AP ROO Titanium Themes (grey dial) - opinions?

[byr0nic]

Hi all,

I was in Hong Kong last week and went to an AP AD whilst in town to compare prices with London. When in the boutique, I noticed the Titanium Themes (26170TI.OO.1000TI.01) and immediately asked if I could try the watch on.

I've read elsewhere that no one does a grey dial like AP, and based on my experience with this watch in person I wouldn't be bold enough to disagree. As expected for the case/bracelet material, it was phenomenally light for its imposing size - I'm still undecided as to whether this lightness is a good thing though! (I like the idea of feeling like you are wearing a watch!)

I didn't purchase the watch whilst in HK, however am seriously considering sourcing a top notch pre-owned model from somewhere in the globe... maybe even using my newly-purchased DSSD to part fund (buying two watches of that calibre in the space of a few months is probably not the wisest of choices, I figure)...

What do any/all you ROO lovers think of the grey dial and Titanium case/bracelet?

I look forward to hearing your thoughts!


Cheers,
Omar

[Accoutre-Montres]

One of the nicest AP ROO's I have ever seen!!

[TSW]

Love the grey dial,but not that keen on light weight titanium watches

[Submarino]

I love the gray dial. However, I would never go with a Titanium model. I love the weight and feel of my SS one. It's weighs half a pound, so imagine the amazing sensation on your wrist. Here's a pic of mine.

[byr0nic]

Thanks for the responses, chaps. I'm completely with you on the preference for stainless steel over titanium from the perspective of feel on the wrist, however I still can't get over the beauty of the grey dial! Quite the conundrum...

One point of personal justification is that if purchased, I'll be almost certainly using it with various other 'AP Bands' straps for different occasions (rubber for more casual, etc.) on top of the OEM bracelet; I wonder whether the lightness factor will be as significant as otherwise in this context, as I imagine most of the weight saving is actually realised by the bracelet?

I make this latter point with experience of my Hamilton Khaki Codebreaker Chrono PVD (before you laugh, I got a good deal on it soon after release, and I must say it can be fun to wear a clock on your wrist sometimes... ), which has a titanium case also (albeit 50mm) and a rubber strap, and yet still comes in at a decent weight on the wrist...


As a point of comparison between titanium and s/steel, I understand the former is technically harder, however is one in your combined experience (science aside!) better at withstanding nicks and dings at all?

[byr0nic]

Btw Mr. H - lovely watch...

I've got to say, in some ways the older face sans-Arabics actually looks a little classier; hadn't really thought about it until seeing your pic!

[WatchTimes]

LOVE the grey dial
Love Ti
I would not buy a Ti ROO as my only ROO.
If I had a SS one already I would not hesitate to get Ti as a second.

My favorite combo is the RG ROO with the Gray dial... That one is STUNNING!

Honestly though the more of I have learned the less likely I am to buy a ROO.
I think the piggyback chrono is a BIG let down on a watch in that price range.

Also as I have small wrists I find them VERY uncomfortable! The case back and clasp are horrid for people with smaller wrists.

Yet somehow it still is an amazing piece part of me wants but won't get as I know Id flip it at a loss in no time.

[Submarino]

Originally Posted by JYogi

LOVE the grey dial
Love Ti
I would not buy a Ti ROO as my only ROO.
If I had a SS one already I would not hesitate to get Ti as a second.

My favorite combo is the RG ROO with the Gray dial... That one is STUNNING!

Honestly though the more of I have learned the less likely I am to buy a ROO.
I think the piggyback chrono is a BIG let down on a watch in that price range.

Also as I have small wrists I find them VERY uncomfortable! The case back and clasp are horrid for people with smaller wrists.

Yet somehow it still is an amazing piece part of me wants but won't get as I know Id flip it at a loss in no time.

Jeremy, wait till you own one and feel it on your wrist for a whole day. You will never flip it. I promise.

[Submarino]

Originally Posted by byr0nic

Btw Mr. H - lovely watch...

I've got to say, in some ways the older face sans-Arabics actually looks a little classier; hadn't really thought about it until seeing your pic!

Thanks Omar. I personally love this first dial that came out in 1993 with the launch of the watch. Mine is a D with a very low serial No. below the 200s.

[WatchTimes]

Originally Posted by Submarino

Jeremy, wait till you own one and feel it on your wrist for a whole day. You will never flip it. I promise.

Sub, my friend and I did a trade a couple times.
I have had his RG RubberClad, Ti ROO on leather and his Themes on a bracelet... I have worn them for extended periods

I was VERY let down.
I think the piggy back chrono is a joke for an in house movement in this price range so not matter the size of the case I would be let down.
The case is overly thick as a result
The crown and chrono pushers do not line up because of this
The wear on a piggy back is worse than an integrated chrono so more maint issues.
Also as I said the case is not comfortable on smaller wrists at all from the caseback to the clasp it just wasn't a good fit.
I like the style and design but it ends there for me with the ROO.
Trust me I tried to fall in love as it is a "ROO", I have had my AD hold them with deposit for me, he has ordered LE's for me and when it comes down every time I go in and put it on my wrist I ask him and myself WHY did I bother again?? He laughs as he has LISTS of clients who are ALWAYS willing to buy one when they are able to get it in stock.

[Submarino]

Fair enough. I didn't know you have owned several ROOs. My bad!

[boa2]

Originally Posted by Accoutre-Montres

One of the nicest AP ROO's I have ever seen!!

Ditto. I love the Ti version...and the weight. It's still over 150 grams, and with the size of the watch, I think the Ti makes it a great daily wearer. Looks great on the Survivor and Diver straps as well.

[WatchTimes]

Originally Posted by Submarino

Fair enough. I didn't know you have owned several ROOs. My bad!

