New to AP. Looking at buying new blue dial RO

[DJRikki]

Hey everyone.

Id really like to get a hold of a blue dial Royal Oak but know not a lot about them.

From my understanding I would need to buy from a boutique with my nearest being in France. I did email them but they did not reply.

Are these items on a long waiting list or fairly easy to purchase? Eg. Buying a sub vs trying to buy a Daytona ceramic.

I have spotted a few models which appear to my newbie eye to be similar eg. Jumbo and 15400. 39mm and 41mm. Am I mixing a lot of things up here with new references and old?

After reading these appear to be more delicate than SS Rolex models. I am careful at the best of times but how often should a new RO be serviced and what is the normal cost for this.

Ive seen blue dial new unworn watches for £14000 or there abouts. Does this scream beware?


Sorry for bombarding with questions. Thank you.

[sachit]

Have you ever tried 39mm or 41mm ? 41mm wears bigger than its size at least for me. 15400 Blue is stunning.
39mm is classic but I didn't like the dial as much as 15400.
I should get my 15202 39mm this year and yes the blue dials are not easy to get.


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[Constantine]

Originally Posted by DJRikki

I have spotted a few models which appear to my newbie eye to be similar eg. Jumbo and 15400. 39mm and 41mm. Am I mixing a lot of things up here with new references and old?

Just to help with this one question, these are both in production but they are different references:
ref 15202 / Jumbo / Extra-Thin / 39mm : This is true to the original RO: same size, same movement (based on calibre from JLC), two hands (no centre seconds)
ref 15400 / 41mm: this is a modern interpretation with bigger size and newer in-house movement by AP.

Try to read up on both references, and try them on to make sure you get the one you prefer, and you don't just choose one by accident.

[AK797]

Sizes you have right, the blue 15400 is now Boutique which we don't have here but an AD may still have one so ring around. These are 14K and no discount, resellers will probably charge more. Service is around £7-800 only.

[red1108nyc]

Consideration #1: Size.

39mm vs. 41mm to me, has significant difference thanks to the integrated bracelet. A 37mm RO can wear like a 40mm Daytona for example. 39mm version wears perfect and much like a Rolex sub to me. Balance and symmetry is another consideration and 39 mm to me, is simply perfection and hard to improve on. When it comes to AP, it is like an art form so aesthetics matter.


Consideration #2: Shades of blue.

This is a lesser concern when it comes to shades of blue. 15202 vs. 15300 or 15400 are all slightly different but all very beautiful. Paging buddy Ben - please post some of your super shots!


Consideration #3: Robustness.

Rolex is more robust and AP more refined and this is what we love about them - a relatively lower production brand (compared to Rolex) and hand crafted pieces of art.

[ChrisInCharlotte]

You could always try a blue dial 26124st?

[benlee]

Originally Posted by DJRikki

Hey everyone.

Id really like to get a hold of a blue dial Royal Oak but know not a lot about them.

From my understanding I would need to buy from a boutique with my nearest being in France. I did email them but they did not reply.

Are these items on a long waiting list or fairly easy to purchase? Eg. Buying a sub vs trying to buy a Daytona ceramic.

I have spotted a few models which appear to my newbie eye to be similar eg. Jumbo and 15400. 39mm and 41mm. Am I mixing a lot of things up here with new references and old?

After reading these appear to be more delicate than SS Rolex models. I am careful at the best of times but how often should a new RO be serviced and what is the normal cost for this.

Ive seen blue dial new unworn watches for £14000 or there abouts. Does this scream beware?


Sorry for bombarding with questions. Thank you.

1) From what I know, the blue dial 15400 and 15202 are boutique exclusives now.

2) Waiting List - You may need to wait a while for Jumbo but I don't think it's very long.

3) There's 15300 (39mm), 15400 (41mm) and 15202 (39mm ultra thin ). They are not similar at all, especially the last one is faithful to the original royal oak.

4) Unless you are wearing it for rigorous sports, it's fine. Service recommendation is once every 3 to 4 years. Do note the bracelet, due to it's fine finishing will scratch easily over time. Service cost will depend if there are parts that need to be replaced, if you are going for polishing etc.

5) Not sure about pricing in UK. Some others an chip in on this.

[DJRikki]

Thank you so much guys!

Just heading out just now but will read over these details later when I get in.

Regards

Rikki :)

[lapince]

Not easy to get but not as hard as a Patek 5611 or 5167, had I wanted I could have gotten one, went to the AP Boutique and they just received one, as well as Chronopassion had one the same day. I prefer the 15202 proportion wise, except if you have a very big wrost, at least 7.5 inches, you should be fine with a 39mm. You also have the possibility of getting a blue 15300, same size, 39mm, a little thicker with second hand, but the 15202 is closer to the original Genta design, Gerald Genta is the guy who designed both the AP Julbo and the Patek Nautilus, probably the 2 most iconic SS watches on bracelet, more than 40 years later they are still selling like crazy, in any case a Jumbo is a hell of a watch, and I prefer it to the 15400, though the 400's color is really cool

[lapince]

About servicing every 3-4 years that seems to me very steep, I think it is more like every 5-8 years, I decided to service my watches every 8 years, they should be fine like that, but can't imagine Aqp recommending doing it every 3-4 years, that would stop a lot of people feom buying IMO

[DJRikki]

Originally Posted by lapince

Not easy to get but not as hard as a Patek 5611 or 5167, had I wanted I could have gotten one, went to the AP Boutique and they just received one, as well as Chronopassion had one the same day. I prefer the 15202 proportion wise, except if you have a very big wrost, at least 7.5 inches, you should be fine with a 39mm. You also have the possibility of getting a blue 15300, same size, 39mm, a little thicker with second hand, but the 15202 is closer to the original Genta design, Gerald Genta is the guy who designed both the AP Julbo and the Patek Nautilus, probably the 2 most iconic SS watches on bracelet, more than 40 years later they are still selling like crazy, in any case a Jumbo is a hell of a watch, and I prefer it to the 15400, though the 400's color is really cool

Not measured my wrist but the 42mm Tudor I have looks fine on it and I have decent build in my arms to carry it off thankfully.



Going to spend time tomorrow researching more about the different models and taking notes from everyones posts.

Trying different ones on will be the problem as in Scotland there arent any dealers who hold stock (that I know of) but I will find a way!

Thanks!