So that happened (Gulf ROO incoming)

[Nav01L]

Just the other day, with no expectation whatsoever, the AP boutique calls only a few weeks after I had first called to inquire about this and tells me a watch with my name on it is there waiting for me. I have no previous history with the boutique, but have over the years bought a few Rolex and Panerai watches from the multi brand store the boutique is operated by, as well as some nice jewelry pieces for my wife.

I must say, I’m pretty amazed - and very much over the moon with the watch. It’s still got its plastics as I haven’t yet had the time to properly sit down with my wife and formally unpack it, but boy that’s a keeper.

So I guess after having gone through the many criticisms one can legitimately see in the brand, I finally have an AP I like so much that I don’t care about how it’s made.

And before any stones are propelled into the air, no, this will not replace my “one watch guy” magic dial SD43 on my wrist. It will complement it when the place and the time call for it.

[AshAP]

Wow, that looks incredible


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[GW44]

Awesome.

How come you (or the Boutique?) left the protective plastic on it though?

Looks like the perfect summer AP to me...

[raclaims]

Gotta love gulf blue livery!

[77T]

Good looking. It’s definitely a casual blue jeans weekender.


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[Nav01L]

Originally Posted by GW44

Awesome.

How come you (or the Boutique?) left the protective plastic on it though?

Looks like the perfect summer AP to me...

Haha, that’s because I’m working 18 hour days at the moment and try to spend whatever is left with my young family. So I really just zoomed by the boutique, dropped the cash, took the watch and dashed off. We’ll do a proper unpacking with the obligatory glass of Taittinger this weekend with my wife. Didn’t want to take that from her If she lets me buy this type of thing so soon after the last one I purchased. But then I couldn’t resist wearing it out of the store either. It’s back in the box now waiting for it’s big moment on Saturday.

[10XRolex]

Congratulations. It's always a great feeling to get those phone calls out of the blue.

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[Vivalas]

I like the look of this one a lot, would like to try one on. Congrats :-)

[VogelPhoenix]

Great color combo, congrats!

[TunaTuna]

Nice enjoy it!

Out of curiosity, what were the many criticisms one can legitimately see in the brand???

[Nav01L]

Originally Posted by TunaTuna

Nice enjoy it!

Out of curiosity, what were the many criticisms one can legitimately see in the brand???

How well they have eliminated the human hand from many steps of their production. There are still things that are admirably made, like the bezel for instance. But AP has taken a very different path than the two big houses from Geneva or that one from Germany when it comes to making things the way things ought to be made. Instead, they make something that is consistent with the design and functions they need, but not made with the same end to end manufacturing ethos you'd find elsewhere.

But as I wrote, whether or not the backsides of the bridges are left with raw machining marks, where or not the balance wheel is decorated only from one side, and whether or not the anglage is applied by CNC diamond heads, the watch resulting from those shortcuts remains very appealing - just for different reasons.

[Nav01L]

That kind of thing.

By comparison, a VC will have all these surfaces with perlage.


Or that. They make a big deal of these integrated rotor weights being more aerodynamic, but then they leave a random pattern of unfinished scratches whizzing through the air on the underside. And so forth, and so forth. These are parts from the 4401, so not too old either.

But there is no denying that the parts you see are done quite handsomely and fit very well with the watches.

Credit for the images goes to “the naked watchmaker”

[Chloe&Harley]

Amazing congratulations

[HK Islandboy]

Such a great looking watch. Congratulations!

[sokoloka]

I'm starting to really dig this colorway. Congratulations! Looks fantastic on you!

[GW44]

Originally Posted by Nav01L

Haha, that’s because I’m working 18 hour days at the moment and try to spend whatever is left with my young family. So I really just zoomed by the boutique, dropped the cash, took the watch and dashed off. We’ll do a proper unpacking with the obligatory glass of Taittinger this weekend with my wife. Didn’t want to take that from her If she lets me buy this type of thing so soon after the last one I purchased. But then I couldn’t resist wearing it out of the store either. It’s back in the box now waiting for it’s big moment on Saturday.

Sounds like a nice unveiling event. Enjoy

[Gladiat0r]

What a stunner!

[Ichiran]

Looks amazing! Congrats!

[7sins]

Congrats! Love it and the strap!!

[Polar Bear]

There arent a lot of ROO that make me go PHWOAR!, but this is one of them
Congratulations

[danwang0520]

That looks fantastic, congrats!

[1st amg]

What a beauty...this looks like the perfect watch for everyday jeans

[Cadi1]

That is a great looking watch. Congrats!

[Goin2drt]

Congrats. My new favorite AP for sure.

[1William]

Congratulations.

[Mini2]

Great combination regarding colour

[Sean46]

Congrats!!!

[DVR]

I just placed an order for this model. Are you still wearing it? Is it top heavy or doable.
The dial is what made me order it and I suspect I'll wear it a lot if it is not too top heavy.

[uniqueMR]

Amazing!!

[multimedia]

I usually don't comment in these "incoming" threads, but for this one I just had to write a few words. That colour combo is absolutely gorgeous!

And at the same time; so encouraging to read how it came about = you don't having to wait forever and ever to receive your watch. Put a smile on my face reading that.

A big congratulations to the OP. Wear it in good health! :)

Edit; juts realized this thread is from November 2021... Anyway. Fun read.

Cheers,
Joe