President Bracelet vs Royal Oak Bracelet

[blown5.0]

There have been a lot of recent threads on bracelets and the President bracelet keeps coming up as the bracelet to beat amongst Rolex bracelets. How does it compare to the AP Royal Oak bracelet? I've seen many folks post in this forum and other forums that the RO bracelet is amongst the absolute best in terms of fit and finish. I have seen both in person and am a bit undecided. This was my takeaway from trying both on-

President
-Beautiful design
-Comfortable
-No microadjustments

RO
-Fit and finish are on a higher level
-Also no microadjustments
-Seems easy to scratch


Any thoughts?

[jgottsman11]

President bracelet gets scratches very easily as well. I've been babying my 118238 since I got it about a month ago and some scratches have shown up that I have no idea how they got there. However the Day Date feels incredibly special and the weight of the gold is amazing.

[aw9nineteen]

Originally Posted by jgottsman11

President bracelet gets scratches very easily as well. I've been babying my 118238 since I got it about a month ago and some scratches have shown up that I have no idea how they got there. However the Day Date feels incredibly special and the weight of the gold is amazing.

What he said! Gold scratches very easily. Although I don’t have an AP, I’d imagine it scratches even easier than gold. I would take/did take the president, but it was the gold that sold me. Visually I like the AP more.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[roadie1]

I’m sorry (not really) but I find the APs boring. I’ve had five or six over the years and would much prefer a DD or PM sport model. Same to be said for most lower end Pateks.

[roadie1]

Double post

[rodo]

Originally Posted by jgottsman11

President bracelet gets scratches very easily as well. I've been babying my 118238 since I got it about a month ago and some scratches have shown up that I have no idea how they got there. However the Day Date feels incredibly special and the weight of the gold is amazing.

I disagree

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by blown5.0

There have been a lot of recent threads on bracelets and the President bracelet keeps coming up as the bracelet to beat amongst Rolex bracelets. How does it compare to the AP Royal Oak bracelet? I've seen many folks post in this forum and other forums that the RO bracelet is amongst the absolute best in terms of fit and finish. I have seen both in person and am a bit undecided. This was my takeaway from trying both on-

President
-Beautiful design
-Comfortable
-No microadjustments

RO
-Fit and finish are on a higher level
-Also no microadjustments
-Seems easy to scratch


Any thoughts?

Oh my goodness man...

If you’ve ever seen a RO bracelet on somebody else’s wrist, in good lighting, it’s over for the president bracelet lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jgottsman11]

Originally Posted by rodo

I disagree

Tell me why you disagree.

[fsprow]

I have and love both. The AP is slightly better finished and the President a bit more comfortable. Both look great to me. I hate the big clasps on most Rolex watches.

[lig]

Originally Posted by schoolboy

Oh my goodness man...

If you’ve ever seen a RO bracelet on somebody else’s wrist, in good lighting, it’s over for the president bracelet lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Having both I can honestly say that when the light catches the RO bracelet - scratches or not it is indeed game over for the President.

The only problem is the RO bracelet it nowhere near as robust.

[Benzsiam]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think both are very beautiful, it's personal preference.

I wear my AP to the party and my spouse wear her Rolex DD. She got a lot of admirers on her watch, but some people thought that I wear Michael Kor because of the Rose gold bracelet.

[GoingPlaces]

Originally Posted by jgottsman11

President bracelet gets scratches very easily as well. I've been babying my 118238 since I got it about a month ago and some scratches have shown up that I have no idea how they got there. However the Day Date feels incredibly special and the weight of the gold is amazing.

I don't have a RO but I own a YG President (going on a year and worn often) and can say it does a lot better at hiding the scratches than my YG oyster bracelet.

[wach16]

I have owned both and the president bracelet molds to the wrist much better than the RO (RO is much more rigid) IMO. RO bracelet is in another league in terms of finishing however. The hand polished bevels on the outer and inner links is mesmerizing in the light. Personally, I prefer the President (once you get the links right).

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by lig

Having both I can honestly say that when the light catches the RO bracelet - scratches or not it is indeed game over for the President.

