Is there any watch you put above the Royal Oak

[pearson1995]

My Royal Oak is my favourite watch I own. For those who own a RO and other watches, do you put anything ahead of it?

[huncho]

i personally have it on an equal level with a day date. not sure if i would put anything above either though. those two for me were at the top

[rolexandlange]

I have a datograph. I put it above the RO. But I want a RO. I wouldn’t sell or trade a dato for a RO though

[7sins]

My RM72ti. ::Runs and hides in corner::

I do firmly believe, subjectively speaking, there is no better watch on bracelet than AP.

[HMHM]

I would say RRCC2! I’m not sure it’s because I have the Royal Oak hence taking it for granted, but from pictures the simplicity of the RRCC2 with a seconds sub dial in platinum and black dial is really sex on the wrist!

[Benzsiam]

I put these three in the same level.

[pearson1995]

Originally Posted by Benzsiam

I put these three in the same level.

Interesting. I own a Day date. But I feel the finishing on the bracelet of the RO is superior. And the movement also I would say is objectively a superior level.

I’ve never owned a PM daytona, only SS. but again the finishing and movement i believe once again comes second to the RO.

The Rolex watched do feel more sturdy on the wrist though.

[macrowatch]

The CODE 11:59. Obviously!

And maybe Moonswatch.

[SoylentGreenChi]

For a steel sports watch? No, nothing above the Royal Oak IMHO. Candidates might be a 5712 Nautilus or a SS Daytona, but honestly, to me the RO is tops. Note: I am excluding all dress watches from my comparison, otherwise I’d have to say Patek 5970 is the mountaintop. I’d pick that above all else.

[pearson1995]

Originally Posted by SoylentGreenChi

For a steel sports watch? No, nothing above the Royal Oak IMHO. Candidates might be a 5712 Nautilus or a SS Daytona, but honestly, to me the RO is tops. Note: I am excluding all dress watches from my comparison, otherwise I’d have to say Patek 5970 is the mountaintop. I’d pick that above all else.

Yes the 5970, although I have never held one in person, the movement, complexity and charm of the watch I would have to say is worthy of beating the RO. But they are two very different watches as you mentioned.

[Yacht-Master]

[DVR]

These two are equal in fit and finish, the GO is much more accurate though. Happy I do not need to choose between them. That would be impossible.

[GB-man]

For me there are many. While the RO is certainly a nice design it’s not tops for me personally. I can understand why many like it. It’s easily identifiable with some flash. A natural transition from a Rolex.

[Bearxj86]

I think we need to understand the criteria here.

If you are talking about a single watch for the rest of your life, to wear anywhere and anytime, for all occasions, I would say possibly but the RO at 50m WR is a bit more dainty.

I think you need to assess it on the following criteria:
1) Design - 10/10
2) Sheer beauty - 10/10
3) Movement quality and finishing - 8/10
4) Wearability and versatility - 8.5/10
5) Durability - 8/10
6) Comfort - 8/10
7) Value retention? 9.5/10
8) Brand recognition and flex factor: 9/10

I would say that if you are talking about a specific situation (dress watch, under a cuff, pure sports, diving), I think there are watches that will edge it out for that specific situation, but overall I think there are only a few watches that would compete:

Sports / All-around multi-purpose (therefore Submariner and GMT are out as they do not Suit/Tux level in many cases)
1) Rolex Daytona
2) Patek Nautilus
3) Rolex Day Date
4) Rolex Date just
5) Lange Odysseus
6) VC Overseas - really like the ultra thing variations

[ragsk]

In terms of "sports watches" my order would be:

1. Daytona - you don't mess with the king. Nautilus and RO may be Genta designs but the the Daytona is just iconic. People can stick their noses up as its cheaper than VC, Patek, AP etc but its a bloody institution
2. Nautilus. Just the most comfortable watch period.
2. Royal Oak - such an awesome design and to totally die for. Better engineered and designed than the Nautilus but not as wearable.

[DonLee]

personally, that would depend on which RO.
I do rate the Nautilus higher than the normal 15500.
5711 = 15202/16202

RO 15407st > ANY Nautilus > Rolex > any sports watch.

[inadeje]

I too have the chrono RO. My take is that it’s too delicate (in my mind) to wear as an only, all day everyday watch. These may just be my own personal demons speaking. Of course, for someone who doesn’t care and doesn’t mind their RO looking heavily used, then fine. The brushed bezel and bracelet picks up scratches way too easy to be my daily. Daytona ceramic is the way to go.

[Famz_01]

I love my two royal oak's (have the 15500 with grey dial and 15500or both on bracelets) but in my opinion they don't wear as well as my PM Rolex models. There is something special about a PM Rolex

[CoveWatch]

I love the RO and think it's one of the prettiest watches made. I do wish it had some sort of bracelet adjustment available. Guess that also makes a sports Rolex pretty hard to beat as an overall watch. Not saying I would put the Rolex above a RO, just that to me it's a more practical daily companion. But I'm also not traditional or have my dress cuffs too tight and wear whatever I want, whether it be in shorts and a tank or tux.

[DVR]

I would like to agree with the two previous posters but my 15500 fits to perfection. I honestly never feel the need for an 'easy link' at all. I am myself amazed about that. The boutique took a lot of time to adjust the watch to my wrist and used the 1.5 link in the end.
When it's cold the watch is just a little loose but never 'too loose' and when it hot it's just right and never bothersome. In fact, I have worn this watch almost every day since I got it and never 'felt it' on my wrist, sometimes I had to look on my wrist to see it because I could not feel wearing it.