Buying 15202 from AP Boutique- Is it worth it?

[selpo]

Hello everyone,

Long time lurker and have learned immensely from all of you. I have decided to buy the 15202 blue dial in stainless steel and here is the dilemma. I can get it from the AP boutique for retail with 5 yrs warranty and possibly some knick knacks thrown in, likely nothing of value or buy one from one of our trusted sellers for about $1700 less. I will not be paying sales tax either way. I know I can get an extra yr of warranty if I buy from an AD but have to send it in for a ?check up, but is the extra 2 yrs worth the extra money?

Thanks in advance and excited about my first AP!!

[HL65]

I bought mine from the Boutique and got plenty of stuff thrown in as well as extra warranty not that I will need it. Only you can decide but for me I wanted brand new from Boutique registered to me. In any event it is a great watch and you will love it!

PS. All of my Pateks and Rolex except one come from AD with my name on certs and for me I am good with it. I am also treated very well having great long relationships there!

[thomaspp]

hmmm... don't see the value there to be honest.

Would you buy new from a trusted seller? You'll get you're name registered online if you do and certificate of warranty extension in the mail. That's what I did.

[AK797]

If you plan to buy more APs etc then I would try to save as much as possible to help you get to the next faster.

[Vipes]

I bought my 15202 from the boutique a few years back. I think it's worth it to have the 5 years of warranty and I get a free service at the 4th year. If the piece was available at the AD then I would've gone that route.

[CWIN]

If I had the money, I would probably buy direct from an AD. But I do not, so I have to find other avenues.

[martinr]

I bought from an AD. 10% discount and shipped out of state so no tax. I was going to buy from the NY or Florida boutique but they are required to charge sales tax when shipping to a state where AP has offices so I would have to pay sales tax if shipped to California.

[selpo]

Thank you all for your opinion. This probably will be my only AP- atleast for the moment!! Just starting my journey into Horology and my only other watch is a SS Daytona white dial. Eventually would like to have a watch from each of the Big 4, so starting with AP first.
If it includes a service at yr 4, I think that would pretty much make up for the extra cost and I certainly agree that peace of mind is very valuable.
The only other rub is that I will be buying this watch without having laid eyes on the 15202- I tried on the 15400 and it seemed to my eyes to be a wee bit big on my 7 inch wrist!!
I know that the general consensus here is that the 15202 is certainly worth the extra cost and I do feel that the 15202 is the right one for me- decisions, decisions!!

[selpo]

Thanks again, just placed the order with the Boutique and will post pictures after I get the watch.

[HL65]

Originally Posted by selpo

Thanks again, just placed the order with the Boutique and will post pictures after I get the watch.

Congrats and you are going to love it!! I would have them size it for you. Give them your wrist size and they will do for you. Those screws are tough to get moving and I let them do for me. Best,

[jimmypark54]

Originally Posted by SteelerFan65

Congrats and you are going to love it!! I would have them size it for you. Give them your wrist size and they will do for you. Those screws are tough to get moving and I let them do for me. Best,

X2!!! the thread lock they use on the AP bracelet is like cement! lol

[selpo]

Good advice about the sizing! I will ask them, Thank you.

[DECR]

Congrats! Beautiful watch the 15202. No need to see it in person. You will love it!

[Colin W]

Big congrats, great choice


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[PatekCollector]

Its worth even with 0% disc.

[jazzyjeffm]

Originally Posted by KhalidSS

Its worth even with 0% disc.

Agree 100%

[Cru Jones]

It's such a special watch. I would have it no other way.

[texex91]

You'll love 15202!

Amazing watch.

[BlueRoyaloak]

It is worth it, like the feeling of carrying an AP bag outside the boutique!

[benlee]

I bought a Diver last year from boutique after unable to get it from any AD and I can't wait. I am aware I paid a substantially higher price. But there are side benefits of longer warranty, goodies and priority access to previews and events for new and special pieces. So it's pros and cons.

[HL65]

Originally Posted by benlee

I bought a Diver last year from boutique after unable to get it from any AD and I can't wait. I am aware I paid a substantially higher price. But there are side benefits of longer warranty, goodies and priority access to previews and events for new and special pieces. So it's pros and cons.

Goodies, invites to events, top of list for tougher to get pieces....etc.

[Vipes]

Congrats! The 15202 is a special piece!

[GB-man]

Assuming you have negotiated as far as possible with the AD, I would likely take the 1700. A hat and the 2 years beyond the 3 available normally aren't worth 1700, TO ME.