The only problem is the RO bracelet it nowhere near as robust.

Really?

I’ve never handled one to be honest


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[fsprow]

The only problem is the RO bracelet it nowhere near as robust.[/QUOTE]

Having hiked, climbed and gone on hunting safaris with the Royal Oak I have found to be very tough. Scratches easily but that is not a concern of mine.

[Muxi]

RO bracelets don’t scratch that easily. Mine only has one from the time it hit the elevator door and it is very minimal. I’ve had mine for a year. It does not get scratches out of nowhere, but it is quite unforgiving if you hit something.

[Famz_01]

I own a rose gold olive dial dd40 a dd41 in yellow gold and a 15500 in rose
Gold. Not even close my ap is on a different level in every category.

[sgwatchguy]

Originally Posted by Benzsiam

..but some people thought that I wear Michael Kor because of the Rose gold bracelet.

That’s gotta sting.

The AP bracelet is a thing of beauty and even more so in RG.

[Likestheshiny]

I personally much prefer the RO bracelet. I don't have a problem with the president, and it's undoubtedly very comfortable, but I don't especially see it as superior to an oyster or jubilee. If it weren't attached to one or Rolex's flagship PM watches, I don't know if I'd look twice at it. The RO bracelet, on the other hand, is a big chunk of what I like about the entire watch.

[fskywalker]

Don’t like the look of the AP’s (each to its own), so president band for me!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[aw9nineteen]

Originally Posted by Likestheshiny

I personally much prefer the RO bracelet. I don't have a problem with the president, and it's undoubtedly very comfortable, but I don't especially see it as superior to an oyster or jubilee. If it weren't attached to one or Rolex's flagship PM watches, I don't know if I'd look twice at it. The RO bracelet, on the other hand, is a big chunk of what I like about the entire watch.

VERY true for me


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[TankTom]

AP bracelet is better looking IMO. The way it catches the light is something else. However, it’s much more rigid and therefore less comfortable than the president. Definitely a close battle when comparing them to be honest!

[lig]

Originally Posted by schoolboy

Really?

I’ve never handled one to be honest


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yep. My deployant buckle broke. One of the springs failed. Clearwater wouldn’t send a spring. They said they could only replace the entire buckle which honestly irritated me greatly.

I’m not hard on my watches - out of AP, Rolex, Panerai, Breitling and JLC I’ve only had one break - the RO.

It is a thing of beauty though.

[Token74]

When sized correctly, the AP bracelet is the most comfortable I’ve ever experienced. It also looks the nuts, regardless of scratches.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[thekman]

I have never owned a DD but just tried them on at ADs. It is a fine watch but the level of finishing and luxury feeling in my opinion does not compare between both. I think any steel RO is much luxurious and well finished than any PM DD. Since I sized the bracelet of my 15500 I have never had any problems with it. It is as comfortable as any other watch bracelet and hugs the wrists perfectly.

[rodo]

Originally Posted by jgottsman11

Tell me why you disagree.

Because it doesn’t scratch easily and it also hides scratches well. Better than a gold oyster

[strettyend]

Originally Posted by Muxi

RO bracelets don’t scratch that easily. Mine only has one from the time it hit the elevator door and it is very minimal. I’ve had mine for a year. It does not get scratches out of nowhere, but it is quite unforgiving if you hit something.

Not sure if serious. The RO bracelet doesn’t hide scratches well at all

[joli160]

Originally Posted by rodo

Because it doesn’t scratch easily and it also hides scratches well. Better than a gold oyster

You are correct

[Pocosso]

I have both and I like both.
The AP finishing is way above the Rolex one. Someone said in this tread the AP has no micro adjustments, true, but President with hidden clasp is the same.
A plus for AP, it is available as option, not cheap, the Half Link, not micro adjustment, but it works fine.

[Benzsiam]

Originally Posted by sgwatchguy

That’s gotta sting.

The AP bracelet is a thing of beauty and even more so in RG.

I think in general most people knew about Rolex a lot more than AP.