First AP...15500 or 15450

[Billykhan]

Good day Gents. Been lurking around the Forum for quite sometime, with a limited number of Rolex related posts. Anyway to cut to the chase, having found what I thought to be my Grail watch in the SS Daytona 116520 a few months ago, I realised there is no such thing for even the average WIS so I began the search for my new Grail.

I'd been very pleasantly surprised with the excellent service at the AP Boutique in Dubai Mall, despite having no prior history whatsoever. Having been skeptical about the smaller size, I was offered the 15450 in Gold to try on for a feel, and was blown away by it's wrist presence and how big it wore.... Anyway, so I put down my name for one in Grey (to be realistic) and was told to expect one in about 2 months max. Anyway fast forward 3 months and I'm still waiting. In the meantime I'm registered with one of the AP boutiques in the Far East and Bam, a day later I get an email saying they have a Grey 15450 in stock!

Now in these 3 months, AP comes out with this ridiculously high price increase, and the difference between the price of the 15500 and 15450 seems to have a shrunk to the point where I'm wondering if it even makes sense to consider the 15450, or just hold out for a 15500. I'm a smaller wristed guy, but to be honest am equally comfortable with my DJ 36 and Daytona 6520 as I am with my Batman and Luminor Marina and everything in between. Pics attached for reference.

Given a choice, which one would you go for as a first and maybe only AP (for a while). Is there any of you who would actually prefer the 37mm to the 41mm, seeing as they are both on either side of the legendary 39mm RO Jumbo? Also need to assume the price difference is only $1500...Thoughts please gents

[RHIII]

The 15450 wears more traditional - in my mind. The 15500 wears rather large for a 41mm. I like both - but if I were in the market for one of these two it would be the 450.

From the PAM photo - you could wear either.

36mm-40mm - to me will always remain the sweet spot for case size. And unless you have an 8” plus wrist - nothing looks too small.

My .02


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[donald83]

15450 on my 6.25 inch wrist.

Sent from my VOG-L29 using Tapatalk

[sagla]

15450 would be my choice.

[tcpx]

15450 IMO. Here’s one on a 6.2” wrist:

[Lo0o0o0n]

As much as I do not like the steep price increase on the 15450 recently, I somewhat understand the logic since it is garnering somewhat similar interests to the 15500.

I mean the fact that OP together with myself and many others are comparing and considering the 500 and 450 with size being the main determining factor means they should be going for about the same MSRP. Price aside, I would go 15450 all day on my 6.5 inch wrist. I think accepting a less appealing size to you just based on price would be a mistake you would eventually regret.

[Commonproject]

If ur going to buy an AP RO, get 39 or 41. If 39 and 41 are too big for you, get something else. 37 has the same thickness as a 41, the proportions are all wrong. It may look fine in a close up pic but zoomed out or at angles it doesn't look right

[Billykhan]

Originally Posted by Commonproject

If ur going to buy an AP RO, get 39 or 41. If 39 and 41 are too big for you, get something else. 37 has the same thickness as a 41, the proportions are all wrong. It may look fine in a close up pic but zoomed out or at angles it doesn't look right

Though I didn't get to try on the 41, a vast majority feel its too oversized for the smaller wristed guy….and the 37mm in Gold was just perfect, maybe on account of Gold's heft...As far as 39mm goes, I have absolutely no issue with the size. It's the price that's a bit too big for me

[fullofboats]

If you feel 41mm is too big then definitely pass on it. The price difference vs the 37mm may seem minimal but you won’t enjoy it as much as you would a piece that fits “right” for you

I have 36, 37, 38, and 41mm royal oaks and a 17cm // 6.7” wrist. For me, 36-39 fit great and while I can pull off the 41mm I find myself wearing it a lot less.

[Billykhan]

Originally Posted by fullofboats

If you feel 41mm is too big then definitely pass on it. The price difference vs the 37mm may seem minimal but you won’t enjoy it as much as you would a piece that fits “right” for you

I have 36, 37, 38, and 41mm royal oaks and a 17cm // 6.7” wrist. For me, 36-39 fit great and while I can pull off the 41mm I find myself wearing it a lot less.

Having not actually tried the 41mm, I'm just going with member's opinion on this. Having said that, I can also say that my PAM gets the least wear out of all my watches and that too despite being on a leather strap...an oversized watch with an SS bracelet actually sounds quite uncomfortable. Also you never know, the 37mm could turn out to be AP's Daytona

[soran]

Originally Posted by Billykhan

Having not actually tried the 41mm, I'm just going with member's opinion on this. Having said that, I can also say that my PAM gets the least wear out of all my watches and that too despite being on a leather strap...an oversized watch with an SS bracelet actually sounds quite uncomfortable. Also you never know, the 37mm could turn out to be AP's Daytona

I think the 15202 holds the Daytona position in AP's lineup

[Billykhan]

Keeping the size aside, another area where the 15450 may trump the 15500 is the dial layout with the 'automatic' wording....I'm one of those who feels the dial of the 15500 is simply too vacant and with the bigger size, it seems even more so. Does anyone share my opinion?

