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Old 25 December 2019, 03:17 AM   #301
wei915
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AP 15400 vs 15500

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Sure it's not the profit that is pulling you ?

Like 99.99% of the flippers.



The 15500 is by far the best AP RO ever made. Nostalgia aside


Unfortunately, the 15500 blue was bought at current grey market prices so I’m pretty sure there’s almost no upside to flipping it in my case. It’s just that even though I have the 15500 on the wrist, I don’t find myself having as much satisfaction from looking at the 15500 blue dial as much as I did when wearing my previous 15400 silver. Moreover, I find the 15500’s dial looks even more empty (like one big patch of blue or black or grey dial) from a distance away. Whereas on the 15400 or 15202, I can still see some dial design (ie. the longer hour markers on the dial) at a distance.


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Old 25 December 2019, 03:32 AM   #302
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Currently own the 15500 blue. The new movement behind is nice and fits the case really well. But somehow, I don’t find the face of the 15500 as attractive/endearing as compared to the 15202 or 15400. Probably because of the lack of longer and slimmer hour markers which have been a part of an RO’s aesthetics... The 15500 now looks more like an ROC with its sub-dials removed and ended up with a rather empty dial. Starting to have serious thoughts on whether I would like to keep it or not

You’re overthinking it. It looks great. Nobody who sees it on your wrist thinks, man, sucks to be him.

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Sure it's not the profit that is pulling you?

Like 99.99% of the flippers.

Lol.
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Old 25 December 2019, 04:29 AM   #303
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Picked up one myself this morning from my buddy Davidsw. Black dial brand new. Traded up from an AP I got last year and wasn’t in love with. Will post pictures Saturday when it arrives.
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Old 26 December 2019, 07:35 PM   #304
wei915
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Recently saw a YouTube video review on the AP 15500. The owner started winding a few rounds on the 15500, which had an empty power reserve, and the seconds hand started ticking away.

Whereas on my 15500 with an empty power reserve, the seconds hand usually don’t start moving even after winding a few rounds unless I shake the watch or give it a jolt. Could anyone advise if this is normal on the 15500?


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Old 26 December 2019, 10:36 PM   #305
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Originally Posted by wei915 View Post
Recently saw a YouTube video review on the AP 15500. The owner started winding a few rounds on the 15500, which had an empty power reserve, and the seconds hand started ticking away.

Whereas on my 15500 with an empty power reserve, the seconds hand usually don’t start moving even after winding a few rounds unless I shake the watch or give it a jolt. Could anyone advise if this is normal on the 15500?


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Seems normal for automatic watches in general.
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Old 27 December 2019, 07:01 AM   #306
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Originally Posted by wei915 View Post
Recently saw a YouTube video review on the AP 15500. The owner started winding a few rounds on the 15500, which had an empty power reserve, and the seconds hand started ticking away.

Whereas on my 15500 with an empty power reserve, the seconds hand usually don’t start moving even after winding a few rounds unless I shake the watch or give it a jolt. Could anyone advise if this is normal on the 15500?


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You shouldn't need to shake it.

I just wound my 15500ST this morning as it was stopped.
It took about 15 winds before it started up.

How many winds are you giving it when you say "by a few rounds"? I have some watches that take up to 20 full turns before they start up.
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Old 28 December 2019, 04:48 PM   #307
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For me more balance dial lay out.


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Old 31 December 2019, 12:30 AM   #308
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AP 15400 vs 15500

Sold my 15400 silver for a slight loss and paid a rather huge premium for the 15500 blue earlier this month. Although the blue tapisserie dial was nice, I realized that I didn't like the blue dial more than I did for the silver dial - felt like I fell for a marketing "boutique only" fad. The new dial layout was not growing on me too - rather than spending some time to appreciate the sparsely decorated dial, I found myself turning the watch to the back to look at the amazing 4302 movement more often than not.

Whenever I held the 15500 blue on hand, I sometimes had to convince myself that the 15500 blue is better than the outdated 15400 silver in design, movement and long-term value. Nevertheless, whenever I passed by the dealer whom I sold my 15400 silver to, I often tried to keep a lookout to see if my 15400 silver was still sitting inside his display window. The anxiety started growing day by day and I knew that both seller's remorse and buyer's remorse were starting to eat me up from inside.