Still a bad arse watch that is for sure. It just isnt for me.

I think if I had bigger wrists I would have kept one of them.

[byr0nic]

Thanks all for the feedback and subsequent healthy debate! Much food for thought...

Personally, I knew the chrono was a 'piggyback', however didn't realise the drawbacks because of this as mentioned by Jeremy. I'm still not sure whether it's a massive issue for me, as my default requirement is only that it is an in-house movement, however perhaps I should be fussier!

The ruminations go on...

[xbox]

I like both the SS and Ti bracelet models, it would be a very tough choice for me.

Not much more of an opinion from me!

[boa2]

Originally Posted by byr0nic

Thanks all for the feedback and subsequent healthy debate! Much food for thought...

Personally, I knew the chrono was a 'piggyback', however didn't realise the drawbacks because of this as mentioned by Jeremy. I'm still not sure whether it's a massive issue for me, as my default requirement is only that it is an in-house movement, however perhaps I should be fussier!

The ruminations go on...

"Piggyback" chronographs are used even in some VERY high end watches (Hublot, Richard Mille, etc). The net effect in terms of usage or cost due to having a Dubois-Depraz chronograph module attached to (in this case) an in-house movement will be a non-issue.

Literally thousands of people own the Offshore, as they are nearing 20 years in production. If you like the watch, you'll be yet another happy owner.

[WatchTimes]

Originally Posted by boa2

"Piggyback" chronographs are common, even in some VERY high end watches. The actual effect in terms of usage or cost due to having a Dubois-Depraz chronograph module attached to an in-house movement will be a non-issue.

Literally thousands of people own the Offshore, as they are nearing 20 years in production. If you like the watch, you'll be yet another happy owner.

Id listen to Howard about this
His knowledge of the mechanics and watches FAR surpasses mine!

Again, as I said even though its a shortcoming in my book if I had bigger wrists I would still likely own one! Most every watch has a shortcoming if we look hard enough.

I must admit I do like the diver and when I tried it on I found it pretty darn comfortable!

[boa2]

Originally Posted by JYogi

Id listen to Howard about this
His knowledge of the mechanics and watches FAR surpasses mine!

Again, as I said even though its a shortcoming in my book if I had bigger wrists I would still likely own one! Most every watch has a shortcoming if we look hard enough.

I must admit I do like the diver and when I tried it on I found it pretty darn comfortable!

Thank you for the compliment, Jeremy...extremely kind of you.

The Diver is just a hair thinner, with a different caseback, and the wide composite strap that amazingly, quite a few folks with even tiny wrists find it comfortable. I also like it a lot.

"Most every watch has a shortcoming if we look hard enough"....oh so true.

Congratulations again on your new one.

[xbox]

Originally Posted by JYogi

I must admit I do like the diver and when I tried it on I found it pretty darn comfortable!

I think the Diver is a good choice, particularly considering how hot the new ROO chrono's are

I'll take your word on how comfortable the Diver is .... until DHL arrive!

[Submarino]

The diver is beautiful! I've been thinking about getting one. It's a very comfy watch and superb looking. I might like it better than the RubberClad.

[chazha]

have you considered the new ROOs?

Steel vers goes for 28k USD. it is a must have watch for me in me life!!

[TSW]

Originally Posted by chazha

have you considered the new roos?

Steel vers goes for 28k usd. It is a must have watch for me in me life!!

wow!!!

[chazha]

TSW:

I see you have the Panda in ur collection which i think its the most beautiful ROO non ltd ed. So close I was to pull the trigger then SIHH2011 came out.... :)

[TSW]

Originally Posted by chazha

TSW:

I see you have the Panda in ur collection which i think its the most beautiful ROO non ltd ed. So close I was to pull the trigger then SIHH2011 came out.... :)

Thanks, I was never in to AP's until i tried the Panda on and now i absolutely love them

Had a tough time deciding if i should go for the one with strap or the one with bracelet, i ended up with getting the one on bracelet and i will be ordering a strap for it as well for a dressier look.

Would love to add the Diver or a Mountauk Highway but got to scratch my itch for a Panerai 231 first

[byr0nic]

Originally Posted by chazha

have you considered the new ROOs?

Steel vers goes for 28k USD. it is a must have watch for me in me life!!

I've got to say, the new SIHH 2011 models don't really do it for me.

The Panda on the other hand is quite the beauty... it's certainly a tough call between it and the grey dial...

[TSW]

Originally Posted by byr0nic

I've got to say, the new SIHH 2011 models don't really do it for me.

The Panda on the other hand is quite the beauty... it's certainly a tough call between it and the grey dial...

Let me push you over the edge

[chazha]

Its not an easy call between grey titan and the Panda.

You see im a guy with below 7" wrist and Grey titan would look smaller on me as it has darker colours and dial. Panda would just look like a Big Panda on my wrist. As for the weight of the wacth. I wouldnt mind the titans lightness. A watch shouldnt feel heavy due to its price tag.

If i had to choose myfinal decision would be Panda with bracelet. I would then sell the bracelet then replace it with rubber strap and claps:) im not a leather dude. Ive heard that the hornback strap is tearing down pretty fast.
Once i got the panda ill start dreaming about the titan in rubber strap. Hmmm its getting expensive.

Just my 2 cents

[byr0nic]

Originally Posted by TSW

Let me push you over the edge

You've made a very compelling argument!

I think I'm going to have to play with the Panda in the flesh (haven't done so as yet) and thereafter hopefully my mind will be made up!

Will let you chaps know how the story ends...

[tech_controller]

I love the AP ROOs...but the grey dial just seems too difficult to read.

AP knocked it out of the park with their latest ROOs...I am smitten and will definitely get one.

[paolo14]

Here's a pic of my AP ROO Ti