Audemars Piguet

Author
Discussion

toastybase

Original Poster:

2,220 posts

207 months

Saturday 23rd November 2013
quotequote all
Tried one on today whilst shopping in Manchester..

It was the Royal Oak and have to day how impressed I was with the quality especially the weight and feel of the braclet. Beautiful design.


Mja300

120 posts

135 months

Sunday 24th November 2013
quotequote all
I've tried one on at Manchester selfridges with the intention of getting a new 41mm royal oak chrono.
Was a lovely watch, but everyone I talked to in the watch industry advised me against the purchase for various reasons

Animal

5,246 posts

267 months

Sunday 24th November 2013
quotequote all
Why?

Dominic H

3,274 posts

231 months

Sunday 24th November 2013
quotequote all
Mja300 said:
I've tried one on at Manchester selfridges with the intention of getting a new 41mm royal oak chrono.
Was a lovely watch, but everyone I talked to in the watch industry advised me against the purchase for various reasons
Really? What were they concerned about? I've bought and sold many Audemars, the only model I'm wary of is the Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad. That's only because of the scandalous costs to replace the bezel. The 15300/15400 automatics and the Royal Oak chronograph are well regarded.

Mja300

120 posts

135 months

Sunday 24th November 2013
quotequote all
I was told they are not very robust, difficult to get serviced outside of the audemars service centre, loose lots of money come resale, difficult to resell. The same discussions came from several different people as well.
It was all enough to put me off either way.

The royal oak chrono was always going to be a substitute for a Daytona, as I want my watches to have a date function.
I wouldn't totally discount one in the future at a much reduced second hand value.

westberks

926 posts

134 months

Sunday 24th November 2013
quotequote all
Mja300 said:
I was told they are not very robust, difficult to get serviced outside of the audemars service centre, loose lots of money come resale, difficult to resell. The same discussions came from several different people as well.
It was all enough to put me off either way.

The royal oak chrono was always going to be a substitute for a Daytona, as I want my watches to have a date function.
I wouldn't totally discount one in the future at a much reduced second hand value.
i've also been advised that AP are a pain in the arse to deal with and service/repairs can take forever to complete; still want one at some point though.

wouldn't worry about the depreciation as I intenet to let an italian playboy take care of the initial hit for me (that makes it sound like i'm his boyfriend, that is not the case biggrin )

they certainly do drop from their RRP pretty heavily but then seem to stabilise in the preloved market.

Dominic H

3,274 posts

231 months

Sunday 24th November 2013
quotequote all
Mja300 said:
I was told they are not very robust, difficult to get serviced outside of the audemars service centre, loose lots of money come resale, difficult to resell. The same discussions came from several different people as well.
It was all enough to put me off either way.

The royal oak chrono was always going to be a substitute for a Daytona, as I want my watches to have a date function.
I wouldn't totally discount one in the future at a much reduced second hand value.
I'd disagree, I've owned an AP ultra slim Royal Oak for 10 years and it's been fine to use for everyday wear. I've had the watch serviced once in that time, and that was done by my independent watchmaker. If I'm on the beach or skiing, I'll take something more suitable. Regular servicing is fine for an experineced watch maker. I would agree that paying for a service at AP is right up there with root canal work in the list of things to avoid. Like cars, 99.9% of watches will depreciate over the length of ownership that's a fact of life. Buy the watch well (with a decent discount), or pre-owned and you've avoided a large part of that cost. I think the advice you've been given may refer to AP as a sweeping generalisation. Certainly if you buy the Jules Audemars or Milenary models then you'll find these difficult to re-sell and the cost of ownership will be severe. If you stick to the Royal Oak range, you'll find a lot of watches available in the auto/chrono and Offshore ranges.


JRewing

17,540 posts

178 months

Sunday 24th November 2013
quotequote all
I've recently become engaged. What do we think of one as a watch for the wedding? I know in theory it's a sports watch, but I think they're understated and exquisite enough to act as a 21st century dress watch.

Dominic H

3,274 posts

231 months

Sunday 24th November 2013
quotequote all
JRewing said:
I've recently become engaged. What do we think of one as a watch for the wedding? I know in theory it's a sports watch, but I think they're understated and exquisite enough to act as a 21st century dress watch.
Congratulaions JR! It'd be a great watch to wear on your wedding day. I wore this on my mine...


JRewing

17,540 posts

178 months

Sunday 24th November 2013
quotequote all
Dominic H said:
Congratulaions JR! It'd be a great watch to wear on your wedding day. I wore this on my mine...

