Battle: Daytona | ROC

[Benzsiam]

AP bracelet is the most gorgeous, ROC for me.

[garyk]

Originally Posted by hl0m4n

if you were offered, at retail, a daytona 126519LN or royal oak chrono 26240ST.OO.1320ST.06 which would you choose and why?

daytona $32,100:
pros:
- daytona history
- white gold case + clasp
- ceramic bezel

cons:
- no date
- no fly back
- solid case back

royal oak chrono $37,400:
pros:
- ap horology
- date
- fly back
- open case back
- 22k rotor

cons:
- stainless steel

I’m not interested in a rubber strap watch so the ROC would be a nice alternative at this point…

[1William]

I prefer the Daytona. An iconic watch that will always be such.

[HMHM]

I really like the 519. On a rubber strap it’s really durable and not that scratch prone compared to the ROC, which has the best bracelet in the business but it’s just a scratch magnet waiting to happen. Ultimately it comes down to wrist size and wearability. The ROC wears really huge compared to the Daytona. And that’s often the dealbreaker for many people.

[HHIslander]

ROC. Only because oyster flex or any other non-leather strap only look good on a few divers, like a SMP. On the Daytona it makes look cheap imo.

[S1mplee]

AP gang

[puma1552]

Daytona all day. Personally I find the AP, ummm, how do I say this...ugly.

[mykii]

You'd have to have a hole in your head to think that the Daytona stacks up against any ROC.

AP by a mile.

[swish77]

Originally Posted by puma1552

Daytona all day. Personally I find the AP, ummm, how do I say this...ugly.

Glad I'm not the only one who feels this way about AP chronos. I don't care how well it's made or the finish of the case/bracelet. The whole thing is an awkward design, and that crooked date wheel is an eyesore.

[Ichiran]

AP RO and ROC are some of the most beautiful watches designed. Up for Gerald Genta.

[mobster600]

In 2017 i was hours late to buying a ROC 26320, he already had it wrapped up for delivery. Guess how much.......$17.5k. Yep, the old FP movement in the ROC was looked down upon collectors and didnt demand much collectability. The new 38mm ROC with the old FP movement will always be a 17k watch IMO. The 41mm however with the updated movement is meh to me. Its not worth the premium for the new movement.

The WG Daytona is a winner to me. Its a gold watch, classic Daytona with the modern bezel. Its a stunner. The Oysterflex is great for lighter weight feel. The solid gold Daytonas are pretty heavy for me. I like a lighter watch.

[bullies]

AP, easily for me

[jb335]

I own and absolutely love my 116519. The longer I own it, the more I love it. I look at it as a modern day version of the 6263 Big Red silver dials. Which is my vintage grail.

That said, I would not pass on a AP like that at retail. It’s an amazing watch and let’s face it, a privilege to buy at retail. I would caution that it wears large and make sure you’re ok with that. I think a 41mm RO requires at least a 6.75 inch wrist.

But frankly, either one at retail and you’re a winner.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Chiboy]

It's funny how polarizing this is! [Daytona/AP], and it's not even close! lol

Personally, I have never liked any 4:30 date location on any watch and now that it's been mentioned that it's not even centered, I can't unsee that. APs are pretty, but I'd choose a different one if I wanted higher horology and didn't mind it being less robust.

[puma1552]

Originally Posted by Chiboy

It's funny how polarizing this is! [Daytona/AP], and it's not even close! lol

Personally, I have never liked any 4:30 date location on any watch and now that it's been mentioned that it's not even centered, I can't unsee that. APs are pretty, but I'd choose a different one if I wanted higher horology and didn't mind it being less robust.

I'm guessing the date is centered, we just can't see light hitting the left beveled edge of the bezel.

But I agree, the 4:30 location for it regardless is not for me.

[APPRF]

Royal Oak and it's no contest. Gold case on Daytona is nothing, Daytona is iconic in steel. If the Daytona was full gold bracelet maybe it would be a contest, but on Oysterflex no. Royal Oak Chrono on bracelet is a different higher level to Daytona Oysterflex

[pearson1995]

I don’t think you’ll regret either. I can’t choose between them. For a daily probably the Daytona.

[wb55]

Originally Posted by Hawk

What reliability issues are you referencing?

I've got a 9 month old ROO 43 which has been back for service twice and now needs to go back a third.

[clubrcr]

I'd chose the Daytona all day long, but I have to wonder how you would expect to get a fair poll from a Rolex forum.

It would be similar to asking on a Porsche forum, should you buy a Porsche GT3 or Ferrari 458 Speciale?

[Hardtimes]

Royal Oak because I have a bunch of Rolex models already, maybe something different

[MichelleP]

Daytona for me. 41mm AP is too large for my wrist.

[biza]

Tough choice but the daytona for me

[tenementhall]

Between those, Daytona because the 26240 is massive

[mykii]

Originally Posted by mobster600

In 2017 i was hours late to buying a ROC 26320, he already had it wrapped up for delivery. Guess how much.......$17.5k. Yep, the old FP movement in the ROC was looked down upon collectors and didnt demand much collectability. The new 38mm ROC with the old FP movement will always be a 17k watch IMO. The 41mm however with the updated movement is meh to me. Its not worth the premium for the new movement.