Finally I caved and told the dealer that I would like to trade the 15500 blue for my 15400 silver back. We negotiated a deal but ultimately I had to pay the dealer a premium to buy back my 15400 silver and also suffered a rather painful loss (50% of the premium paid) on the 15500 blue. It was double whammy to do the trade, but my heart felt at ease after putting my 15400 silver back on the wrist. The 15500 blue is an amazing watch and I would definitely like to own it, but perhaps only after having the special 15400 silver and the 15202 Jumbo in my collection.
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Old 31 December 2019, 01:09 AM   #309
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wei915 View Post
Sold my 15400 silver for a slight loss and paid a rather huge premium for the 15500 blue earlier this month. Although the blue tapisserie dial was nice, I realized that I didn't like the blue dial more than I did for the silver dial - felt like I fell for a marketing "boutique only" fad. The new dial layout was not growing on me too - rather than spending some time to appreciate the sparsely decorated dial, I found myself turning the watch to the back to look at the amazing 4302 movement more often than not.

Whenever I held the 15500 blue on hand, I sometimes had to convince myself that the 15500 blue is better than the outdated 15400 silver in design, movement and long-term value. Nevertheless, whenever I passed by the dealer whom I sold my 15400 silver to, I often tried to keep a lookout on his display window to see if my 15400 silver was still sitting inside the display window. The anxiety started growing day by day and I knew that both seller's remorse and buyer's remorse was starting to eat me up from inside.

Finally I caved and told the dealer that I would like to trade the 15500 blue for my 15400 silver back. We negotiated a deal but ultimately I had to pay the dealer a premium to buy back my 15400 silver and also suffered a rather painful loss (50% of the premium paid) on the 15500 blue. It was double whammy to do the trade, but my heart felt at ease after putting my 15400 silver back on the wrist. The 15500 blue is an amazing watch and I would definitely like to own it, but perhaps only after having the special 15400 silver and the 15202 Jumbo in my collection.
Thank you for sharing, with brutal honesty, your experience. You’re fortunate to have been able to repurchase. As great as the AP blues are, they are not the end all be all. If you love the silver dial more you did the right thing. I’m a big fan of my own silver dial 15400, can’t blame you at all for the regret.
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Old 31 December 2019, 01:22 AM   #310
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Originally Posted by wei915 View Post
Sold my 15400 silver for a slight loss and paid a rather huge premium for the 15500 blue earlier this month. Although the blue tapisserie dial was nice, I realized that I didn't like the blue dial more than I did for the silver dial - felt like I fell for a marketing "boutique only" fad. The new dial layout was not growing on me too - rather than spending some time to appreciate the sparsely decorated dial, I found myself turning the watch to the back to look at the amazing 4302 movement more often than not.

Whenever I held the 15500 blue on hand, I sometimes had to convince myself that the 15500 blue is better than the outdated 15400 silver in design, movement and long-term value. Nevertheless, whenever I passed by the dealer whom I sold my 15400 silver to, I often tried to keep a lookout on his display window to see if my 15400 silver was still sitting inside the display window. The anxiety started growing day by day and I knew that both seller's remorse and buyer's remorse was starting to eat me up from inside.

Finally I caved and told the dealer that I would like to trade the 15500 blue for my 15400 silver back. We negotiated a deal but ultimately I had to pay the dealer a premium to buy back my 15400 silver and also suffered a rather painful loss (50% of the premium paid) on the 15500 blue. It was double whammy to do the trade, but my heart felt at ease after putting my 15400 silver back on the wrist. The 15500 blue is an amazing watch and I would definitely like to own it, but perhaps only after having the special 15400 silver and the 15202 Jumbo in my collection.

Wow amazing experience.


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Old 31 December 2019, 01:26 AM   #311
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The AP blue is really something, but the sparse or clean (subject to individual perspective) 15500 blue fell short of (my) expectations, especially for the premium it is commanding in the current grey market. On the other hand, the 15202 deep blue dial colour is really something else all together. Would be saving up to get one soon.


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Old 31 December 2019, 02:20 AM   #312
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wei915 View Post
Sold my 15400 silver for a slight loss and paid a rather huge premium for the 15500 blue earlier this month. Although the blue tapisserie dial was nice, I realized that I didn't like the blue dial more than I did for the silver dial - felt like I fell for a marketing "boutique only" fad. The new dial layout was not growing on me too - rather than spending some time to appreciate the sparsely decorated dial, I found myself turning the watch to the back to look at the amazing 4302 movement more often than not.

