AP RO 15300 thoughts and query...

[walds11]

I've come to the conclusion that I'll probably never get a PP 5711 blue at list price. The list price is expected to increase 20% on 3/1. Hmm, almost $30,000 for a SS sports watch with a date...

The AP RO 15300 blue dial is a great alternative for a lot less money. The blue dials are harder to find in good shape though. The 39mm 15300 is better fit on my ~6.5" wrist compared to the 15400.

What was the serial range/years for the 15300? F-I/2005-2012? I would want one that was recently serviced by APSC, if all possible. I've heard that the later serials have a better, improved bracelet clasp. What serial range/year was the better clasp introduced?

[Mezz72]

H is the last series. There’s no I series afaik for 15300.
Newest one you can find probably dates to 2011.

[walds11]

Originally Posted by Mezz72

H is the last series. There’s no I series afaik for 15300.
Newest one you can fine probably dates to 2011.

Thank you! Good to know.

Do you or anyone else know about the updated clasp and when it was introduced into the 15300 run? What are the differences between the old and updated clasps?

[Mezz72]

no idea when old became new, but this is mine.
love the AP logo and the much more beautiful butterfly clasp.




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[Speed]

Originally Posted by Mezz72

no idea when old became new, but this is mine.
love the AP logo and the much more beautiful butterfly clasp.



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Great shot!

[walds11]

Originally Posted by Speed

Great shot!

Yes sir. Nice back side shot

Is that the updated clasp?

[RolexZen]

20%? Where did you get that from?

[walds11]

Originally Posted by RolexZen

20%? Where did you get that from?

There’s a thread on the PP forum:

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=582344

But let’s keep this thread on topic

[Speed]

Originally Posted by walds11

Yes sir. Nice back side shot



Is that the updated clasp?

That’s the old logo’d clasp.

The clasp on the H series is simpler / no AP logo just rectangular in shape.

[walds11]

Originally Posted by Speed

That’s the old logo’d clasp.

The clasp on the H series is simpler / no AP logo just rectangular in shape.

Ok, cool. Let’s see the back side of yours

[Speed]

Originally Posted by walds11

Ok, cool. Let’s see the back side of yours

[walds11]

Looks nice Bill. Yeah, I definitely want the lastest series with the updated clasp.

[pyceasyas123]

The updated clasp is the one that is used on the 15202 and I believe the 15400 now. I’ve had experience with both. IMO the new one is superior, much more precise and robust.


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[walds11]

Originally Posted by pyceasyas123

The updated clasp is the one that is used on the 15202 and I believe the 15400 now. I’ve had experience with both. IMO the new one is superior, much more precise and robust.


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Awesome! I prefer to have the lastest and greatest. Now the search begins. Hunting down a nice blue one full set is gonna be tough.

[2nastie]

Originally Posted by pyceasyas123

The updated clasp is the one that is used on the 15202 and I believe the 15400 now. I’ve had experience with both. IMO the new one is superior, much more precise and robust.


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There was further update on the clasp on the 15400 around 2015 / later I series.

But for the 15300, the previous one shown without the AP logo would be the more robust option.

[walds11]

Originally Posted by 2nastie

There was further update on the clasp on the 15400 around 2015 / later I series.

But for the 15300, the previous one shown without the AP logo would be the more robust option.

Thank you for clarifying.

[tng11]

The first generation of that clasp from around 2005 (think F series) was dreadful - it was longer and very chunky. Made for a very uncomfortable fit on small wrists. That was part of the reason I sold mine back in 2007. Around that time they also shortened the clasp for a better fit.

The late H-series has the updated "solid" clasp as opposed to the ones with the "AP" logo, and it is thinner and more robust than the first generation (the first one is prettier by a hair.) I have it on my 15202 now and it's excellent.

If your comparator is the 5711, why not consider the 15202? It's thinner and a very faithful representation of the original GG design.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by tng11

The first generation of that clasp from around 2005 (think F series) was dreadful - it was longer and very chunky. Made for a very uncomfortable fit on small wrists. That was part of the reason I sold mine back in 2007. Around that time they also shortened the clasp for a better fit.

The late H-series has the updated "solid" clasp as opposed to the ones with the "AP" logo, and it is thinner and more robust than the first generation (the first one is prettier by a hair.) I have it on my 15202 now and it's excellent.

If your comparator is the 5711, why not consider the 15202? It's thinner and a very faithful representation of the original GG design.

Comparator - nice word, I'm going to use that more often.

[walds11]

Originally Posted by tng11

The first generation of that clasp from around 2005 (think F series) was dreadful - it was longer and very chunky. Made for a very uncomfortable fit on small wrists. That was part of the reason I sold mine back in 2007. Around that time they also shortened the clasp for a better fit.

The late H-series has the updated "solid" clasp as opposed to the ones with the "AP" logo, and it is thinner and more robust than the first generation (the first one is prettier by a hair.) I have it on my 15202 now and it's excellent.

If your comparator is the 5711, why not consider the 15202? It's thinner and a very faithful representation of the original GG design.

I like the more robust clasp!

I considered the 15202, but not sure about the lack of the seconds hand.

The 15202 is ~1.3mm thinner and ~1mm shorter lug to lug than the 15300. Do they wear similar?

