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Audemars Piguet.

Audemars Piguet.

Audemars Piguet was founded in 1875 by Jules-Louis Audemars and Edward-Auguste Piguet. Childhood friends, Audemars was 23 years old and Piguet 21 at the inception of their watchmaking exploit. Jules-Louis asked Edward-August to work together with him to establish watch movements, and as the pair worked together, they went on to have great success. Their customers were happy. Whether or not either of them knew of their talent and capability to design such excellence, the two Swiss watchmakers made their way onto the plains of horological prestige.



Today, their brand produces in three production sites - La Brassus, Le Locle and Meyrin in Switzerland. The company is comprised of 18 boutiques and 14 distribution subsidiaries worldwide, with 1450 emplyees.

In April 1972, Gérald Genta invented the Royal Oak model, in preparation for the annual watch-making fair in Basal, Switzerland.

In 1992, Emmanuel Gueit designed the Royal Oak Offshore, in celebration of the Royal Oak's 20th anniversary. These watches have since become a favourtie among many haute horology afficionados.

An "extreme" sport version of the Royal Oak, the 42mm case made this an "oversized" watch, although nowadays such a size is not at all unusual.

Featuring a 300m water resistances and materials such as carbon and rubber, the Royal Oak Offshore was also known as "the Beast". This branch of the Audemars Piguet watches is one definitely to be noted, as they really are something special. Three Royal Oak Offshore models are the Ceramic Diver, the Forge Carbon Diver, and the Steel Diver. These watches take credit for the inspiration of Strapmeister's Audemars Piguet strap selection.

The Ceramic Diver has a ceramic black case. The dial is black and has a tough looking "Mega Tapisserie" pattern. The minutes hand is orange, along with the 60 to 15 mark on the roating inner bezel.

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The Carbon Diver specs are similar, but with a forged carbon case. The minutes hand and 60 t o15 bezel-mark is yellow. Background Pattern is Mega Tapisserie.



The Steel Diver has a hardy stainless steel case and rubber-clad screw-locking crown. Background pattern is also Mega Tapisserie.

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Audemars Piguet watches are without a doubt among the greats when considering mechanical complexity and meticulous craftsmanship. Haute horology is an arena of notable contenders, and if you're wanting for a high grade of excellence, well you need not look much further than the Royal Oak Offshore.

Strapmeister is proud to take inspiration from these watches, as their design permits a great range for innovation and creativity, when considering accessorizing with different straps. It is clear to even the untrained eye, these watches are of extremely desireable merit and quality, and Strapmeister's designs offer high-quality material, comfort, and proud background. Wear your Royal Oak Offshore with Strapmeister straps!

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Decima Flottiglia Mas

Decima Flottiglia Mas

Panerai is undertoned and known for its association with the Decima Flottiglia Mas, the Italian Commando Frogmen. Pioneers of the underwater wristwatch, Panerai provided high-calibre instruments to the Regia Marina (the Italian Royal Navy). The inception of the brand dates back to as early as 1860, in Florence, and the watchmakers soon began development for the Regia Marina.0 The workshop was operated by Guido Panerai - the grandson of the founder, Giovanni Panerai.

strapmeister blog-Giovanni Panerai

The horological prowess of the Panerai name was exhibited in World War 1; ship's clocks and machanical calculators, used for precision firing of torpedoes. Also among the inventory of the Regia Marina, thanks to Panerai, were luminous devices for use of naval night-gunning, and various types of high-precision timers, depth-measurement devices and compasses. The underwater commando, the Decima Flottigla Mas, were heavily in association with Panerai.

strapmeister blog -italian frogman

The Flottigla Mas was regarded as highly infamous prior to and during World War II, for their devastatingly effective underwater-combat operations. They were Sappers, Divers, and Frogmen, particularly known  for their intimidating “manned torpedoes”.

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Quite arguably, the first true diving-watch is the Panerai Radiomir. The prototype was produced in 1936 and, after a lot of testing, went into full production in 1938. The watch movements were specially made for Panerai by Rolex. The Flottiglia Mas wore and utilized the Radiomir, crafted with a luminous dial and Perspex crystal. This was highly viable and reliable item of equipment; a notable part of Flottiglia Mas' impressive inventory. The Radiomir was later replaced by the Luminor, which featured a  locking crown guard lever.

Over the course of more than four more decades, Panerai kept producing watches and other equipment for the military, and in 1993 released a limited edition collection for public purchase. This collection was to commemorate and pay tribute to the models of their military history. It was an era never to be forgotten, and Panerai knew this, so they shared it with the general public.

Panerai continues producing stunning models today, with design focused on its rich and iconic military history. Largely, these are high-end watches that are meant for the upper-reaches of the luxury market.

 At Strapmeister, we provide finely crafted straps and buckles that pays homage to this watches. Our “Flottiglia Mas Tang Buckle” is an excellent investment, as it's commemorative nature is sure to be an exemplary compliment to the notorious exploits of the Decima Flottiglia Mas.

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As can be seen in our product picture, this finely brushed steel buckle pays tribute to the Panerai-Flottiglia Mas Reputation. Engraved boldly, coming in three sizes, it is perfectly viable as an expression of admiration of the Decima Flottiglia Mas, the extraordinary operatives of underwater combat.

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Horology & Strapmeister

Horology, the art and science of measuring time, has always been a beautifully complex endeavor. It seems as though, ever since the invention of the pocket watch, an individuals timepiece has served not only as a tool, but also a status symbol and, perhaps more importantly, a piece of memory. For some, the pocketwatch was primarily a marker of wealth, and for others a token to carry invaluable memory. At that time, it was the chain that carried the time piece. Now, it is the strap.
The pursuit of horological perfection has taken us to such a stage in craftsmanship that meticulous precision is only the tip of the iceberg. The wristwatches of today, among the likes of the Italian Panerai or Swiss Audemars Piguet and Rolex, really do become far more than a simple accessory for us. They are a luxury to be savoured, adored and even honored.
Your watch tells a story. Yes, on the surface it is clockwork, and yet every watch soon becomes some form of memento. Remembering all the times we heard about the pocketwatch that was passed down through generations, so too do our wristwatches of today embark upon this journey. 
Here at StrapMeister, you can rest assured that we will serve you with all of these things in mind. 
Our passion and respect for horology in all its nature shines through in our finely procured watch straps. We take great pride the development of our materials. Though the process may seem arduous and meticulous for some, at StrapMeister that is where the glory lies. 
The choices we offer ranges from the traditional leathers to durable submersible rubber. 
Our leathers provide a distinct comfort you are certain to enjoy, while our rubber straps can be taken on all kinds of rough adventures.
Your watch serves a noble purpose. Our ethic is to craft straps to resemble and replicate this nobility. 
Let our straps carry your watch through time."

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