Such a dumb argument . First, most ROs were more or less trading around that range at that point in time, which was quite good considering the broader market. Second, no collector has ever looked down on the FP movt - it is a tried and tested high-end chrono. It's very well respected and amongst the most slim out there (yes, slimmer than a Daytona). I'll take a slimmer watch with a tried-and-tested high end movement with the best case finishing in the industry, atop of what may be the most prolific watch design of all time, over a run of the mill Daytona on oysterflex.

You can believe its a $17k watch, but it doesn't change the fact that they now retail for almost $40k before tax and it is close to impossible to get one. They more or less trade above this universally on the secondary market, too. Some, such as the now discontinued blue panda, still at a steep premium depending on condition. It is what it is. The market has spoken. And even if it hadn't spoken, I'd still take a high end watch over a run-of-the-mill Rolex any day of the week.

.

[mobster600]

Originally Posted by mykii

Such a dumb argument . First, most ROs were more or less trading around that range at that point in time, which was quite good considering the broader market. Second, no collector has ever looked down on the FP movt - it is a tried and tested high-end chrono. It's very well respected and amongst the most slim out there (yes, slimmer than a Daytona). I'll take a slimmer watch with a tried-and-tested high end movement with the best case finishing in the industry, atop of what may be the most prolific watch design of all time, over a run of the mill Daytona on oysterflex.

You can believe its a $17k watch, but it doesn't change the fact that they now retail for almost $40k before tax and it is close to impossible to get one. They more or less trade above this universally on the secondary market, too. Some, such as the now discontinued blue panda, still at a steep premium depending on condition. It is what it is. The market has spoken. And even if it hadn't spoken, I'd still take a high end watch over a run-of-the-mill Rolex any day of the week.

.

Im just not a big AP person. Ok last throw back comment here lol. The Lange Datograph use to be 40k pre-covid. That would be my chrono if I wanted a very high end watch. Ill be brutally honest. Lange and Patek just feel really special compared to AP. Not knocking AP but the finishing on a Lange or Patek is above AP. So my relative value argument is, why spend the insane money on a ROC when you can get a Lange or Patek and get more from them? I would be absolutely interested in owning a ROC or RO but for WAY less then what they are currently going for.

i also dont agree on the new models AP makes. I miss the old dual time. I had one only for a short period like 20 years ago. AP's focus is in a direction that I question. Are they truly making watches for horological aficianado's OR for celebrities? All their new models look so flashy and gaudy. I miss the understated AP brand that use to be.

And not to correct you but the old FP movement was hated by collectors. Benihaminas was questioned so many times for an in-house movement that in his last interview before the release, he had this grin on his face that looked so greedy. He then jacked up the MSRP of the 38mm ROC by 13k keeping the same FP movement. The 41mm ROC has the new in-house movement. If you dont believe me see for your self: $23,900 for the 26320 released in 2015. Now 2023 the same movement watch is $36,200.

https://www.watchcollectinglifestyle...onos-out-there

https://www.audemarspiguet.com/com/e...1356ST.01.html

The market does drive the pricing but I think its ludicrous to spend the kinda money on AP right now. The relative value to other brand and historical value compared to current pricing is out of this world. Just my opinion, anyone can spend their money on whatever their heart desires

[Cauhauna]

Originally Posted by Tanuki

I know these are different models but it’s a real side by side picture of the two. I love the Daytona but next to a ROC it just looks ordinary. The Daytona is a S class Mercedes and the ROC is a Bentley. But with that being said I wouldn’t want to drive the Bentley as a daily, so it depends on how you will use them.

great pic, and completely disagree w/ your opinon.
The ROC looks like a hulky mess next to the 116500

That said, if it was a Royal Oak non chrono and less Breitling-sized, i'd be more open to it.

[ltmgeller]

Daytona worked be my choice.

[Rollieo]

Originally Posted by puma1552

I'm guessing the date is centered, we just can't see light hitting the left beveled edge of the bezel.

But I agree, the 4:30 location for it regardless is not for me.

It’s not centered. Look at as many pictures and videos and in person. Ridiculous that AP doesn’t center it. Why not? Cutting corners and using off the shelf movement that doesn’t even fit the watch. On a $35k watch. Seiko and Citizen wouldn’t even do this on a $500 watch.

[Rollieo]

Originally Posted by wb55

I've got a 9 month old ROO 43 which has been back for service twice and now needs to go back a third.

Surprised more people aren’t aware of AP reliability issues. Thinking about how many AP are produced compared to Rolex and how often we hear about Rolex vs AP issues, I gotta imagine 1 in 10 APs go back to the factory while it’s at most 1 in 100 Rolex for service issues.

[Longhorn]

are we counting the 32xx low amplitude issues or no?