AP 26315ST vs Daytona RG OF

[Gatedmanual]

Hello!

I’m on the cusp of purchasing a milestone watch for myself and am vacillating between an excellent condition AP Royal Oak chronograph 26315 ST with silver dial and blue sub registers or a new/mint Rolex Daytona in rose gold on the oysterflex bracelet.

I love the look of each and truly can’t decide which I want. I’m not likely to buy one now and add the other so it really comes down to picking one. I’ve read through all the threads and watched YT videos without a clear pick. I’m hoping some comments here might help me.

For background: This will be worn a few times a month I’m guessing to please me and for special occasions. I have an Explorer 2 polar and a Speedy for daily wear. I want presence without too much bling and something I can mature into. I’m turning 50 this year and tend to hang onto things—I don’t envision flipping this hence wanting to get it right the first time. My wrist size is 7.25”. I think a watch in the 38-40mm looks best on me and I tan pretty easily for what it’s worth.

I don’t view this purchase as a financial investment but I don’t want to get burned either. The new Daytona seems like a known quantity—at this point in time they are all selling at some consistent markup over retail. The ROC on the other hand seems harder to pin down—it’s a discontinued 5-ish year old model and I’m seeing a 10k plus spread in what appear to be nearly identical condition and spec watches. It also seems like these may be continuing to go down in price? I accept that as I plan to keep whichever watch long term that this shouldn’t be a concern but I don’t ignore it either.

Regular service is expected and I won’t ask hard duty from either watch but I want it to have some weight and feel substantial and be beautifully crafted under scrutiny. Alas I don’t have the opportunity to try on or handle either watch—this is a purchase I have to make sight unseen due to where I live and my work schedule.

I don’t really have a budget—the ROC is low 40s and the Daytona about 45k so pretty much the same.

Love to get some feedback and grow a conversation on this.

Thanks