Is the 50th Anniversary ROC the easiest to acquire?

[rockdrock]

Hello all. Let me rephrase my subject line. Not that it is easy to get an AP, but it seems the ROC 41mm 50th is the easier of the lot. Is it because the quantities are big? Is it because the ROC design is not the ultimate RO?

The 16202 seems impossible. Thoughts?

[nyman23]

grey market prices for the 50th anniversary are astronomical
what made you come to this conclusion?

[GW44]

Nothing this year (or at all) is "easy" to purchase from AP.

Good luck in your quest...

[Reign]

Each watch has its own bucket of potential buyers based on history and relationship.

Jumbos and Skeleton tourb are effectively unobtanium unless you have very good history and a relationship

37s and ROCs are for folks with a few APs that AP wants to continue the journey with and will eventually get Jumbos over the coming years.

This isn’t hard and fast though and rules are absolute - some folks already have jumbos so may be holding out for something else or general AP reluctance to allocate someone the 16202 when they already have a 15202. Some folks may prefer the 37s due sizing. This is not 100% set in stone but the general AP trend.

I would also try to not compare allocations / criteria across regions since the buyer profile differs as well

Ps to answer your question, while the ROC is a big upgrade movement wise, it doesn’t have the historical significance that the Jumbo has which if given the choice, people would likely go with latter

[macrowatch]

I think Diamond 37mm are ‘easiest’ then 38 ROC.

[HMHM]

Contrary though, I think the ROC 41 might be one of the hardest to get, after the 16202. The 16202 looks quite similar to the 15202. Some customers may be more conservative and no longer go for the 16202. The ROC is all new in terms of movement and dial, which may even attract some customers who were previously looking for a 15500 or 26331 towards it. Any 50th anniversary watch is so sought after these days. I believe by 2023, some people may drop their interest as it no longer have the 50th rotor.

[7sins]

Originally Posted by HMHM

Contrary though, I think the ROC 41 might be one of the hardest to get, after the 16202. The 16202 looks quite similar to the 15202. Some customers may be more conservative and no longer go for the 16202. The ROC is all new in terms of movement and dial, which may even attract some customers who were previously looking for a 15500 or 26331 towards it. Any 50th anniversary watch is so sought after these days. I believe by 2023, some people may drop their interest as it no longer have the 50th rotor.

Exactly, spot on. Especially with ROC offering new dial colors, I would think demand would reflect that.

[rockdrock]

Thanks Reign and HMHM. That was exactly the insight I was trying to understand. Really great perspective.

My journey continues with AP and I am trying to calibrate expectations.

Someone did mention regions and it has been commented that product quantity is huge in the US in comparison to Europe. I keep hearing customer with stories that with little purchase history are allocated the ROC 50th Anniversary pieces.

[rockdrock]

Originally Posted by nyman23

grey market prices for the 50th anniversary are astronomical
what made you come to this conclusion?

Hi nyman, fair question. Just experience from collectors. A large part of them have been validated to be in a “16202” wishlist. I see others get calls to be provided a ROC50. I make just 1 guy with a 16202 allocation. We will see.

The comments already provided does seem very plausible. Would live to be a fly on the wall when production numbers are discussed for those watches. I mean, it should be easier (I think) to make the new 16202 7121 movements versus the old 2121 so there should be a lot more in market. And, the chrono movement already in the ROOC.

[AperolSpritz]

I have a slightly different view.

I have been told my boutique has allocated me a blue dial 15510. I was very happy and looking forward to receiving it (even if I have not seen it ;-) My SA tried to explain the differences to me but I cannot say I really got it...)

When he told me that I was at the boutique trying on the Jan releases, including the ROCs. I asked if I could switch from the 15510 to the 16202. He told me that he would try but not guaranteed but that I could switch to a ROC if I wanted to but advised I stay on the blue 15510 if he couldn't make the 16202 happen.

I hint the ROC is easier to get.

I have the previous ROC 41mm and imho I prefer the older version. I found the new ROC too thick vs. the old chrono. The new movement is beautiful to watch though.

But as others said, anything 50y anniversary is tough to get

[911AP]

Originally Posted by rockdrock

Thanks Reign and HMHM. That was exactly the insight I was trying to understand. Really great perspective.

My journey continues with AP and I am trying to calibrate expectations.

Someone did mention regions and it has been commented that product quantity is huge in the US in comparison to Europe. I keep hearing customer with stories that with little purchase history are allocated the ROC 50th Anniversary pieces.

I don't think that is true anymore. Barely anyone in the US is posting. I think Europe and US posts have been even. Where production quantity clearly is going now is Asia. AP is all about Asia for everything now it looks like. They shifted from the US.

[Reign]

Originally Posted by 911AP

I don't think that is true anymore. Barely anyone in the US is posting. I think Europe and US posts have been even. Where production quantity clearly is going now is Asia. AP is all about Asia for everything now it looks like. They shifted from the US.

People in the US are getting them - folks just aren’t posting to help their SAs from getting inundated

[mykii]

no the AP ROC is "not the easiest" lmao... it is probably the most exclusive high-end SS chrono ever made that is a catalogue item. Even before the 50th things had got crazy. The 38mm pandas in SS are now trading at $100k...

Plus, I think the chrono actually suits the RO case/design the best as it fills in a lot of the "empty dial" present on non-chrono models, but is less busy than the QPs.

