Audemars Piguet

Will the 42mm ROOs eventually be discontinued in favor of 44mm models?

I generally like 44mm watches, but the ROO looks much nicer in 42mm IMHO. The 44mm APs wear too big (certainly bigger than other brands).  

People thought it was a fad, but bigger watches are selling. And there are plenty of people with suitable wrists to carry off a 44mm piece. I wear 48mm to 59mm watches (Corum AC's, Zenith Defy Extreme's, and Type 20 in addition to my weekend ROO). I know larger watches are not hugely popular amongst the PuristS, but you have to remember, PuristS are a small fraction of the watch buying public. I can't pull off a 38mm which is a huge shame. But thankfully big watches have endured when many thought otherwise. I am sure the 44mm ROO's will sell just as well, if not better than the 42mm's. 

That is for sure, Spellbound.  But some brands are also adding smaller models to their lines. Panerai did it with the 42mm Radiomir. IWC's new Ingenieur line also has a 40mm. Hublot’s Classic Fusion Skeleton, launched in 45mm, now also has a 42mm option. I just think some models look nicer in moderate case sizes, some in bigger. I like the 44mm ROO, but IMHO the size makes it less versatile (it looks much bigger than the 44mm Big Bangs). The perfect world would be for both the 42mm and the 44mm ROOs to coexist, rather than the 42mm models be slowly and painfully phased out.

            I think the size of a watch depends on the wrist of a wearer. Some people have smaller wrists than others and so a 44mm and above watch might look out of place. I am a fan of 'big watches' myself and usually wear 44mm and above . I actually do have a 50mm U boat watch, but the only problem is the larger the watch, the less formal it looks. So if you were to wear a suit , a 50mm or 44mm wouldn't look as appropriate but a 42mm or less, looks more decent. 

And I agree and hope with you the 42mm is never fully phased out.  While we may see more new editions offered in the 44mm size, the 42mm Offshore is very iconic for AP.  I certainly feel there is room for both cases within the Offshore range.

as i wont buy any of the 44s no matter what

and i beleive there are many out there like me so AP doesnt want to loose a segment against another so coexistence is essencial BUT

 

on the other hand one might argue that "HEY they offered the new RO CHRONO in 41mm which wears very close to the OFFSHORE despite the thickness" , so to keep people like us still attached and maybe dicontinue the 42 OFFSHORE and keep the 44

 

man i dont know any more (i still preffer the 39mm chronos against the new 41mm unless they start to do really cool dials as the regulaar 41mms are a bit dull except for LEO MESSI)