4100 vs 14790

[JJGreen]

I'm wondering you're thoughts on 4100 vs 14790.

My wrist is rather small. I prefer smaller watches. But the 4100, being so thin, might be too small. The 14790's I'm looking at are quite a bit more money.

Love to hear some owners chime in.

Pictures, to make me jealous, are welcome!

[jgottsman11]

14790 or 15300 in my opinion. Older Royal Oaks feel quite dainty

[Benzsiam]

I have 14790SA and 14790BA, I like them both and they are quite dainty when compare to 15450 or 15500.

[Drixonite]

Originally Posted by JJGreen

I'm wondering you're thoughts on 4100 vs 14790.

My wrist is rather small. I prefer smaller watches. But the 4100, being so thin, might be too small. The 14790's I'm looking at are quite a bit more money.

Love to hear some owners chime in.

Pictures, to make me jealous, are welcome!

What prices are you seeing for both? I’m seeing pretty similar, maybe 2k difference if that.

[JJGreen]

Originally Posted by Drixonite

What prices are you seeing for both? I’m seeing pretty similar, maybe 2k difference if that.

I am seeing 4100 for $26-30K and 14790 $35-45K, the high end being a tropical dial.

It's a keeper for me, so even though it's more money I'm willing as long as it's justified. My favorite watch is probably Rolex 1016, so I'm hoping for something that wears similar.

[agsstructures]

14790 in either series 1 or 2 w/long indices is my preference. The series 1 have the older Audemars Piguet font which is a beautiful touch.

[ExplorerI]

I think the 15300 is just right. Original jumbo size proportions.

[Drixonite]

Originally Posted by JJGreen

I am seeing 4100 for $26-30K and 14790 $35-45K, the high end being a tropical dial.

It's a keeper for me, so even though it's more money I'm willing as long as it's justified. My favorite watch is probably Rolex 1016, so I'm hoping for something that wears similar.

I'm seeing a lot lower on the usual greys, around $25k asking for both 4100ST and 14790ST. So you can probably negotiate lower, not every day someone wants to buy a $25k vintage watch.

[Mirek]

4100BA. Any (AP) bigger than this looks obnoxious on my small wrist, fits just like my Daytona 16520. I know I am “old school” in that regard (watch face size these days) but “There ain’t no school like the old school !” Now get off my lawn !

[Drixonite]

Originally Posted by Mirek

4100BA. Any (AP) bigger than this looks obnoxious on my small wrist, fits just like my Daytona 16520. I know I am “old school” in that regard (watch face size these days) but “There ain’t no school like the old school !” Now get off my lawn !

Looks perfect! That's my favorite font (seems to be only on the older models). A lot of 14790s have the updated serif font, or got a service dial with the serif font.

[dh1]

Originally Posted by Drixonite

Looks perfect! That's my favorite font (seems to be only on the older models). A lot of 14790s have the updated serif font, or got a service dial with the serif font.

That's the 14790 MK1 dial. There are three major generations. 14790 MK2 dial has Audemars Piguet a lot larger than automatic and with a difference between capital and lower-case letters. MK3 dial changes that tapisserie to the boxy larger grid (boo, I never liked it as much).

I love my 14700ST which is a model produced for a short time between 4100ST and 14790ST (it predates the 14790 so has the MK1 dial). I post pictures maybe too much :-)

[deuxani]

I’m a bit in the same boat. I have been trying on 14790’s since their market prices were around 8k and a 15450 could be had for 13k. I still face palm myself for never taking the plunge, but I was still a bit new to the watch game back then.

What’s nice about the 4100 and 14790 (MK1 and MK2… NOT the MK3) is that the hour markers and hands have the same look as the original Royal Oak, it’s all pill shaped. Everything after the 14790 (apart from the Jumbo) has octagonal markers and hands, which make it look too modern in my opinion.

So I’ve been following some Chrono24 ads and all I can say is wait! Just have some patience as the prices of these models are going down so quickly. I’ve seen a couple from over 30k now going for 25k in one or two months. I’m waiting for them to drop below the 20k and then I’ll go for it.

Regarding which model to get, it’s about your budget. The 14790 is the better watch, but the MK1 and MK2 dial versions are much more expensive. The MK3 with short hour markers are cheaper but less good looking and less desirable.

So wait some more and try them both on in the mean time.

This is a nice article describing the differences by the way: https://www.watchbrotherslondon.com/...86-14700-14790

[Drixonite]

Originally Posted by dh1

That's the 14790 MK1 dial. There are three major generations. 14790 MK2 dial has Audemars Piguet a lot larger than automatic and with a difference between capital and lower-case letters. MK3 dial changes that tapisserie to the boxy larger grid (boo, I never liked it as much).

