Black Dial stainless Daytona versus Blue Dial AP Royal Oak 15300

[smg8]

Hello all,

Medium term lurker and first time poster!

I find myself in a bit of a quandry and was keen to gauge some general opinion by calling upon the collective wisdom of the forum.

I currently have a stainless/yellow gold bimetal daytona (ref 116523, black dial) which I purchased a month or so ago with a view to it being a daily wear (work in an office, wear a suit).

To be honest I rushed into the purchase and have found I don't love the watch, mainly due to the bimetal aspect - I find it lacks a bit of versatility, and is perhaps too flash for everday work wear (meeting clients), and not flashy enough to be really special that only comes out a couple of times a month.....

As such I have decided to trade it for a stainless daily wearer, and then save up for something else for weekend wear/special occasions (something in Rose Gold or White Gold, love the Daytona ref 116515 LN).

My initial thought process was simply trade it for a stainless Daytona. This won't really cost me anything and I won't have lost more than a few hundred on the bi metal. Problem solved - simple!

However.....

I have been thrown a bit of a curve ball by my local independent dealer (from whom I purchased the bi metal, and from whom my colleague has purchased an AP 15400 from - he is trusted and always has excellent pieces, and delivers excellent service).

He has shown me an AP Royal Oak 15300 in the rare blue dial which has just landed in part ex. It is a 2011/2012 watch, which comes with box but no papers. This initially bothered me as I had only bought brand new before, but I am now comfortable with it, particularly when working on the mantra of buying the seller not the watch.

I had previously tried on an AP 15400 and it didn't do much for me as I felt it wore massively on my 6.75 inch wrist. The 15300 however fits extremely well, and, well it is an AP. The more I read about AP, the heritage of the 15300 etc the more excited I am about the prospect of having one.

So I have a decision to make;

• Return bi metal daytona and around £0 for a used/£800ish (I guess) for a new Stainless Daytona, black dial
  
• Return bi metal daytona and add £2500 for a used AP Royal Oak 15300 blue dial (meaning it will be costing me circa £10200, which seems there or thereabouts for the blue dial)

The usual advice is "go with what sings to you" - they are both beautiful watches, and I am having a very hard time deciding between the two. Both have various pluses and minuses from reading extensively (servicing costs, durability, exclusivity etc etc.) Both look good on the wrist, both are great watches - how on earth do you decide? Has anyone owned one then the other, any thoughts etc etc?

Many thanks in advance!

[RHIII]

It's a tough choice --- and definitely a very personal one. You just have to buy what you like. Sometimes that comes with the risk of not loving a particular purchase.

Having said all that, personally -- I would go with the 15300 --- to me --- above just the fact that it's an AP---the classic 39mm is REALLY tough to compare to or beat out with anything else.

It is full of character, pedigree and lots of history. And add a blue dial on top of that...and you've got a winner!!

Just my .02!!

Good luck!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Le Chef]

Maybe this will help a little.

[APRolex]

Personally I wouldn't buy a watch without papers as they are a bear to sell as your likes may change in the future and you might have trouble off loading it. I would definitely go for the AP as the bracelet & the blue dial are sublime. I say look for a complete set.

[Solicitor]

Originally Posted by Le Chef

Maybe this will help a little.

I agree look for a complete set. There are available... and try considering the Jumbo model also at 39mm.

Originally Posted by APRolex

Personally I wouldn't buy a watch without papers as they are a bear to sell as your likes may change in the future and you might have trouble off loading it. I would definitely go for the AP as the bracelet & the blue dial are sublime. I say look for a complete set.

[AK797]

15300 is a great choice, my first AP love. Try to knock £500 off.

[Jfbhd4]

Jumbo would be a bit more expensive. 15300 blue > daytona


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[wisguy]

I've owned both, get the AP.

The Daytona is great, but the AP is much better.

[Abdullasaif]

An AP dial over any modern Rolex


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[descartes]

The 15300 is a killer and very versatile.

[smg8]

Hello all,

Thank you for your kind replies. I think in hindsight this is one of those situations where I knew what I wanted to hear and I heard it from you all :-)

My head was saying Daytona - it is brand new, it is cheaper, it seemed the easy option, it is what I thought was going to happen until this AP appeared from nowhere

My heart was saying AP - it is an AP, it is beautiful, I love the blue dial, it is rarer etc

Both sing to me, but the AP felt a bit more special, and of course I had to factor in the rarity of a blue dial 15300 in terms of the fact a change of mind from the AP to Daytona could be easily remedied but the other way round would be a little harder to do.

Being a boring man I usually go with my head but I have gone with my heart (in part thanks to the wave of support from the forum) and picked the AP up this afternoon.

