AP ROO vs Hublot

[mcorliss]

The AP ROO and Hublots seem very similar in design and price. Which is more desirable and why?

[drchuck72]

I think you can search this topic but here is my take.

NO CONTEST! Audemars Piguet is a house of watchmaking with a rich history. They have made some iconic pieces in their time and they are still family owned. Their movements are made in house or in the case of some early Royal Oaks, by JLC. They owned a minority stake in JLC until Richemont bought JLC.

Hublot came into existence in 1985. Most of their Big Bang Pieces use modified ETA movements. Only their King Power models use in house (UNICO) movements and that is their first attempt.

Their designs may be similar (because Hublot wants to emulate AP) but they are worlds apart in terms of their desirability (at least in the WIS world). Of course, desirability is in the eye of the beholder. Hublot does spend a lot more on marketing. A while back, AP used a marketing tag line along the lines of 'The Watch for those who know about watches' or something like that.

[mcorliss]

Good info. I'm being drawn to ROO Navy version. Not sure why, but its growing on me.

[nick c]

AP any day

[JizJizJiz]

Like both, but would choose AP if I can only have 1 :).


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[drchuck72]

Originally Posted by mcorliss

Good info. I'm being drawn to ROO Navy version. Not sure why, but its growing on me.

It's a nice watch but I find with my blue watches, it's hard to match with wardrobe. As such, my blue Monaco and TW Steel (in Rose Gold) don't get a lot of wrist time.

[psv]

Originally Posted by drchuck72

I think you can search this topic but here is my take.

NO CONTEST! Audemars Piguet is a house of watchmaking with a rich history. They have made some iconic pieces in their time and they are still family owned. Their movements are made in house or in the case of some early Royal Oaks, by JLC. They owned a minority stake in JLC until Richemont bought JLC.

Hublot came into existence in 1985. Most of their Big Bang Pieces use modified ETA movements. Only their King Power models use in house (UNICO) movements and that is their first attempt.

Their designs may be similar (because Hublot wants to emulate AP) but they are worlds apart in terms of their desirability (at least in the WIS world). Of course, desirability is in the eye of the beholder. Hublot does spend a lot more on marketing. A while back, AP used a marketing tag line along the lines of 'The Watch for those who know about watches' or something like that.

Something like this.

Hublot has done a fine job with a gazzilion limited edition models that are closely aligned to current fashion trends, and managed to get a good following among young/trendy soccer players and other glitterazi, so Hublot definitely feels a bit younger, but they have nothing on AP in terms of historic significance.

I think you can say that the Royal Oak/RO Offshore line is a bit like the iPhone. No one had ever seen anything like before it came out and the landscape was never the same aftwards. Like Apple, there can only be one original.

[leica]

Ap

[kilyung]

Biver (former CEO) spent a year at AP when he first started in the industry. I think he's been trying to capture the AP spirit since then. IMO, his biggest achievement was Omega and Blancpain. Hublot was supposed to be his swan song.

[Rolex Freak]

AP all the way.

[DOUGHN]

AP ... no contest.... LOL



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[GarageBMW]

To me it's like comparing a BMW to a Trabant. AP all the way.

[eric23]

Ap!

[psv]

Originally Posted by kilyung

Biver (former CEO) spent a year at AP when he first started in the industry. I think he's been trying to capture the AP spirit since then. IMO, his biggest achievement was Omega and Blancpain. Hublot was supposed to be his swan song.

Biver is certainly the turn-around king of the Swiss watch industry. Funny how few people today remember that Blancpain was a dead company and Omega was at the level of Tissot http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Claude_Biver

[AshAP]

Hublot is a not so cheap copy of a Royal Oak Offshore. Although people who think that the RO octagonal bezel looks like a traffic sign may prefer this brand. My opinion is that a Hublot watch is not the wisest way to spend a lot of money.
Bertie Ecklestone is a big fan of Hublot, don't know why! His daughter usually wears a gold RO perpetual calender.

[SubKing]

I'm sure as many have said, hublot deff gets their design cues from AP.. Anyone in the watch world knows this.. Quality isn't bad for a hublot, just isn't as high of detail and quality as AP.. Hublot is very over priced, and the resale is very bad. I won't lie and say hublts are not sharp, but that's only because they resemble AP! They're a relatively new company and still have a long way to go until they could ever be compared to AP IF ever.

[JMW]

I'v never really warmed to Hublot.

[subtona]

AP please.
Let's not speak of this again






Seriously.

[edo]

Originally Posted by psv

Biver is certainly the turn-around king of the Swiss watch industry. Funny how few people today remember that Blancpain was a dead company and Omega was at the level of Tissot http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Claude_Biver

Yes, he is truly a marketing Genius with a capital G :). In watch industry, he take product placement and brand ambassadors to another level...

Dont want be disrespectful but I see most Hublot models as Nouveau riche and younger crowd watch.

On other side, I like some of the Hublots LE limited features, like grass in Manchester United watch. New Arturo Fuente is also cool, and I love Ferrari Big Bang, and magic gold idea especially because it's developed by a guy from my country Bosnia & Herzegovina, 30 year old, metallurgical engineer Senad Hasanovic.

[Watchonisto]

Ap

[travisb]

No question, AP is in a league above..

[Dickson Lim]

Not even a contest, from the history to the craftmanships. But frankly, Hublot doesn't look bad either.

[Silvio Mosiello]

Does this really need an answer?

[TSW]

Hublot is no way near AP in quality, design and want factor.

[newbieincali]

I have to say that it was because of Hublot and their marketing during the World Cup that I discovered the world of fine watchmaking.

I have been around rolex's all my life... my whole family have at least 1 rolex or tudor for each wrist and friends always wore them. My father and grandfather are both self-made entrepreneurs and have done very very well for themselves but are both modest and I never gave watches much of a thought. During the latest World Cup I asked myself what is this "hub"-"lot" that is advertised everywhere .... so off to the world of the internet where I learned they made watches and pretty "cool" looking ones at that, nothing like I have seen before. At the same time my father was in Prague when they opened a boutique and I gave him the address and off he went.. He almost picked up a Big Bang but my mom stomped and said that's too much money just for a watch...

Since then I have been scouring the internet discovering the world of fine watches and then discovered AP.

I would agree that while Hublot has copied AP but they have their own niche in the world where they go towards a more contemporary feel vs a classic feel that AP has.

[B. Doggy]

Me no likey Hublot.

[mb23]

There is no comparison to AP. But that being said Hublot has come a long way and they are here to stay and improving every year. Biver has had a huge part in the success and has brought the brand to the forefront.

[Shikar]

I feel dirty comparing the two. :(

Regards.

[HL65]

AP all day every day and twice on Sunday!!

[tifosi]

Originally Posted by SteelerFan65

AP all day every day and twice on Sunday!!

Yup!