Considering flipping my Daytona for a RO...but first, some AP questions

[jjnd08]

As the title states, I'm considering making this move. I love my Daytona, but I tried on the 15400 this past weekend, and it blew my mind. I'd want the black dial, I personally like it more than the blue or white. Having both is not something I want to do.

Making this move would leave me without a Rolex, but I'd probably pick up a Speedmaster as a second watch that is more "robust."

Since I am very new to the AP brand, I do have some questions for you experts.

- I've read lots of comments on the cost of service for a Royal Oak. How much is a service for one, and would it really be more than my Daytona? Also, how long does a service take?

- I've read some people say negative things about the accuracy of the time keeping. Is this a legit concern, or just something uninformed people keep repeating?

- I'm seeing a lot of white dial used 15400s, but very few black dials. If I wanted AP to switch dials for me, how long would the turnaround be, and what would it cost?

- Last question, does my wrist support the 15400 (it's unsized in the pic), or should I go for the 15300? I don't have a pic of the 15300, but I'm guessing the size is similar to my Daytona.

Thank you for reading, and your help!

[kilyung]

Originally Posted by jjnd08

- I've read lots of comments on the cost of service for a Royal Oak. How much is a service for one, and would it really be more than my Daytona? Also, how long does a service take?

As with any other brand, it varies widely depending on parts and condition. Generally mine have been around $1k. APSC is hands down my favorite Service Center experience. So much more communicative than anyone else and generally takes 4-5 weeks.

Originally Posted by jjnd08

- I've read some people say negative things about the accuracy of the time keeping. Is this a legit concern, or just something uninformed people keep repeating?

I can take a 100 year old watch and with proper regulation/tuning make it more accurate than a Rolex. Having said that, it appears that AP's QC isn't as rigorous as some other brands and you may have to get it regulated by APSC but that's a good excuse to get it pressure checked and extend the warranty to 3YEARS.

Originally Posted by jjnd08

- I'm seeing a lot of white dial used 15400s, but very few black dials. If I wanted AP to switch dials for me, how long would the turnaround be, and what would it cost?

I think APSC will swap dials on an exchange basis (+cash). I imagine they'll want to do a service in the process so figure the same 4-5 weeks.

Originally Posted by jjnd08

- Last question, does my wrist support the 15400 (it's unsized in the pic), or should I go for the 15300? I don't have a pic of the 15300, but I'm guessing the size is similar to my Daytona.

The 15400 looks fantastic on you. You can try a 15202 for size to see if you like 41mm or 39mm better. The movements in the 15400 and 15300 are identical. Personally I like the 15202 and 15300's 39mm size on my 6.5" wrist but YMMV.

[jjnd08]

Thanks, Mike! I really appreciate you giving good details on all of my questions. I definitely will try on the 15202 to try and see the size difference between the two.

One follow-up question on your responses: does getting it regulated cost as much as a normal service?

[kilyung]

Originally Posted by jjnd08

One follow-up question on your responses: does getting it regulated cost as much as a normal service?

If you buy it from AD, then it's covered under warranty. If you buy used, I'd still recommend a service and it'd be covered.

[tppinc]

i think the 15400st which is a 41mm will fit perfect and i think you will like the feel of it a little better. We have a lot of client who get out of their rolex and move to the AP. if you have any other questions or need some advise you can always reach me here or direct


Dan Dubinsky
Timepiece Perfection
215.364.7764 office
215.285.0117 cell

[VICI]

The AP service center in Clearwater is a pleasure to deal with. Top notch!

Regarding time keeping, my 15.4 was spot on! I sent it to AP once for regulation and it came back perfect.

The bracelet is amazing!

Btw... the post above, give Dan a call, he is excellent!

[rcwatches]

Personally I think the daytona is a better all round watch! The only negative of the 15400's is the way they mark and show scratches

[Cru Jones]

Mike answered all the questions perfectly, so, I'll just add my personal views... The 15400 looms great on you, but it's worth trying a 15300 to see what you think. For me, it's a better watch, both in terms of how it sits on the wrist and how the movement fits with the case and dial (especially the date window).

[GB-man]

Looks great on you. Since mike covered everything I'll add these

[AK797]

Mike covered it all. 400 looks just fin on you and AP customer service is the best so if you have any problems with it, it is actually an opportunity to see more of how impressively AP runs it's business.

[zama]

The only real question with the watch is the size as it is a big piece, think it looks great on your wrist, I have both and they are quite different, the AP is certainly more detailed with the caseback and the amazing bracelet, the Daytona more robust. I would not have the AP as sole watch but I like mine a lot.