Then again, if I walked in in a whim, I am the type who might buy impulsively

[Yoda]

Hello all. Can you explain to me please the difference between Ref. No.15202ST.OO.0944ST.02 and 15202ST.OO.1240ST.01. Also which do you prefer and why? Thanks.

[HL65]

Originally Posted by Yoda

Hello all. Can you explain to me please the difference between Ref. No.15202ST.OO.0944ST.02 and 15202ST.OO.1240ST.01. Also which do you prefer and why? Thanks.

Not sure but the .1240ST.01 is latest reference and in my brand new I series.

[selpo]

I think the 0944ST is the older version with the AP logo at 12 o' clock and the white date wheel.

[Presa canary]

It's always worth buying the 15202, no matter where you acquire it. Congrats!

[selpo]

Yoda,

I prefer the newer version as the placement of the AP logo at 6 O' clock and the date wheel being the same color as the dial makes it visually more symmetric. I am attaching pictures of both so that you can see the difference- forgive me if they do not show up, doing this for the first time.

[subtona]

Originally Posted by selpo

Yoda,

I prefer the newer version as the placement of the AP logo at 6 O' clock and the date wheel being the same color as the dial makes it visually more symmetric. I am attaching pictures of both so that you can see the difference- forgive me if they do not show up, doing this for the first time.

Agree + ...
Re 15202 Jumbo:

1240 (current 40th anniversary version) (only offered with a blue dial)
1)AP above 6
2)Rotor is a bit more industrial looking (maybe not as lovely as the older version, but still customizable:))
3)Black/blue date wheel
4)Date indicator without white border
5)Finer tapisserie (similar to original) (fyi there are two versions of this dial, 1is slightly larger tapisserie than the other)
6)Slightest bit thicker than the older version
7)Imho a nicer blue
8)No numeric seconds indicator on dial (less cluttered)
9)Slightly thicker bracelet (not quite as thick as the 15300/15400)
10)Butterfly clasp (i find it very comfortable)

Vs

944 (offered with several different colored dial options + a special edition purist pro version)
1)AP @ 12
2)Rotor is more artsy & flowing
3)White date wheel
4)Date indicator with white border
5)Larger tapisserie (modern phenomenon)
6)Thinner than newest but thicker than oldest (original 72 version did not have see through caseback)
7)Blue is a bit lighter, not as blue
8)Arabic seconds indicators on the periphery of the dial
9)Thinner bracelet (as the original design)
10)Older folding clasp (i have read complaints of comfort)

Imho, Most meaningful, is all versions retain the original JLC movement, eventually purchased by and used exclusively by AP (original Patek Nautilus also used this movement in the 1976 Nautilus but eventually went to an in house movement as a result of AP's purchase, imho removing the modern Nautilus a significant step away from the original)

[thereisadog]

Subtona,

Are there really two versions of the tapisserie? I went to the NYC boutique the other day and was only shown one with "finer" version, where I actually thought the spacing was too wide. Otherwise, it was fantastic.

Originally Posted by subtona

Agree + ...
Re 15202 Jumbo:

1240 (current 40th anniversary version) (only offered with a blue dial)
1)AP above 6
2)Rotor is a bit more industrial looking (maybe not as lovely as the older version, but still customizable:))
3)Black/blue date wheel
4)Date indicator without white border
5)Finer tapisserie (similar to original) (fyi there are two versions of this dial, 1is slightly larger tapisserie than the other)
6)Slightest bit thicker than the older version
7)Imho a nicer blue
8)No numeric seconds indicator on dial (less cluttered)
9)Slightly thicker bracelet (not quite as thick as the 15300/15400)
10)Butterfly clasp (i find it very comfortable)

Vs

944 (offered with several different colored dial options + a special edition purist pro version)
1)AP @ 12
2)Rotor is more artsy & flowing
3)White date wheel
4)Date indicator with white border
5)Larger tapisserie (modern phenomenon)
6)Thinner than newest but thicker than oldest (original 72 version did not have see through caseback)
7)Blue is a bit lighter, not as blue
8)Arabic seconds indicators on the periphery of the dial
9)Thinner bracelet (as the original design)
10)Older folding clasp (i have read complaints of comfort)

Imho, Most meaningful, is all versions retain the original JLC movement, eventually purchased by and used exclusively by AP (original Patek Nautilus also used this movement in the 1976 Nautilus but eventually went to an in house movement as a result of AP's purchase, imho removing the modern Nautilus a significant step away from the original)