The lack of papers would usually have bothered me, and I think in hindsight stopped me making the decision sooner, but buying from a seller I trust enabled me to look beyond this, which I am grateful for as I haven't stopped admiring my wrist since. Great piece, extremely comfortable and I look forward to getting to know it better! I can certainly feel the versatility a lot more already too, having worn it at the office with suit and currently at home in jeans and sweater - the bi metal Daytona didn't feel quite right for either setting.

Anyhow, a couple of pics attached;




Thanks again.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by smg8

Hello all,

Thank you for your kind replies. I think in hindsight this is one of those situations where I knew what I wanted to hear and I heard it from you all :-)

My head was saying Daytona - it is brand new, it is cheaper, it seemed the easy option, it is what I thought was going to happen until this AP appeared from nowhere

My heart was saying AP - it is an AP, it is beautiful, I love the blue dial, it is rarer etc

Both sing to me, but the AP felt a bit more special, and of course I had to factor in the rarity of a blue dial 15300 in terms of the fact a change of mind from the AP to Daytona could be easily remedied but the other way round would be a little harder to do.

Being a boring man I usually go with my head but I have gone with my heart (in part thanks to the wave of support from the forum) and picked the AP up this afternoon.

The lack of papers would usually have bothered me, and I think in hindsight stopped me making the decision sooner, but buying from a seller I trust enabled me to look beyond this, which I am grateful for as I haven't stopped admiring my wrist since. Great piece, extremely comfortable and I look forward to getting to know it better! I can certainly feel the versatility a lot more already too, having worn it at the office with suit and currently at home in jeans and sweater - the bi metal Daytona didn't feel quite right for either setting.

Anyhow, a couple of pics attached;




Thanks again.

[smg8]

Originally Posted by AK797

Thank you for the advice BTW AK797, didn't quite get £500 but asked for it and got £300 off

Zero regrets on the exchange being honest, this is a thing of sheer beauty!

[AK797]

Originally Posted by smg8

Thank you for the advice BTW AK797, didn't quite get £500 but asked for it and got £300 off

Zero regrets on the exchange being honest, this is a thing of sheer beauty!

My pleasure, and have a nice dinner with your family to celebrate.

[eonflux]

Originally Posted by smg8

Hello all,

Thank you for your kind replies. I think in hindsight this is one of those situations where I knew what I wanted to hear and I heard it from you all :-)

My head was saying Daytona - it is brand new, it is cheaper, it seemed the easy option, it is what I thought was going to happen until this AP appeared from nowhere

My heart was saying AP - it is an AP, it is beautiful, I love the blue dial, it is rarer etc

Both sing to me, but the AP felt a bit more special, and of course I had to factor in the rarity of a blue dial 15300 in terms of the fact a change of mind from the AP to Daytona could be easily remedied but the other way round would be a little harder to do.

Being a boring man I usually go with my head but I have gone with my heart (in part thanks to the wave of support from the forum) and picked the AP up this afternoon.

The lack of papers would usually have bothered me, and I think in hindsight stopped me making the decision sooner, but buying from a seller I trust enabled me to look beyond this, which I am grateful for as I haven't stopped admiring my wrist since. Great piece, extremely comfortable and I look forward to getting to know it better! I can certainly feel the versatility a lot more already too, having worn it at the office with suit and currently at home in jeans and sweater - the bi metal Daytona didn't feel quite right for either setting.

Anyhow, a couple of pics attached;




Thanks again.

Congrats!!
A beautiful watch with an awesome dial

[TheMethod]

I have a Jumbo instead of 15300 and White Dial Daytona instead of Black Dial... between your choices I would go with the AP. Spend a bit more and go for the 15202 if you can.

[Cru Jones]

Blue 15300 is a dream piece and will only get harder to find.

[B. Doggy]

15300 for sure...IMHO.

[zama]

AP rarer, would be my choice. I like the Daytona as well, I still have a TT Daytona but got rid of my 15400 go figure...... the 39mm size for AP is perfect IMHO, and blue dial is very special.

[FTE2014]

Both are beautiful watches. I guess if you want a daily wearer, a steel daytona is more interesting. I have the AP15202 in blue dial which is quite similar to the 15300 you are looking at. It is an amazing watch, but the bezel is more prone to scratches. Also, I assume service fees for a rolex would be visibly cheaper than an AP, given you can get it serviced in many places.

[Chute]

Great choice on the 15300 blue! They will be harder to find as time goes by. You can always add a stainless Daytona. You don't always come across a blue AP RO. Nice catch

[wisguy]

You did good, enjoy the AP

[Lordofrolex]

15300 for sure

[el1125]

Congrats. Beautiful watch

[zama]

Great choice