[srvrf]

I traded by 116520 Daytona for a ROC and it's still my favorite watch despite some service issues that have been adequately resolved. Customer service in Clearwater is excellent. QC has been close for my watches. I've had watches come back with misaligned chrono hands from both APSC and RSC. Both were fixed quickly as expected. Basic service costs for my Daytona were around $1100 and around $1600 for my ROC. A non-chrono movement should be cheaper. I did eventually buy an older Daytona for weekend-type use and love it for its ruggedness and better WR than my AP.

[jjnd08]

Originally Posted by tppinc

i think the 15400st which is a 41mm will fit perfect and i think you will like the feel of it a little better. We have a lot of client who get out of their rolex and move to the AP. if you have any other questions or need some advise you can always reach me here or direct


Dan Dubinsky
Timepiece Perfection
215.364.7764 office
215.285.0117 cell

Thanks, Dan. If I decide to make a trade, I'll let you know.

Originally Posted by VICI

The AP service center in Clearwater is a pleasure to deal with. Top notch!

Regarding time keeping, my 15.4 was spot on! I sent it to AP once for regulation and it came back perfect.

The bracelet is amazing!

Btw... the post above, give Dan a call, he is excellent!

Appreciate the feedback, and the referral. Always good to know who the good guys are on here!

Originally Posted by kilyung

If you buy it from AD, then it's covered under warranty. If you buy used, I'd still recommend a service and it'd be covered.

Thanks again, Mike. I appreciate the feedback!

Originally Posted by rcwatches

Personally I think the daytona is a better all round watch! The only negative of the 15400's is the way they mark and show scratches

I've heard this, and the AD showed me the scratches on his from taking watches in and out of cases all day. To be honest, I would kind of be surprised if it showed more scratches and smudges than the PCLs on my Daytona. I'm pretty careful with my watches, and after a year of almost daily use, my Daytona doesn't have any dings, dents, or scratches.

Originally Posted by Cru Jones

Mike answered all the questions perfectly, so, I'll just add my personal views... The 15400 looms great on you, but it's worth trying a 15300 to see what you think. For me, it's a better watch, both in terms of how it sits on the wrist and how the movement fits with the case and dial (especially the date window).

I will definitely try on a 39mm to see how it fits. How does the date window look different? I'm still learning.

Originally Posted by GB-man

Looks great on you. Since mike covered everything I'll add these

Those are some great shots, you are really doing well with the enabling! Is that the 15300, or 15400?

Originally Posted by AK797

Mike covered it all. 400 looks just fin on you and AP customer service is the best so if you have any problems with it, it is actually an opportunity to see more of how impressively AP runs it's business.

Good to hear!

Originally Posted by zama

The only real question with the watch is the size as it is a big piece, think it looks great on your wrist, I have both and they are quite different, the AP is certainly more detailed with the caseback and the amazing bracelet, the Daytona more robust. I would not have the AP as sole watch but I like mine a lot.

The AP may be my only watch for a very short time, but I am careful with my watches. If I do make this move, I would probably pick up a Speedmaster on rubber to be my more "robust" watch.

Originally Posted by srvrf

I traded by 116520 Daytona for a ROC and it's still my favorite watch despite some service issues that have been adequately resolved. Customer service in Clearwater is excellent. QC has been close for my watches. I've had watches come back with misaligned chrono hands from both APSC and RSC. Both were fixed quickly as expected. Basic service costs for my Daytona were around $1100 and around $1600 for my ROC. A non-chrono movement should be cheaper. I did eventually buy an older Daytona for weekend-type use and love it for its ruggedness and better WR than my AP.

Good to hear about the service costs! I thought that the Daytona service would be similar in price to a non-chrono RO.

[Cru Jones]

Originally Posted by jjnd08

I will definitely try on a 39mm to see how it fits. How does the date window look different? I'm still learning.

15400 v 15300 (not my pics):

[jjnd08]

Thanks for all of the replies. I appreciate all of the feedback.

Cru, those shots are really helpful. I really need to go try on a 39mm to see how it compares. Almost hope I like it more since they are easier to find and a little cheaper!

I want to wait a bit to ensure this isn't a spur of the moment decision, but the RO really wowed me when I tried it on - more so than any Rolex really has.

I've got to move some watches to make this happen too!

[s14roller]

Sold my SS Daytona, kept my blue 15400

Looks great on you.

[yjfang]

I had a Rolex S/S Daytona white dial many years ago. Then recently got into APs but decided to get out of it completely. I then picked up a Rolex ER Daytona ceramic with chocolate Arabic dial. Full circle.