Whenever I held the 15500 blue on hand, I sometimes had to convince myself that the 15500 blue is better than the outdated 15400 silver in design, movement and long-term value. Nevertheless, whenever I passed by the dealer whom I sold my 15400 silver to, I often tried to keep a lookout to see if my 15400 silver was still sitting inside his display window. The anxiety started growing day by day and I knew that both seller's remorse and buyer's remorse were starting to eat me up from inside.

Finally I caved and told the dealer that I would like to trade the 15500 blue for my 15400 silver back. We negotiated a deal but ultimately I had to pay the dealer a premium to buy back my 15400 silver and also suffered a rather painful loss (50% of the premium paid) on the 15500 blue. It was double whammy to do the trade, but my heart felt at ease after putting my 15400 silver back on the wrist. The 15500 blue is an amazing watch and I would definitely like to own it, but perhaps only after having the special 15400 silver and the 15202 Jumbo in my collection.

Thanks for sharing your experience and sorry for the monetary loss but at the end of the day, you go where your heart is. It's not possible to "love" a watch if it doesn't grows on you overtime, then better to take the hit and let it go. I own the silver dial 15400, it's my first AP. Then I got the 15202 Jumbo which I love, and thought I don't need the 15400 silver in my collection anymore. I sold it, regret it, only to buy it back 2 years later. The silver dial is really one of a kind, imo, the best 15400 variant.

I also got a problem with the "sparsely decorated" 15500 dial and actually prefer the 15400 movement due to the more elaborately decorated rotor. This is of course, subjective. So lesson here is, the newer is not always better.
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Old 31 December 2019, 03:01 AM   #313
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Thanks for sharing your experience and sorry for the monetary loss but at the end of the day, you go where your heart is. It's not possible to "love" a watch if it doesn't grows on you overtime, then better to take the hit and let it go. I own the silver dial 15400, it's my first AP. Then I got the 15202 Jumbo which I love, and thought I don't need the 15400 silver in my collection anymore. I sold it, regret it, only to buy it back 2 years later. The silver dial is really one of a kind, imo, the best 15400 variant.



I also got a problem with the "sparsely decorated" 15500 dial and actually prefer the 15400 movement due to the more elaborately decorated rotor. This is of course, subjective. So lesson here is, the newer is not always better.

I initially sold the 15400 for the 15500 because I was drawn to the larger and more proportionate 4302 movement in the 41mm case. I also have a preference for a skeleton rotor (much like the Jumbo) over the 15400 full plate rotor that blocks much of the already small 3120 movement. Ultimately, I felt that the 15500 dial design is just less captivating than the 15400. Perhaps if the 15500 had retained the 15400/15202 dial design and just simply inserted the new 4302 movement, I would have gladly kept it.

I guess another reason why I insisted on going ahead with the “downgrade” and swallowing the loss on the 15500, and even ended up paying more to buy back the 15400 silver was because that particular model with that particular serial number is my first AP.

Nevertheless, it seems like the designers in AP currently have a preference for empty or “clean” dial designs on new references (e.g. Code 1159, 15500), so I probably won’t be that looking at newer references for a while.




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Old 31 December 2019, 04:12 AM   #314
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Much like a 116710 vs 126710 I could see how people might make a case for either. I still prefer the 15500.
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Old 31 December 2019, 04:34 AM   #315
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Nevertheless, it seems like the designers in AP currently have a preference for empty or “clean” dial designs on new references (e.g. Code 1159, 15500), so I probably won’t be that looking at newer references for a while.

I think they wanted to differentiate the 41mm RO from the Jumbo (more than just being the bigger RO) and went for a more sporty look of the dial. I guess that equates to a preference for empty or “clean” dial designs.
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Old 31 December 2019, 04:41 AM   #316
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Thanks for sharing your experience and sorry for the monetary loss but at the end of the day, you go where your heart is. It's not possible to "love" a watch if it doesn't grows on you overtime, then better to take the hit and let it go. I own the silver dial 15400, it's my first AP. Then I got the 15202 Jumbo which I love, and thought I don't need the 15400 silver in my collection anymore. I sold it, regret it, only to buy it back 2 years later. The silver dial is really one of a kind, imo, the best 15400 variant.

I also got a problem with the "sparsely decorated" 15500 dial and actually prefer the 15400 movement due to the more elaborately decorated rotor. This is of course, subjective. So lesson here is, the newer is not always better.
Agreed.