[GB-man]

FWIW I too had hesitations about the lack of a seconds hand but I have found them to be completely unjustified. The polish on the watch reflects light in a way such that the piece is anything but static.

There is also a calming feeling not seeing every second tick away. I love it.

[V25V]

15300 is great. Had a 15400 and decided it was a bit too large. I think the 39mm is perfect. And the blue, can't beat it. They keep going up in price and I wear mine less than I used to. But when I do, I cant help but stare at it. So pretty and personally feel the bracelet looks so much nicer than the PP. My .02.





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[walds11]

Originally Posted by GB-man

FWIW I too had hesitations about the lack of a seconds hand but I have found them to be completely unjustified. The polish on the watch reflects light in a way such that the piece is anything but static.

There is also a calming feeling not seeing every second tick away. I love it.

That calming feeling sounds pleasing

Which one is easier to obtain? You don’t see many 15300 blues for sale. I haven’t looked at the 15202. The 15202 has a higher MSRP and obviously goes for more than the 15300.

Originally Posted by npalacio

15300 is great. Had a 15400 and decided it was a bit too large. I think the 39mm is perfect. And the blue, can't beat it. They keep going up in price and I wear mine less than I used to. But when I do, I cant help but stare at it. So pretty and personally feel the bracelet looks so much nicer than the PP. My .02.



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Wow dude, that looks in your wrist!

[V25V]

Originally Posted by walds11

That calming feeling sounds pleasing

Which one is easier to obtain? You don’t see many 15300 blues for sale. I haven’t looked at the 15202. The 15202 has a higher MSRP and obviously goes for more than the 15300.



Wow dude, that looks in your wrist!

I would have issue with not having a quick set date (15202), that would get annoying quick. I think I could get over no second hand however. You also need to like the thinner case on the 15202, seems more dressy to me and less sporty compared to the 15300, again my .02.

I think they are both pretty hard to come by and when they pop up for sale, they sell quick.

[walds11]

Originally Posted by npalacio

I would have issue with not having a quick set date (15202), that would get annoying quick. I think I could get over no second hand however. You also need to like the thinner case on the 15202, seems more dressy to me and less sporty compared to the 15300, again my .02.

I think they are both pretty hard to come by and when they pop up for sale, they sell quick.

I forgot about no quick set date for the 15202. Yah, the 15300 seems more sporty with the thicker case. That’s all me!!!

[tng11]

Originally Posted by walds11

I like the more robust clasp!

I considered the 15202, but not sure about the lack of the seconds hand.

The 15202 is ~1.3mm thinner and ~1mm shorter lug to lug than the 15300. Do they wear similar?

The 15300 has a bit more presence - the watch case and bracelet are thicker. I have a side by side comparison picture somewhere on my phone that I'll post later. I like the more "svelte" feel and appearance of the 15202 - it's thinner all around, but complaints that it feels "delicate" are unfounded. It may tilt a bit more dressy than the 15300, but it can still be a "sporty" piece if you want it to be. I wear my 15202 with t-shirts and shorts all the time in the summer, but wouldn't take either for a dip in the pool.

I also agree with GB-man that a lack of seconds hand does not bother me. In fact, I like that it has a very "zen" like look without the seconds hand, and there's no real need to measure everything in your life by the seconds.

The lack of a quickset date is the only substantive complaint I have about the 15202. It's made worse by the tiny and hard to grip crown. The solution is to either a) wear the watch often enough that you don't have to set the date; b) leave it on a winder.

[walds11]

Originally Posted by tng11

The 15300 has a bit more presence - the watch case and bracelet are thicker. I have a side by side comparison picture somewhere on my phone that I'll post later. I like the more "svelte" feel and appearance of the 15202 - it's thinner all around, but complaints that it feels "delicate" are unfounded. It may tilt a bit more dressy than the 15300, but it can still be a "sporty" piece if you want it to be. I wear my 15202 with t-shirts and shorts all the time in the summer, but wouldn't take either for a dip in the pool.

I also agree with GB-man that a lack of seconds hand does not bother me. In fact, I like that it has a very "zen" like look without the seconds hand, and there's no real need to measure everything in your life by the seconds.

The lack of a quickset date is the only substantive complaint I have about the 15202. It's made worse by the tiny and hard to grip crown. The solution is to either a) wear the watch often enough that you don't have to set the date; b) leave it on a winder.

I’m looking forward to seeing your side by side pics.

The tiny, non-screw down crown is a deal breaker for me. They are both amazing timepieces. I’m on the prowl for a 15300...

[Mezz72]

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[tng11]

And here we go:

[walds11]

Nice pics gents! The pics really show the size difference between the 15300/15202 and 15400.

[rossi46]

I had a very late-run H series with the "AP" butterfly clasp, so it's hard to say which ones got the updated version and which still had the older style. Either way, I had no issues with it and thought it was much more charming than the somewhat blander new iteration.

Don't be locked into getting a blue dial 15300! Find the best condition, best priced 15300 regardless of dial color APSC in the Canada can swap out the dial for you ~$1,000.

I'm actually not that big a fan of the blue AP used on the 15300 and much prefer the black dial. It can change from deep black to slate grey to even a midnight blue (from the anti-glare coating under the sapphire crystal).

Good luck in your search! These are really getting hard to find in minty condition. PM me if you have any more questions :)