Sub C and Royal Oak

[herbalt]

Posted this in the AP section also, hopefully this is ok with the mods (not sure).

I wanted to get some feedback from other members:

I own a Sub C that I wear daily, and it's my only nice watch. I have some extra cash and I'm looking at either adding a PAM, or selling/trading the sub for a AP Royal Oak (love this watch). Because I'm not really interested in starting a real "collection", and I like the idea of having one really good piece that I can wear daily and for years and years… I'm considering the "upgrade" to the Royal Oak.

I realize the AP is in a different horological category than the sub. I love the look and feel of the AP on my wrist (only at an AD so far however), and I could definitely see wearing a 15400 or 15300 daily for a long time. I can see it replacing the sub on my wrist.

My question is about the feasibility of the AP as a daily wearer. In terms of robustness, water-resistance, fragility. I know it's not as bulletproof as a sub, but it looks and feels like I wouldn't have any problems wearing it the same way. I work at a desk, I don't dive, and I hardly swim. The sub is on my wrist 24/7… I rarely take it off even to shower. Will I be able to feel the same way with the AP? Servicing costs aside, can the RO serve my purpose the same way as the sub for a few decades?

As I said, I'm not interested in owning a Sub AND an RO. It's either or. If I were to keep the sub, I might add a PAM to change things up on some days but it wouldn't be the start of a larger collection.

Thoughts?

[Brandon(phila)]

I can assure you...That you will eventually miss having the Sub.

Then you will have to re-acquire a Sub, then you will have the AP and the Sub anyway :)

I don't have a large collection anymore, but it is nice to change it up once and while.

At least 2 watches minimum.

If I had extra $$ I would love to have an AP in my small collection.

[impalass]

At the very least we need a second watch for that once every X amount of years a service is required.

Keep the Submariner and save for your next grail.

[Speed]

The AP will have more oppty to get banged around and dinged. As you know, repairs to sharp corners are difficult / impossible and APs are more costly to service.

Love the 15300 as well!

[speedo]

love the 15300 but as an only watch i would pick the sub.

[kilyung]

Where there's a will, there's a way. Meaning...

If you want, an AP can absolutely be used daily.

Or

If you're patient, you can save up for the AP and keep the Sub.

[TSW]

Originally Posted by kilyung

Where there's a will, there's a way. Meaning...

If you want, an AP can absolutely be used daily.

Or

If you're patient, you can save up for the AP and keep the Sub.

X2

[jvo300]

Originally Posted by kilyung

Where there's a will, there's a way. Meaning...

If you want, an AP can absolutely be used daily.

Or

If you're patient, you can save up for the AP and keep the Sub.

X3! This was the best solution for me!

[thomaspp]

Originally Posted by jvo300

X3! This was the best solution for me!

Nice pic my friend!

As mentioned over on the AP forum, I think the sub c is going to hard to beat as an all day/every day kind of watch. I would not buy the PAM (not a fan of the brand). Good luck!

[karmatp]

I have owned a bunch of subs over the years including the Sub C and I will go against the grain here a bit and say get the AP. I am tired of the whole Texas Timex thing and I like not going to a kids B Day party and seeing 2 other guys with the same exact watch on. These days I want to wear something that I love that many have never seen or even heard of the brand.

Just my $.02, this is a Rolex forum after all.

[ecsub44]

Originally Posted by jvo300

X3! This was the best solution for me!

Truly spectacular timepieces!

[herbie911]

Personally, I keep the sub and save up for the AP.

[mjclark32]

Keep saving IMO

[Fiery]

I'm a happy owner of both a SS Sub-C LN and a RO 15300ST. The Sub-C looks and feels more roboust than the RO. The RO is lighter, thinner, and its finish is quite a bit more tricky and delicate than the Sub-C's. The RO is all about the changing of brushed and polished surfaces, intricate edges, and very small details that you can only truly appreciate when you first wear the watch on your wrist. Trying the RO on at an AD doesn't tell the whole story, believe me.

That said, the delicate finish of the RO will show scratches and dings more evidently than any Rolex finish, especially the brushed one of the Sub-C. If you bang your RO, it will quickly look worn out I'm afraid. And re-finishing it is a tricky job, since it's unfortunately too easy to ruin (read: round down) the small edges and the octagonal bezel :(

To sum it up: for me the Sub-C and RO are a great couple, but I cannot imagine the RO replacing the Sub-C as my daily wear. I'm just always more cautious when wearing the RO: it is more expensive, thinner & lighter, more prone to damages, has a more delicate movement, tougher to get serviced/repaired, tougher to get refinished, etc. The SS Sub is the ultimate "wear and forget about it" watch, that can stand anything I throw at it. While the RO -- at least for me -- is the ultimate luxury sports watch.

[Time Exposure]

I'd drop that Sub and get the AP. I'm in a similar boat, or mood. I'd rather have a high-end sport watch and use it, rather than a tool-watch. Like you, I'm a desk-diver. Yeah, sometimes I bang into stuff on accident, but for the most part I'm very conscious of wearing a nice watch in whatever I do.

So your AP/my Nautilus will show wear when you/I wear it. Of course it will! But I don't strive to have a factory finish on my daily wearer. Do you? If so, stick to the Sub (which I think is a fantastic watch BTW), and have it refinished when it gets dull with use. But as for me, I'd rather wear something only me and my fellow WIS' would appreciate, than the world's most recognized and copied (albeit nearly faultless) design.

[eric23]

Save for the AP

[Trouble15]

Keep the Sub & save for the AP.

[Tony-GB]

As per my reply in the AP forum:

The Submariner and Submariner date has it's history as a tool watch. As a working piece of equipment. As times have changed and more people become aware of high end watches (yes- I consider Rolex to be high end) and can afford these things, the Submariner has evolved beautifully and become a little softer but it's origins, it's pedigree, is still very much evident. It has a reputation as being a hard bastard for a reason- it can take some abuse!!

The Royal Oak was launched into a particular price bracket- and clientele- from the very beginning. It was never designed to be a "tool" watch. A working tool, if you like, therefore it's initial design will always be flawed in some respects. The market for the RO were executives and/or the wealthy. When it's price was announced people were shocked that a steel watch could cost so much. Over the years, it too has evolved with slightly tougher compositions and there have been developments in silicones (the AP's silicone is often referred to as rubber, but it's not).

AP are continuing their quest to develop new materials (see Cermet compositions) and in time I suspect cases, or at least bezels, will be this material.

There are many AP owners who wear their 15300's all the time as a Rolex owner would wear a Submariner, without hardly any damage.

A RO will take anything you throw at it without much sign of damage unless you work on an oil rig. In which case you should get a Submariner. or a TW Steel...
__________________

[R.J.]

If I should ever go down to wearing only one watch that would replace the Sub-C on a daily basis it would have to be the Patek Nautilus. If it's to be your one and only for decades to come then that would be it.

[~JJ]

Why are you limiting yourself to only one watch w/ the RO, but are fine with getting a Pam and a Sub... this seems odd... IMO

[floater156]

I like the bezel timer function and the ability to fine tune the bracelet adjust ment with the glide lock.

[subtona]

tough decision, maybe i can make it a bit tougher, the 15202 has it all

[Hairdude1]

I would save up and have both

[Shade]

I really love the royal oak!

[kilyung]

I've had this RO over two years. It's been worn regularly when skiing, bicycling, yard work, etc. As you can see it's still in great shape. Of course I'm rather careful with all my watches including my SubC. I don't see why either watch wouldn't work daily. The RO is thinner and doesn't seem to bang into things as much as the Sub or my other thick watches though.