Royal Oak or Patek Aquanaut?

[ChetBaker]

You did well. AP devalued the RO by fitting the 15550 with an outsourced Vaucher movement. And they got away with it - they know their customers very well.

[IGY]

You don't need a waterproof watch as you have plenty of those already. And that is the key advantage of the Aquanaut over the Royal Oak.

The Royal Oak is arguably the best watch that Audemars Piguet make. (And come on now... they do make other watches besides their most famous model). The Aquanaut is one of the most basic - entry level really - watch that Patek Philippe makes. There are so many more interesting options than the Aquanaut. And you enjoy the Lange Up Down so surely you'd be more interested in the truly great complication and more interesting movements from Patek's catalogue before a basic time only Aquanaut? They got micro rotors, manual chronos that both look amazing and they got annual or perpetual calendars and so on. So much more interesting.

From your two choices, I'd buy a RO. Well... I did.

As for you, have fun and try both on. Decide for yourself.

[IGY]

Originally Posted by ChetBaker

You did well. AP devalued the RO by fitting the 15550 with an outsourced Vaucher movement. And they got away with it - they know their customers very well.

Vaucher such trash right? That is why Richard Mille and Fleurier Parmigiani use them as well as Audemars Piguet. Get over it. The VMF300 is a good, modern movement. The old in house cal. 3120 fitted to the 15450ST was not particularly reliable. The VMF300 is consistent, accurate and durable.

[piratfisk]

Originally Posted by IGY

Vaucher such trash right? That is why Richard Mille and Fleurier Parmigiani use them as well as Audemars Piguet. Get over it. The VMF300 is a good, modern movement. The old in house cal. 3120 fitted to the 15450ST was not particularly reliable. The VMF300 is consistent, accurate and durable.

I've heard this, too. The 15550's new movement is supposed to be more accurate & reliable than the previous 37mm generation's in-house movement.

[Liza]

Absolutely the Royal Oak. Its better in every way possible. The Aquanaut is a copy of a copy of the Royal Oak. One of the most overrated watches ever made

[Liza]

Originally Posted by IGY

Vaucher such trash right? That is why Richard Mille and Fleurier Parmigiani use them as well as Audemars Piguet. Get over it. The VMF300 is a good, modern movement. The old in house cal. 3120 fitted to the 15450ST was not particularly reliable. The VMF300 is consistent, accurate and durable.

Absolutely agree. Vaucher is probably the best movement manufacture noone has heard of. The VMF 6710 inside the RM 65 runs circles around any inhouse chrono movement in the holy trinity. Especially compared to the antiquated Patek automatic chrono with pin pusher date change. I guarantee you that 3 hander movement inside the AP is better and more reliable than any automatic movement Patek currently makes.

[spellmanski]

RO for me please!

[Nathan_]

Originally Posted by mario1971

One more update. My wrist is a solid 19cm.

I have a similar sized wrist and based on that alone out of the two examples presented, the RO. I tried on the Aqua and on my wrist felt petite.

Considered any of the Gen 3 VC Overseas?

[John Doyle]

Originally Posted by IGY

Vaucher such trash right? That is why Richard Mille and Fleurier Parmigiani use them as well as Audemars Piguet. Get over it. The VMF300 is a good, modern movement. The old in house cal. 3120 fitted to the 15450ST was not particularly reliable. The VMF300 is consistent, accurate and durable.

No one said it's trash - it's just an outsourced movement, therefore the price of the watch should go down, not up. A bit like the stunt pulled by IWC with the new ingenieur. What a shame if you ask me.

[rolehex]

AP for me

[ChetBaker]

Originally Posted by John Doyle

No one said it's trash - it's just an outsourced movement, therefore the price of the watch should go down, not up. A bit like the stunt pulled by IWC with the new ingenieur. What a shame if you ask me.

That’s what I meant. Lower cost to AP does not translate into lower cost to the customer. Also lower exclusivity and prestige, which is exactly what you’re supposed to be buying when you’re paying north of 25k for a watch. The 15550 is an abomination but AP knows many of their customers have no idea or don’t care about horology. As long as they can say they’re wearing a royal oak they’re good.

[Dima.vvva]

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[Avici]

I prefer Audemars Piguet

[Krash]

Tough choice. I’d be happy with either. But I might prefer the Patek.


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[llngoc]

Aquanaut on rubber strap is very comfortable and also is waterproof. Although it is not my cup of tea so my wife took it and now it is hers.

AP 15550 is an AP RO. Nothing more or less. Very nice case and bracelet finish. And the bleu nuit dial is also quite nice. Movement is 3rd party but it should not bother you as no one really gets a three hander for the movement as long as it is accurate and reliable. For me, the 37mm is a good fit for me.

Picking between an 5167 and a 15550 is actually like apple and orange. The Patek is a sports watch with the WR and AP is a sporty dress watch as it does not have a screw down crown. The highly polished bezel and bracelet can also be scratch magnet if you are not careful.

[spellmanski]

AP for me

[Benzsiam]

Both are equally gorgeous. If you can get it at MSRP, I would go for Aquanaut, but if you have to get it from secondary market, AP would not be too bad.