Blue 15500 vs 15202

[lovewatches1987]

Hello everyone!

I have always been a fan of AP watches and have built a relationships with my local boutique. I currently wear 15400 black and expecting to get RO blue dial which i have been hunting for few years. I like both 15500 and 15202, however they have different thickness, power reserve, 15202 has no second hand but has more history behind it. I realize that when pick up one of them, I won’t be offered the other one any time soon.

Which of them would you go with?

Thank you;)

[Emery]

I'd go 15202.

Wouldn't a 15500 be overlapping with your 15400?

[robertengel]

First world problems amiright...

We don't really know your collection, wrist size or taste. But I can say that I would be torn also, the 15202 is more collectible, has the perfect size but is less practical in other ways, power reserve and service costs for example. The 15500 is more current with a seconds hand but also significantly bigger and may actually be too big for many wrists. I have to say that when I tried on a 15202 I was underwhelmed by its looks, I thought it would look stunning but it looked average. I cannot say it looked ugly though maybe it was the gloomy London weather. The 15500 in blue is perhaps more striking if im honest (dont crucify me purists). At the end of the day, go with your gut and dont ask us because all of us will have different opinions.

[KonoTime]

15202 of course


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[lovewatches1987]

Originally Posted by robertengel

First world problems amiright...

We don't really know your collection, wrist size or taste. But I can say that I would be torn also, the 15202 is more collectible, has the perfect size but is less practical in other ways, power reserve and service costs for example. The 15500 is more current with a seconds hand but also significantly bigger and may actually be too big for many wrists. I have to say that when I tried on a 15202 I was underwhelmed by its looks, I thought it would look stunning but it looked average. I cannot say it looked ugly though maybe it was the gloomy London weather. The 15500 in blue is perhaps more striking if im honest (dont crucify me purists). At the end of the day, go with your gut and dont ask us because all of us will have different opinions.

I’m 6,4 tall, wrist 6,7 inches, i also have Rolex James Cameron and AP Offshore in my humble collection

[mjclark32]

15202 since you already have a 15400 good luck

[supernova]

If you can at retail, 15202 >>> any 15500, no comparison. You also already have a 15400 which covers the 41mm, makes the decision even easier!


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[SwissWatchCollector]

15202! Good luck!

[lovewatches1987]

Originally Posted by supernova

If you can at retail, 15202 >>> any 15500, no comparison. You also already have a 15400 which covers the 41mm, makes the decision even easier!


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I should have mentioned from the beginning: i will most likely keep only 1 stainless RO in collection (and will add gold RO in future). So which of thses 3 stainless steel RO to keep?

[ts3]

Originally Posted by lovewatches1987

I should have mentioned from the beginning: i will most likely keep only 1 stainless RO in collection (and will add gold RO in future). So which of thses 3 stainless steel RO to keep?

15202 is the keeper given you have a Rolex and an Offshore for more heavy duty tasks.

[brandrea]

Another vote for the 15202, if you can get one

[HMHM]

15500 Blue! I think the blue on the 500 is (for me) the right tone of blue and I prefer the grande tapisserie over the petite tapisserie. Like someone said above the in house movement of AP is more technologically advance. And it’s also easier to obtain so more time enjoying the watch than dreaming about it.

[Vivalas]

Both great watches but I’d imagine your decision will be made for you, as if one will come available you’d probably take it there and then.

[texasmade]

Originally Posted by lovewatches1987

I should have mentioned from the beginning: i will most likely keep only 1 stainless RO in collection (and will add gold RO in future). So which of thses 3 stainless steel RO to keep?

I'm going to go against the crowd then if you're only going to keep one SS RO and add a gold RO in the future, I say go with the SS 15500 blue and then a gold 15202.

[supernova]

Originally Posted by lovewatches1987

I should have mentioned from the beginning: i will most likely keep only 1 stainless RO in collection (and will add gold RO in future). So which of thses 3 stainless steel RO to keep?

Ah, then I might have to shift my opinion towards the 15500 blue then as only RO. The 41mm might suit your larger wrist size overall, the pic of the 15400 looked great on you! 15202 in gold further down the line!

It’s definitely a hard choice and can’t really go wrong either way!


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[watchbiao]

Since you have other sports pieces, you can diversify your collection by going with the 15202 or you can double down on sportiness by going with the 15500. The 15202 feels more like a vintage dress watch while the 15500 is a modern sports watch.

15202 is thin, low WR, vintage movement w/o quickest date, and a slightly grayish blue dial.

15500 is thick, robust, modern and has a brighter blue dial.