[jjnd08]

Originally Posted by s14roller

Sold my SS Daytona, kept my blue 15400

Looks great on you.

Thank you! Yours looks great, not surprised you kept it!

Originally Posted by yjfang

I had a Rolex S/S Daytona white dial many years ago. Then recently got into APs but decided to get out of it completely. I then picked up a Rolex ER Daytona ceramic with chocolate Arabic dial. Full circle.

What caused you to go back and get out of APs? The Daytona you picked out is probably my favorite of all Daytonas.

[yjfang]

Honestly I could not tell you why. I went through an infatuation with AP (Diver, Safari, 44MM Ceramic, then RO black dial) and just lost interest and sold all of the APs. They are nice watches and I still like to look at them just not enough to own any.

I have a 7.5" wrist so could wear almost anything but lately have been downsizing the size of my watches, settling in the 38-42mm range. This could be one reason. Another possibility is that I am turned off by how difficult service is (almost always has to go back the manufacturer, at a high (sometimes extremely high) cost, and long service time.

I happened to like the ER Daytona and BLNR so it was easy to trade into these. Rolex is just all around good value and easy to service.

Originally Posted by jjnd08

Thank you! Yours looks great, not surprised you kept it!



What caused you to go back and get out of APs? The Daytona you picked out is probably my favorite of all Daytonas.

[lapince]

Originally Posted by yjfang

I had a Rolex S/S Daytona white dial many years ago. Then recently got into APs but decided to get out of it completely. I then picked up a Rolex ER Daytona ceramic with chocolate Arabic dial. Full circle.

Interesting why did you get out of AP? I am fully into Patek and can't imagine one second going away from the brand, well haven't had to perform service yet, if I need to wait 8 months I might get a little angry, but I still have almost 3 years until the 1st service on my 5712, hope they will be better with delays when I get around to it...

[NoVaSubowner]

Do it. I went from Rolex to AP. And the AP is so much more refined then the Rolex. I wear mine 5-6 days a week and there have been no problems with durability.

[yjfang]

One of the main reasons that I am not going after more very high end watches (just keeping 1 or 2) is the service. Super high cost and super long service times is unacceptable to me. AP service is actually pretty good but Patek is just not right.

Originally Posted by lapince

Interesting why did you get out of AP? I am fully into Patek and can't imagine one second going away from the brand, well haven't had to perform service yet, if I need to wait 8 months I might get a little angry, but I still have almost 3 years until the 1st service on my 5712, hope they will be better with delays when I get around to it...

[lapince]

Originally Posted by yjfang

One of the main reasons that I am not going after more very high end watches (just keeping 1 or 2) is the service. Super high cost and super long service times is unacceptable to me. AP service is actually pretty good but Patek is just not right.

Well I agree about Patek service, my next and first should be due in 2-3 years, don't know how I will be able to stay so long without my 5712, maybe the solution is to get a watch at the same time you give one in for service, but I've been told around 8 months, now that's really crazy IMO

[Hairdude1]

AP os another league compared to Rolex. Congrats in advance

[Joearch]

Had a so liar decision a few months back. Love the 15400. Wonderful on the wrist for me.

[redsubby]

Not sure if I'd give up my only Rolex....not to mention it's a Daytona...
I have both of these watches, if I could keep only one of them, Daytona would stay.

[csi-n]

I sold my white steel Daytona and replaced it with an ROO...no regrets whatsoever. Go for it!


Sam

[zama]

Dealers choice........

Look forward to your decision.

[Baco Noir]

I tried on both the black dial and silver dial 15400's when making my decision. The reason I went silver was 2 fold. 1) Indoors, if the hands are reflecting a dark color (say a dark shirt you are wearing) the hands can get lost on the dial and be hard to read, and 2) outside, the silver tapestry dial really captures the light and is magical.

BTW - 15400 looks great size-wise on your wrist.


Sent from my iPad (so I blame autocorrect for the spellin' errs)

[jjnd08]

Originally Posted by Baco Noir

I tried on both the black dial and silver dial 15400's when making my decision. The reason I went silver was 2 fold. 1) Indoors, if the hands are reflecting a dark color (say a dark shirt you are wearing) the hands can get lost on the dial and be hard to read, and 2) outside, the silver tapestry dial really captures the light and is magical.

BTW - 15400 looks great size-wise on your wrist.


Sent from my iPad (so I blame autocorrect for the spellin' errs)

Thanks, Roger. I will try on the white dial. I normally love the white, but it blends in a little too much with the rest of the watch and almost looks a little monochromatic for my taste. But I can see how it would look awesome in sunlight!