AP 15400 vs 15500

[AK797]

Originally Posted by GB-man

15400 should hold its value fine especially that great ruthenium dial!

I’m a big fan of the 15500 though.

Agree, this is just a small evolution so will be no mass sell off of 400s for 550s which will be hard to get I'm sure, so prices should remain firm, only a sinking econ that hurts all sales will have a real affect.

[OJONES]

I’ve a slight preference for the new model, I just wish they brought the size down a mm or two. Also maybe increased WR and while I’m at micro adjustment maybe like the new VC 4500v. What I’m really keen to see is a shot of the back. The old movement always seemed really undersized for an exhibition back.

[dr35mm]

Cleaner dial and deeper blue looks great. Also noticed the white dial is gone.


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[Locust]

You sure the new “slate grey” isn’t just renamed. Ruthenium is pretty obscure for the masses. Slate grey most people get

[troways]

Just confirmed by local AD, there will be appx. 10% price increase on 15500.

[Tschyvon]

Originally Posted by troways

Just confirmed by local AD, there will be appx. 10% price increase on 15500.

As expected just shy of 20k

[kauffee]

My take on 15500:

Pros:
-Movement - this seems like the most important upgrade
-Date window - cleaner without the shortened marker
-No "automatic" text - slightly cleaner

Cons:
-Shorter/fatter markers - Much less elegant imo. Reminiscent of what Rolex did with DJ2.
-Separate minute track - Looks cheaper imo. Reminds me of the new VC Overseas.
-Where's the silver dial? By far my favorite.

Based on the pics, my preference is still for the 15400.

[benouah]

Originally Posted by kauffee

My take on 15500:

Pros:
-Movement - this seems like the most important upgrade
-Date window - cleaner without the shortened marker
-No "automatic" text - slightly cleaner

Cons:
-Shorter/fatter markers - Much less elegant imo. Reminiscent of what Rolex did with DJ2.
-Separate minute track - Looks cheaper imo. Reminds me of the new VC Overseas.
-Where's the silver dial? By far my favorite.

Based on the pics, my preference is still for the 15400.

Amen


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[benlee]

Originally Posted by kauffee

My take on 15500:

Pros:
-Movement - this seems like the most important upgrade
-Date window - cleaner without the shortened marker
-No "automatic" text - slightly cleaner

Cons:
-Shorter/fatter markers - Much less elegant imo. Reminiscent of what Rolex did with DJ2.
-Separate minute track - Looks cheaper imo. Reminds me of the new VC Overseas.
-Where's the silver dial? By far my favorite.

Based on the pics, my preference is still for the 15400.

Spot on, although I still need to see the actual watch to know if I prefer it over the 15400. It does appear the 15500 looks a lot more sportier. Also wondering why no silver dial. Which is fine as it makes my 15400 silver more "exclusive".

[redsubby]

Don't like the shorter/fatter markers, the whole dial looks too empty now.
The date window is a bit too close to the case and without the shorter marker, it doesn't look balanced with 9 o'clock. Also don't like the date font.
Would've been great if they just upgrade the movement without other changes.

[blacke90]

Originally Posted by kauffee

My take on 15500:

Pros:
-Movement - this seems like the most important upgrade
-Date window - cleaner without the shortened marker
-No "automatic" text - slightly cleaner

Cons:
-Shorter/fatter markers - Much less elegant imo. Reminiscent of what Rolex did with DJ2.
-Separate minute track - Looks cheaper imo. Reminds me of the new VC Overseas.
-Where's the silver dial? By far my favorite.

Based on the pics, my preference is still for the 15400.

+1
Then hopefully AP will make the 15500 more elegant again like Rolex DJ2 to DJ41. I do like the new date window and the lack of text at the bottom.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by dr35mm

Cleaner dial and deeper blue looks great. Also noticed the white dial is gone.


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With no more SIHH, they can release that now at any time.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by kauffee

My take on 15500:

Pros:
-Movement - this seems like the most important upgrade
-Date window - cleaner without the shortened marker
-No "automatic" text - slightly cleaner

Cons:
-Shorter/fatter markers - Much less elegant imo. Reminiscent of what Rolex did with DJ2.
-Separate minute track - Looks cheaper imo. Reminds me of the new VC Overseas.
-Where's the silver dial? By far my favorite.

Based on the pics, my preference is still for the 15400.

Minute track looks darker so could shrink the dial and if it makes the watch wear smaller that would be big for many. Bigger logo also helps to make the dial seem smaller.

[Peterandwatches]

Dial changes are pretty minimal. Movement is an upgrade, but wondering what the retail price will be.

[benouah]

Originally Posted by Peterandwatches

Dial changes are pretty minimal. Movement is an upgrade, but wondering what the retail price will be.

In HK 15400 vs 15500 +13% increase.


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[Xerxes77]

Originally Posted by HarryLime

15400 vs. 15500

Super cool images!!
My AD tell me AP do this because the new movement it’s bigger and now they can put the date window where he belong.
Anyway I think that new 15500 looks better.
I order one!!!

