Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Service

Joepny · 2018-05-03T07:53:23Z

Joepny shares his Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar's return from service and compares its clasp to a Patek Philippe 5960A.

Joepny

WPS member · Audemars Piguet forum

22 replies2408 views3 photos

My steel-platinum RO QP had been at service on and off for most of this year. I really hope this return to me is for keeps! I've been having a little love-fest with my new PP Black 5960A but I cannot forget that my RO QP was my favorite watch to wear last year. Sporty chic and comfortable to wear wi

Sporty chic and comfortable to wear with a relatively thin profile and the romantic moonphase as icing on the cake. Look at the beautiful matte polishing brush strokes contrast against the platinum mirror polish, how could I not love seeing it on my wrist again. So the RO QP will be on the wrist today and then it will battle the Black '60A this summer.

A quick comparison of the bracelet deployant clasps between the AP RO QP and PP 5960A:

In AP's favor is the clasp close/release button, I think it is elegantly built with the AP name etched into it and it is unobtrusive -- it is easy to open and close and it feels secure.

However, in this AP's disfavor is the deployant slider itself which opens one-sided (this is the model from 2000). Due to the size of my wrist and the links adjustment made, the slider closes further out to one side of my wrist and causes a little lopsidedness. It doesn't overly impact the watch case positioning at the front of my wrist where the watch case sits comfortably on my wrist, but from the side profile it looks a little bit odd. Obviously if my wrists were much larger, this would not be an issue. And the new AP RO deployant probably removes the problem too. But I like the keep the original.

Now with the Patek Black '60A, the bracelet is generally disliked due to its mirror polish. However it fits perfectly and comfortably on the wrist. The deployant slider is double-sided and when it closes, it is evenly spaced on the flat of my wrist, so there is no lopsidedness. I do not think the close/release clasp is very elegant, it is nice enough for Patek's standards, but I think they could do better like with the hidden push clasp style that is on the Aquanaut deployant.

The Discussion

MichaelC

May 3, 2018

I found your experience with Clearwater very out of the ordinary, which is a compliment to them. Quite typically, watches are serviced and returned in proper order the first time. I'm sure it was frustrating to have to send back a few times, but I hope it was worth it for you. I think back to my Montblanc service fiasco, I would have preferred to be run over by a Mack truck than have to use them a second time. At least with AP, you are assured proper communication and professionalism at all time

Joepny

May 3, 2018

Communication standards from AP have been very high and pleasant. The watchmaker technician made a mistake of some sort with adjusting the month mechanism and we all make mistakes in life so I’ve forgiven. 🙏😀

Walter2

May 3, 2018

The Patek, I am shure is comfortable, but the clasp from the RO dont looks comfortable. It is on the wrong place. See the pic from a vulgar Rolex Submariner 14060. Best Walter

TheMadDruid

May 3, 2018

Now you have a very nice dilemma for summertime wear!

Joepny

May 3, 2018

Yes, my RO QP is comfortable to wear. On the watch dial side, it sits fine on my wrist and comfortable. The good thing about it is that my wrists do not get too sweaty in humid hot weather because there is a little gap that lets air through. I wore this watch all through the summer last year. The next time I am near the AP boutique, I will ask them if they could move the removable link on the left side of the bracelet over to the right side of the bracelet and see if it reduces the lopsidedness.

Joepny

May 3, 2018

I see you've fallen for a SS bracelet also with your new GP baby. It looks good on you!! I hope the GP bracelet works for you; it's a good change for hot weather.

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