I love my 14700ST which is a model produced for a short time between 4100ST and 14790ST (it predates the 14790 so has the MK1 dial). I post pictures maybe too much :-)
https://imgur.com/mXEcGly.jpeg

Amazing, thanks for the details/information and sharing your beautiful example. I noticed that actually there are several references between the 4100ST and 14790ST that get "forgotten" but are more or less the same aesthetics/proportions as the other vintage models.

Your reference is very cleanly proportioned, I've seen some in-between references where the bezel was way too thick.

[theflywrist]

Long long time lover of the 14790(early series in particular).
I own a 37mm 15550, along with a 39mm skeleton 15305.
In terms of proportions, it’s damn near impossible to beat a 14790.

[jgottsman11]

Originally Posted by theflywrist

Long long time lover of the 14790(early series in particular).
I own a 37mm 15550, along with a 39mm skeleton 15305.
In terms of proportions, it’s damn near impossible to beat a 14790.

these are very nice

[donald83]

Originally Posted by dh1

That's the 14790 MK1 dial. There are three major generations. 14790 MK2 dial has Audemars Piguet a lot larger than automatic and with a difference between capital and lower-case letters. MK3 dial changes that tapisserie to the boxy larger grid (boo, I never liked it as much).

I love my 14700ST which is a model produced for a short time between 4100ST and 14790ST (it predates the 14790 so has the MK1 dial). I post pictures maybe too much :-)

I'm looking for a 14790st too. Also prefer MK 1 or Mk2 long indices. But will you be concerned about box and papers?


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[T816B]

Originally Posted by dh1

That's the 14790 MK1 dial. There are three major generations. 14790 MK2 dial has Audemars Piguet a lot larger than automatic and with a difference between capital and lower-case letters. MK3 dial changes that tapisserie to the boxy larger grid (boo, I never liked it as much).

I love my 14700ST which is a model produced for a short time between 4100ST and 14790ST (it predates the 14790 so has the MK1 dial). I post pictures maybe too much :-)

I wonder why, 14700 being a transition model, has thicker hour/minute hands than it's predecessor (4100) and it's subsequent model (14790 Series 1 and 2)?

Was the thicker hour/minute first used in 14700?

[dh1]

Originally Posted by T816B

I wonder why, 14700 being a transition model, has thicker hour/minute hands than it's predecessor (4100) and it's subsequent model (14790 Series 1 and 2)?

Was the thicker hour/minute first used in 14700?

Not sure but note that the 4100 was not the direct predecessor of 14700. There were two references spanning about 7 years between the 4100 and the 14700: the 4332 / 14332 and 14486, but the volume produced was much much lower.

According to AP chronicles for the 4100, "More than 8,400 were produced between 1977 and 1985." The 4332 started in 1983 (renamed to 14332 in 1985) and the 14486 intro'd in 1986. (Then 14700 in 1990 and 14790 in 1992.)

[T816B]

Originally Posted by dh1

Not sure but note that the 4100 was not the direct predecessor of 14700. There were two references spanning about 7 years between the 4100 and the 14700: the 4332 / 14332 and 14486, but the volume produced was much much lower.

According to AP chronicles for the 4100, "More than 8,400 were produced between 1977 and 1985." The 4332 started in 1983 (renamed to 14332 in 1985) and the 14486 intro'd in 1986. (Then 14700 in 1990 and 14790 in 1992.)

Thanks for pointing out there were also 14332 and 14486. Totally forgotten about these two models. I had a quick check on 14332/14486 images. They are having thin hands too.

Probably only AP knows why 14700 is on thicker hands. :)

[dh1]

Originally Posted by T816B

Thanks for pointing out there were also 14332 and 14486. Totally forgotten about these two models. I had a quick check on 14332/14486 images. They are having thin hands too.

Probably only AP knows why 14700 is on thicker hands. :)

When you say thicker hands... you mean the area for the lume inside of the hands looks a bit wider than the area for the lume inside of the dial markers?

I browsed a few pics of the 14486 on Chrono24 and it looks like some have thicker hands.

[T816B]

Originally Posted by dh1

When you say thicker hands... you mean the area for the lume inside of the hands looks a bit wider than the area for the lume inside of the dial markers?

I browsed a few pics of the 14486 on Chrono24 and it looks like some have thicker hands.

When you say thicker hands... you mean the area for the lume inside of the hands looks a bit wider than the area for the lume inside of the dial markers?



Yeah, I meant that.

You are right, some 14486 have thicker hands too. I think we can't come into conclusion on the type of hands being used.

[naylor442]

I believe the 14790 fits perfectly on most wrists. The proportions are just perfect.


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