Thanks Dom! We're both very excited!

I wore an Omega Speedmaster Professional when I proposed. She's slightly annoyed that all of the photos from the proposal show it better than they show her face hehe

That looks fantastic! A bit nearer to the day I'll have to get you on the case sourcing me whichever watch I finally choose!

gregf40

1,114 posts

115 months

Tuesday 5th August 2014
quotequote all
westberks said:
i've also been advised that AP are a pain in the arse to deal with and service/repairs can take forever to complete; still want one at some point though.
That's complete nonsense. Patek are like that - AP's service and turn around times are the best in the business.

westberks

926 posts

134 months

Tuesday 5th August 2014
quotequote all
gregf40 said:
westberks said:
i've also been advised that AP are a pain in the arse to deal with and service/repairs can take forever to complete; still want one at some point though.
That's complete nonsense. Patek are like that - AP's service and turn around times are the best in the business.
Only going on what I've been told by people in the trade, may be down to personal experience or the eye watering expense of having it done by AP. Was advised that it can take several months, they may have improved as that was a few years ago and just stuck in my memory.

I've used indies for services so have no issues with going that route. Still want a royal oak at some stage though.

gregf40

1,114 posts

115 months

Tuesday 5th August 2014
quotequote all
westberks said:
Only going on what I've been told by people in the trade, may be down to personal experience or the eye watering expense of having it done by AP. Was advised that it can take several months, they may have improved as that was a few years ago and just stuck in my memory.

I've used indies for services so have no issues with going that route. Still want a royal oak at some stage though.
Relative to the price of the watch the servicing cost is about the same as Rolex (probably slightly less).

Several months (up to 3) really isn't that long for watches in this category. Go to Patek and ask how long it takes to service something with more than just a date. I know people who have waited over 12 months for a PP service.

I'd never ever send an AP to an indie. Whilst most can handle Rolex's etc... watches like these need experts with the right machines/tools/experience to re finish the case etc. I've seen some horrific AP bodge jobs.

Send it to an independent and the money you save will multiplied 10 fold in what you will lose when you come to sell the watch.

gregf40

1,114 posts

115 months

Tuesday 5th August 2014
quotequote all
Wurls said:
Interesting thread reprise. My 15300 is now 3 years old and proving tough as a daily wear. Also worth more than I paid if current asking prices are to be believed, not that I care. AP servicing is expensive but agree with the comment about tooling. The pic above looks over polished to me. The beauty of this design are the angles and above looks rounded off compared to new to my eye.
15300 is a lovely watch - much nicer than the 15400 IMO.






Not quite as nice as a 15202 though biggrin

waterjoke

34 posts

115 months

Saturday 27th September 2014
quotequote all
Beautiful,the tipical octagonal case!

westberks

926 posts

134 months

Wednesday 1st October 2014
quotequote all
right then chaps; interested in the ROO on a bracelet as a replacement for my SS Daytona. rarely wear the Daytona as it wears a little small imo and the slightly larger AP appeals.

i've also covered the Rolex itch with a Pepsi & kermit so adding an AP to the collection also interests me.

anyone able to offer direct comparison to the 2; that includes you Yeti as you might know the AP in question and i think you did this journey pre-grail hunt.

tighthead

24 posts

126 months

Wednesday 1st October 2014
quotequote all
I like them but know a guy who had lots of trouble with his,and a £2500 service didnt cheer him up

gregf40

1,114 posts

115 months

Wednesday 1st October 2014
quotequote all
tighthead said:
I like them but know a guy who had lots of trouble with his,and a £2500 service didnt cheer him up
A £2500 service bill won't be for a 'normal model' - I'm guessing it's a perpetual calendar...or he got ripped off by an AD and didn't go to AP directly.

AP servicing is actually not 'that' expensive...nor is Patek actually.

Murcielago_Boy

1,995 posts

238 months

Wednesday 1st October 2014
quotequote all
I'm having my Patek chronograph serviced now.
Including minor refurbishment of the case, it's £800 and around 3 months.

(From memory, the previous owner of my solid gold sub had a £4800 service bill from Rolex - just FYI).

Debaser

5,665 posts

260 months

Wednesday 1st October 2014
quotequote all
Murcielago_Boy said:
(From memory, the previous owner of my solid gold sub had a £4800 service bill from Rolex - just FYI).
What happened that required that much to put right?