I owned black, silver and blue 15400 ... Still own the blue and won't ever let it go. I like the silver as much as the blue though. The way it reflects light in different colors is incredible.

As per the movement, I prefer the 3120 ... I just think it looks better and the rotor sets it off.

... and I am still not a fan of the 15500's dial.

I'd be very happy to own a 15500, but if I have to compare both my personal preference is clear.
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Old 31 December 2019, 06:42 AM   #317
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Agreed.

I owned black, silver and blue 15400 ... Still own the blue and won't ever let it go. I like the silver as much as the blue though. The way it reflects light in different colors is incredible.

As per the movement, I prefer the 3120 ... I just think it looks better and the rotor sets it off.

... and I am still not a fan of the 15500's dial.

I'd be very happy to own a 15500, but if I have to compare both my personal preference is clear.
I agree with all of this. I wouldn't let my blue 400 go except for maybe a 407ST.
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Old 31 December 2019, 06:44 AM   #318
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I initially sold the 15400 for the 15500 because I was drawn to the larger and more proportionate 4302 movement in the 41mm case. I also have a preference for a skeleton rotor (much like the Jumbo) over the 15400 full plate rotor that blocks much of the already small 3120 movement. Ultimately, I felt that the 15500 dial design is just less captivating than the 15400. Perhaps if the 15500 had retained the 15400/15202 dial design and just simply inserted the new 4302 movement, I would have gladly kept it.

I guess another reason why I insisted on going ahead with the “downgrade” and swallowing the loss on the 15500, and even ended up paying more to buy back the 15400 silver was because that particular model with that particular serial number is my first AP.

Nevertheless, it seems like the designers in AP currently have a preference for empty or “clean” dial designs on new references (e.g. Code 1159, 15500), so I probably won’t be that looking at newer references for a while.




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Liked reading about your experience and story. Thanks for sharing.

As an owner of the 15400st white dial myself, I found it especially interesting as I had originally "settled" for the white over the blue (having been unable to find the blue for about 2 years).

After trying to find one for over a year, I lucked out in mid 2017 and was able to buy my 15400 from Selfridges in London (AP in London had been looking for me and tracked down what they said was the only one in the city).

I then paid £14,300 GBP for my 15400 white (also got my VAT tax back after)... Was this a good price according to you AP aficionados on the board????

I was super conservative with it over the first year...spent a lot of time in the case after I put the first small scratch on the band by accident. However, in the past 6 months or so I've started wearing it more and try not to get upset at every scratch (they are scratch magnets!). I told myself I'll prob never try and sell it and bought it to wear - not as an investment. The first scratch almost put me in tears tho LOL. I have a few scratches on there now, but it's impossible not to (right?!).

After two and a half years with the white 15400, I must say I have zero regrets and if given the chance again I would probably take it over the blue anyways.

Also, the white is no longer with the 15500 right? Does this mean the white dial 15400 may hold a lot more value in the future?

Thanks all.
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Old 8 March 2022, 02:23 AM   #319
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15400 vs. 15500

This very helpful, a couple of years later. Thanks.
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Old 8 March 2022, 03:47 AM   #320
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Nice graphic
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Old 8 March 2022, 03:56 PM   #321
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Nice move OP, I much prefer the 15400 myself!
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Old 27 April 2022, 10:28 AM   #322
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15400 for sure.

Who cares about the secondary market, one does not sell a RO without instantly regretting it (even if it's for another RO).
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Old 27 April 2022, 11:31 AM   #323
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Very useful information here. I am waiting for 15500 (blue or black) I suppose I will need to wait for upcoming 15500 blue/green??.
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Old 27 April 2022, 12:23 PM   #324
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15400 for me - I personally like the longer hour markers and the minute track being printed directly on the dial.. and the arrow-shaped counterweight on the seconds hand (though I do still sometimes confuse it for the hour hand when I first wake up in the morning)
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Old 27 May 2022, 02:30 AM   #325
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Very useful information here. I am waiting for 15500 (blue or black) I suppose I will need to wait for upcoming 15500 blue/green??.

Some 15500's are still coming through (I got mine - Blue dial - 2 weeks ago) and will do so for another few months before the 15510 replaces it.

I think you might struggle to get a new 15510 with the 50th Anniversary rotor as most/all the 50th Anniversary pieces will be likely to be allocated for 2022 by now....but you might be one of the lucky ones of course!
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