I’m a purist who believes the best RO executions are thin, so I’d choose the 15202 no matter how difficult they are to obtain or what their prices are. The vintage-y quirks are annoying, but the thin case and diameter fit my wrist better, and I’d rather go with a Offshore if I wanted a thicker RO. Good luck!


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[7sins]

I've had both, much prefer the 15202. The dial on the 15500 looks empty and makes the bezel look thin making the watch wear larger.

[EyeoftheTiger]

15202

[kimwizzzuuu]

I have both, I could totally feel the special and the way jumbo sits on my wrist. I’m not purist tho, on my 7 inch wrist I prefer 15500.

[mdtddd2007]

15202

[cascavel]

If you are asking the question, which should I get, the 15500 or the 15202, then you should get the 15500. If you have the 15400 Black dial and like it, by all means get the 15500 Blue.
The only people who should buy a 15202 are nerds who are hung up on wrist watch anachronisms and are willing to suffer through hours of frustration setting their watches in order to share the experience of those watch pioneers from the 1970s.
I have a 15202st and wouldn't trade it for any other SS AP, but those are the facts.

[7sins]

Originally Posted by cascavel

If you are asking the question, which should I get, the 15500 or the 15202, then you should get the 15500. If you have the 15400 Black dial and like it, by all means get the 15500 Blue.
The only people who should buy a 15202 are nerds who are hung up on wrist watch anachronisms and are willing to suffer through hours of frustration setting their watches in order to share the experience of those watch pioneers from the 1970s.
I have a 15202st and wouldn't trade it for any other SS AP, but those are the facts.

I never understood why people complain about setting the date on the 15202, just buy a watch winder.

[danwang0520]

I'd go with 15202 personally........since you already have 15400

[steeevvvooo]

Why not bring the gold watch forward and get a 15202OR. Keep the 15400 along side it and see how you get on.

Steel sports AP, gold jumbo for dressing up/special occasions and your ROO/JC for tool watch/fun duties.

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[cascavel]

Originally Posted by 7sins

I never understood why people complain about setting the date on the 15202, just buy a watch winder.

Point taken. AP should provide a watch winder with the sale of any 15202. I like to complain, but in this case I wasn't complaining as much as explaining. A lot of the poor souls on this website, and others, lust for a 15202 without understanding the peculiarities of the watch. In many ways it is a "hot mess" which one is better off understanding before purchase.
Oh, and I forgot to mention the dismal water resistance. Not that I'm complaining.

[7sins]

Originally Posted by cascavel

Point taken. AP should provide a watch winder with the sale of any 15202. I like to complain, but in this case I wasn't complaining as much as explaining. A lot of the poor souls on this website, and others, lust for a 15202 without understanding the peculiarities of the watch. In many ways it is a "hot mess" which one is better off understanding before purchase.
Oh, and I forgot to mention the dismal water resistance. Not that I'm complaining.

Agree they should provide a winder in the box like they do for their QP models

[charlie2888]

I invite people complaining about setting the date, delicateness, winding the crown, etc. to use their iPhone to tell the time. It's much more convenient and accurate than any mechanical watch.

The watches we wear are pieces of art, and the 5402/15202 proportions IMO are the most beautiful art on the wrist I have ever seen.

[HMHM]

Originally Posted by charlie2888

I invite people complaining about setting the date, delicateness, winding the crown, etc. to use their iPhone to tell the time. It's much more convenient and accurate than any mechanical watch.

The watches we wear are pieces of art, and the 5402/15202 proportions IMO are the most beautiful art on the wrist I have ever seen.

I think a lot of AP owners appreciate craftsmanship, design and tradition hence the willingness to spend that amount of money on a mechanical watch. Difference is that some people who own the 15500ST (me included) appreciate the benefits of the new 4302 movement. I don’t understand why a difference in preference equals to non-appreciation of mechanical watches and have to settle with using an iPhone to tell time. Let’s give AP the credit they are due for being brave enough to spend the money and time needed to develop a new in-house movement which is technologically more advance, robust and reliable rather than dismissing it just because of personal preference.

[sameer222]

15202

[karasus]

Originally Posted by lovewatches1987

I’m 6,4 tall, wrist 6,7 inches, i also have Rolex James Cameron and AP Offshore in my humble collection

While on wrist shots the 15202 will look fine, you might prefer the 15500's look overall considering your height and wrist size.

In the photo you are easily pulling off the 15400 which is comparable in size to the 15500.

However since you already have a 15400, might want to consider a 15202 for when you want to switch things up.