[Famz_01]

I prefer the dial of the 15400 those stubby hour markers look too small for the dial I think the 15400 dial is perfect glad I purchased one right before they were discontinued. Also can anyone confirm if the new 15500 will fit smaller than the 15400?

[zahain]

Ive seen a video of the 15500 live and it appears not to wear/look larger than the 15400 due to the new dial markers and larger text. The movement / caseback is now perfect in proportion to the case. The new chrono movement and the new calibre going into the 15500 look amazing. The dial colours are definitely different, especially the grey dial now looks more 'smokey'. Not impressed with the code 11.59 though that's a pass. The new blue dial is probably going to go crazy.

[Tschyvon]

Originally Posted by zahain

Ive seen a video of the 15500 live and it appears not to wear/look larger than the 15400 due to the new dial markers and larger text. The movement / caseback is now perfect in proportion to the case. The new chrono movement and the new calibre going into the 15500 look amazing. The dial colours are definitely different, especially the grey dial now looks more 'smokey'. Not impressed with the code 11.59 though that's a pass. The new blue dial is probably going to go crazy.

Would you share the link of that video pls?

[PADI_Diver]

For the steel models, the 15500 is prices at $19,200 vs the 15400 in steel priced at $17,800. I noticed no news on a 15500 being released with a white dial so far. I could be a bit biased as I just acquired a new 15400 with a white dial and K serial number from a boutique back in September, but I have noticed a few secondary sites upping their prices of 15400's.

It should be interesting to see how prices of 15400's move over the next few months but I think due to limited availability, we could see an increase to more inline with the price of the new models.

[myporsche]

Originally Posted by Locust

You sure the new “slate grey” isn’t just renamed. Ruthenium is pretty obscure for the masses. Slate grey most people get

I think it will be different than the Ruthenium and actually slate gray. It will be just like the Platinum/Titanium 26331IP ROC which seems to be now sold out and discontinued making it also a collectors item. The RO Ruthenium watch is on the site but it is already saying "Availability to be confirmed". Once they discontinue it, this would make the Ruthenium RO (15400ST.OO.1220ST.04) one of the shortest production runs ever, maybe even lower than the limited edition sold out 26331IP (even low than perhaps the smoked Jumbo??). I'm also sad to see there is no new silver dial, another fan favorite.

[Burlington]

I do think availability is going to be tough in 2019 for the new RO.

[myporsche]

Originally Posted by redsubby

Don't like the shorter/fatter markers, the whole dial looks too empty now.
The date window is a bit too close to the case and without the shorter marker, it doesn't look balanced with 9 o'clock. Also don't like the date font.
Would've been great if they just upgrade the movement without other changes.

I agree, I wasn't even expecting a refresh let a lone a completely new movement. The bottom half looks empty even though I like clean looks, it sort of throws off the balance from top half. The 3 o'clock marker added some detail.

The movement upgrade would have been sufficient. There is something about the elongated hour markers that makes the watch so classic Royal Oak, they are proportioned well with the hands and look great with the long lum plots at night.

[benouah]

Originally Posted by Burlington

I do think availability is going to be tough in 2019 for the new RO.

The blue dial might still be hard to get but the others should be fine.


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[lhawli]

One of my issues with the Nautilus 5711 was the date window smack against the edge of the dial. Still want one tho!

My opinion about the 15500 are:

Positives:
1. Increased power reserve (10h)
2. Bigger AP logo

Neutral:
1. 4Hz instead of 3Hz
2. Removed automatic script
3. Hour markers are shorter and thicker

Negatives:
1. More expensive!
2. Date window to close to the case edge and no half marker
3. Minute track cheapens the look and breaks up the dial creating an imbalance
4. Thicker case
5. Awkward dial with all that space after the shortening the markers and pushing out the date and removing automatic
6. Still 50 M water resistance

Aren’t I glad I picked up my 15400 few month back at MSRP. Overall I would say the 15400 is more elegant.

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[Gh0st0]

Nice, subtle differences will make this a great addition, can’t wait until we see a side by side with the new cases

[rmh45]

Maybe I'm crazy but the side by side shots seem to show a slight decrease in the lug to lug distance on the new 15500. Case might still be 41 but lug to lug could be down a millimeter or two.

Either way I'd love to see a new 15550 in the new 38mm case of the just released chrono.

[jtsmith439]

Obviously those that recently bought the 15400 are going to be a tad subjective when comparing to the 15500. They are both great watches. I prefer the hour markers on the 15400 and the back on the 15500 is more open and better shows off the movement (see Instagram).

[Etschell]

The 15500 is just more modern and substantial looking face on. They copied rolex with the maxi markers i guess....

[Sho-nuff]

Originally Posted by lhawli

Neutral:
3. Hour markers are shorter and thicker

Negatives:
2. Date window to close to the case edge and no half marker

I'm not sure it's possible to have one without the other though. With the new movement, the date has to be on the edge of the dial. If they retained the thinner and longer hour markers of the 15400, the dial would look even more unbalanced with the date on the edge. I think this is why they went with the shorter and thicker hour markers.