Audemars Piguet

Dino944
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Nice choices to be considering...

Hi Rob,

I am a former owner of a 1980's Royal Oak 18kt/ss with day date feature subdials (it did not have the moonphase which was later added to that model).  It had a gray waffle pattern dial and gold subdial rings.  Overall, I though the Royal Oak was a design that looked fantastic in steel and gold!  I traded that watch after several years, and after some issues I won't get into about that watch.  But I've always wanted to add some form of Royal Oak to my small collection again.

While the RO looks great in a two tone format, I have to agree with the other poster that the Royal Oak a watch that most people think of in steel, especially when its the Jumbo.  The whole concept of the RO was based on AP turning steel into a luxury metal for a luxury watch.  I've also heard another reason some people are not as interested in steel and gold watches is they think it looks very 1980s. So they prefer a single metal on a watch. 

I have been looking at ROs for a while, and still have not been able to decide what I want, other than it will be SS and not be an Offshore.  I have considered the Chronograph, the Dual Time, the updated day/date, and the Jumbo.   I initially dismissed the Jumbo thinking what do I need another time only watch for?  I like the thicker links of the bracelet on the chronograph, dual time, and the day/date.  After a few years of wear the inner portion/links on my old RO showed some indentations/wear.  Therefore, I thought the thicker bracelet might be the way to go (although in all steel maybe it would not be as much of an issue).  I took the dual time out of the equations, its a nice watch but my Wife doesn't like it and I don't do that much traveling in different timezones.  The chronograph is nice, but most of the dial choices don't thrill me, they don't make a true black dial, and the blue dial I like has orange which I don't care for.  I liked the new "Panda" dial although I wish the black subdial part was the portion with the numbers more like that on the rose gold version, or that it was the entire subdial like on an old manual wind Daytona.  Plus some people say the screw down pushers are a nuisance on that one.  The day/date looks like a nice wach but I remember setting the date/day was a bit of a pain since there is no quick set.  Also, I've heard some people like the newer bracelet (also found on the 15300 and other people don't).  I have a small wrist and I know the bracelet on the chrono or Jumbo would be reasonably  comfortable for me.  So now I started looking at Jumbos again.

I love the photos of the original Jumbos with the AP symbol at 6.  I much prefer their dials with smaller font and the lack of the 5,10,15 etc around the dial of modern Jumbos. But there are so few around, and I'm a bit OCD so I'd probably never find a perfect one that was not over polished and that had all boxes and papers.  So its a cool watch, but not for me.  Also, if I'm considering a time only watch, maybe I should at least have a display back to view the movement...hence Jubile or modern Jumbo are sort of front runners at the moment.  I wish there were more dial choices, like a darker deeper blue or black. 

The best thing you can do, is look at lots of pix of the various Jumbos you are considering and then figure out which elements or things you like the most about one version and go for it.  If you really like the 18kt/ss then go for it.  Who cares what other collectors are going for.  You are the one that will be wearing it each day.  For some people 18kt/ss watches represent a great value since fewer people are chasing after them.  I hope your search goes well. 

I'm still have a lot of soul searching to do before making a final decision.

Best regards,

Dino