I'm getting close to pulling the trigger on the Gray 15450, seeing as it'll help me build a relationship with the AD and maybe help get the Blue eventually one day!

[Token74]

The 41mm Royal Oak wears massive. Whereas the 37mm wears great. For any wrist 7” and below, the 15450 is a far better fit.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ikincooper]

I’ve been waiting 18 months now for my blue 15450 and am fairly confident it’s the correct RO for me. Ive got 6.25-6.5” wrists and instinctively feel that the smaller AP would be right for you.

The above said, I shared your views on the 15550 dial being too plane but in person the dial looks truly amazing. Try both versions on and then decide...






Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Frits1980]

Not a fan of the 15450. Dial is to tiny and out of proportion but the 15500 is huge. I (7+ wrist) have both but if i could do it over i would simply get a 15300 or 15202.

Small wrist <6.5: 15450
Medium wrist >6.5 15300/15202
Large wrist >7.25 15400/500

[tcpx]

Originally Posted by Frits1980

Small wrist <6.5: 15450
Medium wrist >6.5 15300/15202
Large wrist >7.25 15400/500

IMO this is a good way to split the current modern RO’s based on wrist size..

[Billykhan]

Quick update Gents. I sort of bit the bullet and picked up the 15450 in Grey. It really came down to the fact that the lovely SA managed to get me one, the very next day after I first registered my interest to buy an AP with zero prior history

Might be a while till I can post wrist pics, since the watch is half way across the globe and I've had to drop travel plans thanks to the Coronavirus Still as far as popular opinion goes, and seeing my actual watch in the flesh (sort of)….I feel like I'm going to be a happy first time AP Owner.

The whole experience of dealing with AP, right from my first visit to the Dubai Mall AD and registering around 3-4 months ago, to landing my first watch in a completely different part of the world has been wonderfully refreshing. This seems especially relevant when compared to Rolex AD's in most parts of the world nowadays, who seem to share the same arrogance and dismissiveness as the AP dealers share warmth and responsiveness. Happy to have joined the AP family, and look forward to growing the collection.

[herbie911]

Congratulations! It looks gorgeous! I also got a small wrist - around 16cm in diameter. I had tried the 15300 10 years ago and it wears too big. So the 15450 is really my only option for a blue dial SS AP. I got no purchase history but my local AP dealer had took my deposit for a blue dial 15450 for this summer. Hope I can join the family soon! Enjoy your new watch!

[ikincooper]

Congrats and can’t wait to see your incoming wrist shots!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Commonproject]

I wish AP boutiques are that nice in the U.S. lol they don't even let you take pictures

[Skydwella]

Congrats, it would be great to see some wrist shots

[Derbyshere]

Love the piece. Wear proudly


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Billykhan]

Just to reassure myself I dropped into the local AP Boutique yesterday and tried on the 37mm and 38mm Chrono (both only in Gold), and both felt absolutely perfect size-wise for my wrist. Even more so than my 116520 Daytona, which at times feels quite dainty. The heft of the Gold obviously helps, but I think it's the thicker case that gives the 11450 a lot more presence than most other watches that size.


Wish I hadn't tried it on again, now I can't wait to get it on my wrist but at the same time can't justify travel to SE Asia in the current situation...Damn

[fullofboats]

Originally Posted by Billykhan

Just to reassure myself I dropped into the local AP Boutique yesterday and tried on the 37mm and 38mm Chrono (both only in Gold), and both felt absolutely perfect size-wise for my wrist. Even more so than my 116520 Daytona, which at times feels quite dainty. The heft of the Gold obviously helps, but I think it's the thicker case that gives the 11450 a lot more presence than most other watches that size.


Wish I hadn't tried it on again, now I can't wait to get it on my wrist but at the same time can't justify travel to SE Asia in the current situation...Damn

So you bought the watch in SEA but you live in Dubai? If you purchased from a boutique can't they ship it to the Dubai boutique for you? AP's pretty fast with internal shipping. I got a piece sent to HK AP House in 3 business days from Le Brassus

[Billykhan]

Originally Posted by fullofboats

So you bought the watch in SEA but you live in Dubai? If you purchased from a boutique can't they ship it to the Dubai boutique for you? AP's pretty fast with internal shipping. I got a piece sent to HK AP House in 3 business days from Le Brassus

Sadly Dubai is no longer the tax-free haven it used to be, so getting it couriered would most likely result in me getting slapped with 5% VAT and 5% customs duty, which would be almost twice the cost of me actually flying out there and picking it up in person...so not quite an option...hoping one of my many friends based out there wants to pay me a visit soon, and would like to wear a brand new RO on the way

[dauster]

Originally Posted by Commonproject

I wish AP boutiques are that nice in the U.S. lol they don't even let you take pictures

Las vegas crystals has always been very kind to me... let me take pics of everything. even RM was super nice but won't allow pics. Are you in NYC? heard they changed staff there and service is much nicer there.