good one.
Thanks Paul - I'd seen the first two but not the last one.
Ariel has made Mokume buckles too - this one (third down) with steel and brass
http://www.aescustomknives.com/docs/gal ... uckles.htm
They do look very nice :bounce:
Rich
That looks absolutely stunning. I've had a thing about Damascene steel since SWMBO bought me a Shun knife for christmas a couple of years ago. I wonder whether he'd attempt a non-Panerai style buckle? It's also a shame that he isn't taking orders for much else; his Damascene spoon would have made an ideal honey spoon and a perfect gift.
In the Sotadic Zone, apparently.
Fabolous, Rich, fabolous. I love it (I also like knives, I did some myself a while ago, so I know about Damascus blades). I know that Damascus blades can be very expensive, so I wonder how much was the cost.... :?
Yes, the "no orders being taken" is a very recent thing. I commisioned the buckle around a month ago (when I knew I was getting the 305 but before I'd actually picked it up) and although I'm not a knife enthusiast I did get carried away and asked him to make me one like this (http://www.aescustomknives.com/popups8/pnessmuk131.htm) at the same time. He told me 3 weeks for the buckle and probably 4 months for the knife. I guess he's just very busy, but it might be worth dropping him an email?
It wasn't cheap. I've had Pre-v buckles handmade for me from steel before, but this one was significantly more expensive. Mind you, when I consider the work involved in making the material as well as producing the buckle I don't think it was expensive. I guess handmade items are always going to cost more, but they are more interesting IMO
Yes, I absolutely agree with you: the work involved means that cannot be cheap......It wasn't cheap. I've had Pre-v buckles handmade for me from steel before, but this one was significantly more expensive. Mind you, when I consider the work involved in making the material as well as producing the buckle I don't think it was expensive. I guess handmade items are always going to cost more, but they are more interesting IMO
Not man enough, eh Andy? It's alright, I understand :D :D
Seriously though, I do realise this isn't going to be to everyone's taste, but I collect nice buckles and this watch gave me an excuse to commission one of these. The 305 is big enough to carry it off IMO, and the photos I took are probably a little misleading. The lighter steel in the buckle is highly polished, and when I took the pics I made sure the buckle was angled so that the light was catching the polished steel so as to show the folds in the material. In normal wear there isn't so much contrast between the light and dark steel, and it goes quite well with the Ti case of the watch. Of course the fact that both I and the watch are pretty big lumps helps too :lol:
Now the Mokume buckle is seriously cool 8) - may even edge the damascus....Thanks Paul - I'd seen the first two but not the last one.
Ariel has made Mokume buckles too - this one (third down) with steel and brass
http://www.aescustomknives.com/docs/gal ... uckles.htm
They do look very nice :bounce:
seriously expensive though. I asked about one for my 232, but dropped the idea when Ariel told me the price :shock:Now the Mokume buckle is seriously cool 8) - may even edge the damascus....Thanks Paul - I'd seen the first two but not the last one.
Ariel has made Mokume buckles too - this one (third down) with steel and brass
http://www.aescustomknives.com/docs/gal ... uckles.htm
They do look very nice :bounce:
Ah, ok - won't bother enquiring then :lol:seriously expensive though. I asked about one for my 232, but dropped the idea when Ariel told me the price :shock:Now the Mokume buckle is seriously cool 8) - may even edge the damascus....Thanks Paul - I'd seen the first two but not the last one.
Ariel has made Mokume buckles too - this one (third down) with steel and brass
http://www.aescustomknives.com/docs/gal ... uckles.htm
They do look very nice :bounce:
I also like some of the pendants, quite cool - but also not going to be the cheapest. Something to save up for I think :lol:
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