[911AP]

Originally Posted by Reign

People in the US are getting them - folks just aren’t posting to help their SAs from getting inundated

They can post and not say who their SA is. Or even which boutique they got it from.

[Vince_76]

Originally Posted by AperolSpritz

I have a slightly different view.

I have been told my boutique has allocated me a blue dial 15510. I was very happy and looking forward to receiving it (even if I have not seen it ;-) My SA tried to explain the differences to me but I cannot say I really got it...)

Interesting. Is it releasing this month, and what are the changes?

[Mbbgysam]

Originally Posted by Vince_76

Interesting. Is it releasing this month, and what are the changes?

It's more or less the same updates as the other Royal Oaks this year: slight case updates, tapered bracelet, 50th anniversary rotor, galvanic gold AP logo. I'm excited to see the green version!

[AperolSpritz]

Originally Posted by Vince_76

Interesting. Is it releasing this month, and what are the changes?

As mentioned above, in line with ROC update.

- AP logo gone. Now it just says Audemars Piguet
- Indexes longer and thinner - more 15400 like
- Bracelet also slimmed (as per previous PM models before this year)
- And last I know, and this bit am unclear, the dial is supposed to fill more the case (think it has someting to do with the applied "chemin de fer" but unclear on that)

I understood announcements will be around 15/04 to be precisely 50y after RO release. Initially I heard all watches were due to be announced on 15/04 but unclear why they did it in Jan finally.

Good luck to all

[Vince_76]

Originally Posted by Mbbgysam

It's more or less the same updates as the other Royal Oaks this year: slight case updates, tapered bracelet, 50th anniversary rotor, galvanic gold AP logo. I'm excited to see the green version!

Originally Posted by AperolSpritz

As mentioned above, in line with ROC update.

- AP logo gone. Now it just says Audemars Piguet
- Indexes longer and thinner - more 15400 like
- Bracelet also slimmed (as per previous PM models before this year)
- And last I know, and this bit am unclear, the dial is supposed to fill more the case (think it has someting to do with the applied "chemin de fer" but unclear on that)

I understood announcements will be around 15/04 to be precisely 50y after RO release. Initially I heard all watches were due to be announced on 15/04 but unclear why they did it in Jan finally.

Good luck to all

Thank you both!

[ase_sbhwatch]

Mbbgysam, There’s also another thread on this topic if you’re interested, discussing AP’s changes to the 41 chrono: AP ROC 26331ST vs 26240ST.


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[rockdrock]

Thank you all. Great perspectives on this thread. To my surprise, I was offered the ROC 50th in white or blue. Loved the blue dial in person more than the white - but by a small margin. It is shiny, dark, and elegant. Like some said, the chrono sundials really fill in nicely. I was hoping for a more traditional RO but this one is stunning. Pls note the bracelet is mega comfortable. It is thinner.

It is a gorgeous watch and one that is getting a lot of wrist time now.

Wonder what the production numbers are for these this year. 7000 in all colors?

[GS93108]

Lovely.

[Seddyspaghetti]

Awesome. Congrats!

[nan7yo]

Originally Posted by rockdrock

Thank you all. Great perspectives on this thread. To my surprise, I was offered the ROC 50th in white or blue. Loved the blue dial in person more than the white - but by a small margin. It is shiny, dark, and elegant. Like some said, the chrono sundials really fill in nicely. I was hoping for a more traditional RO but this one is stunning. Pls note the bracelet is mega comfortable. It is thinner.

It is a gorgeous watch and one that is getting a lot of wrist time now.

Wonder what the production numbers are for these this year. 7000 in all colors?

Congratulations! ROC 50th Blue is really beautiful.

Do you find the white dial is easier to read?


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[TunaTuna]

Buy some cufflinks and a Code, then get a diver in a couple years.

That's probably your easiest route

[RyanO]

Great to see some of these pieces. Here’s mine:




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[lisalisa]

Originally Posted by rockdrock

Thank you all. Great perspectives on this thread. To my surprise, I was offered the ROC 50th in white or blue. Loved the blue dial in person more than the white - but by a small margin. It is shiny, dark, and elegant. Like some said, the chrono sundials really fill in nicely. I was hoping for a more traditional RO but this one is stunning. Pls note the bracelet is mega comfortable. It is thinner.

It is a gorgeous watch and one that is getting a lot of wrist time now.

Wonder what the production numbers are for these this year. 7000 in all colors?

Is this the 38mm?


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[dawalsh]

Originally Posted by lisalisa

Is this the 38mm?


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Looking at the date position. 41mm

[rockdrock]

Originally Posted by nan7yo

Congratulations! ROC 50th Blue is really beautiful.

Do you find the white dial is easier to read?


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It was easier to see time in the blue dial. However, the white dial design glimmers like little small diamonds. You can see the patterns so well. I really like that.

By the way, this blue color can look black in a lot of settings. That picture is in direct sunlight and me changing the angle to capture the blue. It is subdued and not bright at all.

[rockdrock]

Originally Posted by RyanO

Great to see some of these pieces. Here’s mine:




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Congrats! That is beautiful.

[rockdrock]

Originally Posted by dawalsh

Looking at the date position. 41mm

Correct. This is the 41mm version. Fits a little top heavy especially now with the thinner bracelet.