AP classic grande complications

[lapince]

Wanted to share with you some pics of AP complicated watches.

Interesting in a way but not up to the level of design of Patek for these kinds of grande complication watches, as much as AP is top notch for their sport watches, it seems to me that Patek blows them out of the water with equivalent pieces.

Like a lot their pocket watch though, kind of piece which is really cool to have in a very big collection, or if your name is Johnny Depp, you see him very often with a chain indicating clearly he has a pocket watch

Enjoy the pics

[Hairdude1]

Cool pics

[lapince]

Wonder the price tag on the pocket watch, I guess hefty as it has split second chrono, minute repeater, perpetual calendar, moon phase and I don't know what else, of course I prefer to have a wristwatch but still think if you have a very big collection it's kinda cool to have one in it, I don't know of other brands that still make grande complications for pocket watches on a regular production as this AP seems to be, so that's a good point for AP.

I wonder how many RO and ROO pieces they sell per year, and how many of all the other pieces they sell, I have the impression, but maybe it's because we are on a Rolex forum where sport watches have the preference, that if they're still in business they owe it to their sport lines, they can really say thank you to Genta, whereas Patek even if the Nautilus and Aquanaut lines are a certain part of their business they are clearly not as important to them as the RO/ROO's are for AP

[lapince]

The full gold skeleton is truly awesome, but there are 2 different ones, I prefer the one where you don't see the date disk, I find it much more beautiful, ok the other one is also a really cool watch, but even if I usually prefer a watch that has the date, I prefer the non date skeleton, on the pic it looks like yellow gold but it's just the lighting I guess as it's RG as the date model

Just added another pic of the non date where the Rg is more visible, it is really awesome looking

[nick c]

Great pics

[LostinNihon]

Those are great pictures... while design wise, I think the Patek complications look nicer. From a movement perspective, they may be equals... I seem to recall that historically, when Patek needed help with the Graves supercomplication, they turned to AP. Also, APRP (Audemars Piguet Renaud & Papi) are the suppliers of Richard Mille's most high end movements. AP is a very respectable brand - one of the holy trinity...

[lapince]

Originally Posted by LostinNihon

Those are great pictures... while design wise, I think the Patek complications look nicer. From a movement perspective, they may be equals... I seem to recall that historically, when Patek needed help with the Graves supercomplication, they turned to AP. Also, APRP (Audemars Piguet Renaud & Papi) are the suppliers of Richard Mille's most high end movements. AP is a very respectable brand - one of the holy trinity...

John, I agree completely, I wrote that design wise the Patek pieces which correspond to these are way better.

Yes AP has shares in RM as far as I know and they help or make the complicated movements for them, as far as holy trinity I agree but as we are saying the "classic" design for their complication pieces as the ones I posted lack a serious redesign, but for sport watches, RO and ROO, they are clearly the best high end sport watch brand

[watchucallit]

I think the AP skeleton is a great piece--- especially the one that Arnaud posted. That one has been on my short list for some time. I don't like some of their complicated watches because they lack a second hand. In terms of the pocket watches-- be careful because there are a lot of Audemars that are not the Audemars of AP--- and even Audemars-Piquet -- These are legit old pocket watches but not from the AP we are familiar with. It is interesting that many of the American made pocket watches made in late 1800s to 1920s (e.g. railroad) or so are more collectable than well known Swiss manufacturers. There are lots of exceptions and of course the Swiss pocket watches with lots of complications including repeaters have become very collectable and hence expensive

[goog53]

The beauty of the RG Openworked Skeleton with Date is that it is the Ultra Thin Version. I don't believe the non date version is as thin. Am I correct? Tried it on at the NY Boutique last year at a trunk show where they were previewing all the new pieces and it is SICK! Not a limited edition but was told they do make very limited quantities of the piece. The date wheel is distracting but awesome at the same time IMO

[LostinNihon]

Originally Posted by lapince

John, I agree completely, I wrote that design wise the Patek pieces which correspond to these are way better.

Yes AP has shares in RM as far as I know and they help or make the complicated movements for them, as far as holy trinity I agree but as we are saying the "classic" design for their complication pieces as the ones I posted lack a serious redesign, but for sport watches, RO and ROO, they are clearly the best high end sport watch brand

Arnaud, we are totally on the same page. As I type this, I am loving my Patek complication - WG / Slate dial 5146. That is a classic Patek design - both the front and back. For 'dress-ier' watches, its tough to beat PP...

Let me also freely admit, I LOVE the 5712 & its on my short list of timepieces. I would also love to get a ROO chrono (42MM) as well. Too many great watches out there make keeping a roster down to 3-4 a big-time challenge

[thurgood]

Originally Posted by goog53

The beauty of the RG Openworked Skeleton with Date is that it is the Ultra Thin Version. I don't believe the non date version is as thin. Am I correct? Tried it on at the NY Boutique last year at a trunk show where they were previewing all the new pieces and it is SICK! Not a limited edition but was told they do make very limited quantities of the piece. The date wheel is distracting but awesome at the same time IMO

I much prefer the RG openworked ultra thin version with the date, it's not as hollower as its predecessor, I don't particularly like skeleton watches that are so cut out where you can see through your wrist.. That's just me

[thurgood]

Nice pics

[thurgood]

Hands down RG ultra thin