Horological Meandering

Broxi
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A trinity sports watch comparison

For all those in the market for a high end, Holy Trinity sports watch I wanted to show a few side by side comparison pics of both the blue face Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15400 and Vacheron Constantin Overseas Chronograph 49150.




Setting aside the technical details on both models all of which has been written and well documented by collectors, I also leave to ones personal tastes as to which, if any, is the better model - I own both and like each in their own right.

Whilst clearly subjective my thoughts are both models are very different despite the fact they target the same market. The AP is in my opinion the more conservative of the two despite its immensely comfortable and eye catching bracelet, the dial despite its tapisierre is fairly muted and does not pop to the same level as the Vacheron. If the devil is in the detail it is in the aforementioned tappisiere dial, bracelet and not least the display back with engraved gold rotor that arguably sets the AP just ahead by a nose. That said I have never worn the VC bracelet but hear good things and assuming it is of a similar ilk it could be said there is next to nothing that sets the two apart.






The blue dial on the VC well and truly pops! The big date is fantastic and having once owned the AP Royal oak Chrono which has the same F. Piguet movement I can say the Vacheron is a lot more eligible. The cyclops sub dial is initially disconcerting but in using the watch and getting used to them it's actually smart and well thought out. The screwdown pushers offer the watch a decent water resistance too and unlike the AP offers Magnetic resistance. The build quality of the case is outstanding and very much keeps pace with the AP with its polished edges and bevels. The leather band with screwed in lugs and deployant clasp is quality personified and is super comfortable. As alluded to earlier I have heard great things about the VC bracelet but my collection is all sports watches on bracelet so it was nice to differentiate.

The VC whilst 1mm larger actually wears slightly smaller and seems to be a little less fragile and prone to scratches than the AP. I note the latest version is bigger again and that coupled with the date at 5 does put me off a little.



Both watches no doubt take things up a few levels when comparing to the standard rolex sports so much so it's hard to go back.