There Are Pandas, and Then There Are Pandas.
And this isn't either of them! The Pandas we're talking about here, are watches, not bears. And what got me thinking about them (again) was a link posted this morning by @cm.rook who pointed a few of us to the very attractive (and not terribly priced) Yema "Rallygraph" Panda which, in it's most traditional arrangement, looks like the one on the left, but can also be had in the version on the right: The model on the left is a true Panda, while the model on the right is called a reverse Panda. The reason for that distinction is clear--Panda bears, only come in the first arrangement. Now at this point, everyone should be thinking about the most well-know Panda, The Rolex Panda, which is actually a Daytona, and among Rolex Daytonas, the most famous of which is the Paul Newman Daytona, which was famous first, because it was Paul's, and second because it sold at auction for $17.8 million (US Dollars). The story of that auction is well-known so I'll only...
Nov 8, 2019
OEM Bracelet top, Strapcode "20mm Super 3D Oyster 316L Stainless Bracelet" bottom. While the two bracelets look nearly identical, Strapcode's version comes with a more standard sized fold-over clasp with six micro adjustment positions (vs. two on the Seiko clasp). Mercifully, Strapcode also uses screw-in link pins rather than Seiko's annoying pin and collar system. Both bracelets come with solid end links; they're supposed to be "better" (closer/more precise fit to the case, less rattle) but I've always found them a pain to remove and instal (usually takes three hands) but in this instance, that spring bar tool (right-hand corner, above) turned out to be worth whatever I paid for it.