MADRED7

Dear All, many members consult me for questions regarding what AP to choose for their first AP or what model to add to their existent portfolio. Sometimes I am in the mood to just name one piece, but most of the time a wide variety of AP´s come into my mind. So I think its time to just summarize what AP ROO would be a good buy. Please notice that this is just my cheap opinion and you may think of the complete opposite, plus; I cannot name all excisting reps but all ROO´s named are a) on my wish-list allready in my watchbox c) gone to new homes but had been on my wrist for longer. So beside the usual flaws you all know (date, caseback, crown-position), all newly released models are very accurate. In the end it all depends on your own taste and your own style to wear watches. I may suggest 3 categories: 1) if you are John Q. Public, just the normal guy. You have a RLX Sub and an Omega or Breitling, you like Panerai and many other watches but you don´t change your style daily, you wear a nice watch for months before changing to a new model....I would choose a watch with understatement, not flashy, dark dial, rubber strap in black or leather strap in darker colors ....best for that are - Black Themes (classy, standard, wearable with strap [rubber] or bracelet....the only watch for a bracelet me thinks) - Grey Themes (although it should be Titanium) - Silver Themes (can handle a ton of different straps....I have at least 5 straps for this piece only) - CHRONOPASSION (should be ordered with a rubber but you can upgrade it with a nice APBands strap). Now there are 3 versions on the market, but I highly doubt that you will find V1 (Titanium brushed finish like the standard ROO) floating around. V3: We were told that the sandblasted Titanium finish was done on a bare case. V2: had a brushed finish and was re-done with a sandblasted finish. We might see a difference when compared side-by-side with a lense/magnifier. - Rubens Barrichello 2 black (mind the dial plate that lacks some details, but stunning rep nontheless) - Rubberclad with black dial (this is the "Submariner" amongst the AP collectors) - GSTAAD (a little bit of color with a dark case, looks different than others with the rubber bezel) All of the above can be worn out-of-the-box. 2) if you and the people around you know about your watch-hobby, if you are bit more bizarre, you choose a watch to your outfit.....you can play a bit more with the nice AP ROO reps; - Tour Auto 2010 (the best part of this and the DRIVER is the accuracy and the wonderful newly designed bezel) - DRIVER Boutique (orange instead of red accents) - White Themes (needs a good, high-grade croc strap to make a stunner) - SAFARI (needs a very good and therefore expensive croc strap, better hornback....that is pricey, HKTan does the trick, APBands fits better, used OEM would be the icing on the cake) - NAVY (the blue rep-hornback is not that bad....but a good APBands strap in blue color is deffo an upgrade) - Montoya in ss - Sachin Tendulkar (the upgraded version of the strap with 3 colored stitches will re-focus from the plasticky leather strap ) - Volcano (with the upgraded inner Tachy ring in matte orange, the older versions used anodiced orange color) With an additional strap or a nice croc from 3rd party supplier, these are all nice watches with an attitude. 3) if you are Mr. Cool Man :cool: you can go for all the other nice pieces that are screaming in color, appearance, material, ..... just beside the norm. So here goes; - SURVIVOR (the very first absolutely stunning and nearly 1:1 replica in the ROO business, the watch wears equal to all other ROO´s due to the PVD coated Titanium case, the pusher protectors don´t dig into the wrist) - MASATO (red/black and a little bit of bling...just enough to make it get some second looks) - EoD (wonderful alternative as you can wear it on the nice velcro strap) - Las Vegas (deep dark black and bloody red....the devil inside, wow) - LAVA - MARCUS in PVD or gold (not 100% my taste but I kind of like it) - Don Ramon De La Cruz (I am a stainless steel guy....if I were to choose a gold watch one day, this would be it!!!) - Rhone Fusterie (Red, white and silver/grey....good color combination, I had it on a light grey calf strap) The last pieces listed are for the more experienced watch-nuts, for those who wear jeans and T-shirt but still pull-off a ROSEGOLD big watch with flashy red accents..... So I hope the small list above will help some members to find their own AP ROO without spending a fortune on several pieces and learn the hard way. Nearly all of the above had been or are in my collection, so I know what I´m talking about. Arrh...BTW, I have not mentioned the new DIVER although its a ROO.....yeah, I ordered it and wait for it, nice alternative to all my chronos It is a wonderful piece, it has a new designed case construction, thinner, and most of the watch is 1:1 to the gen....allthough the factory managed to do a date-window and date-mag that is too small compared to gen....another downer is the missing lume on the rehaut . So I guess we might see a V3 of this watch in the future. But in the meantime I love mine Thx to Joshua for allowing me to use his pics! Cheers mates....and send me a note if you have any Q´s or if you are willing to part with your ROO or parts of them. Theo

You´ll find trusted dealers here in the sales section....browse their websites and look out for ROC...Royal Oak Chrono. Good luck and welcome aboard, Theo

WOW.....this dial is very sweet. If you can get your hands on the EoD sec@12 case before it goes to the PVD process, you´ll have the 25770 Model...allthough it should still be Titanium with that dial. Or look out for the CHRONOPASSION first version with brushed Ti case....even nicer with that dial. Great great effort, thanks for posting. Theo

No, No and NO. This is a pretty fine example what the makers can do wrong....inside, outside, backside....complete fantasy and not very nicely done. If you want a cheap one to try, go for the "PARIS Boutique"....grey black dial...the dealers carry it as well. Just my poor 0.02$ Theo

Bezel screws are black on the gen that's for sure. This watch is so tempting.... Theo

Is this really interesting? I wear my rep watches because I love their design, I don´t wear them to cheat people or make me appear like a millionaire. I cannot afford a new gen watch every month and I get tired of my watches very fast...would be a major loss to allways buy gen. Anyway, if you fear to meet someone who will spot this AP DIVER as a fake, you should not buy it...easy Theo

Cool piece....I am not into gold but this rosegold does not scream FAKE. Thx for posting and good luck with the HKTan, take your time for the mounting process. Theo

Only two words: order placed Theo

can only second Edges words......but anyway I am so close to just give up waiting and buying the V1.....only need to know from witch dealer? Theo

There is a version of this piece with the new case (25721ST) and the old case model name is (25770ST). The blue dial only came in ss, the grey/blue dial came in Titanium. All versions have BLUE pushers/crown....its dark blue, but its deffo blue. Anyway, the rep color blue is completely wrong. I asked the dealers for the old-case version.....no interest. I have my old-case version from MBW with blue grey dial....she did a handful of pieces upon my request (only around 10 pieces ever made). Theo

I assume you are looking for a ROO sec@12 movement. You might ask Connie (Mrs King) if she can get a spare....but be prepared that those thingies are expensive! Theo

Cool pics....looks so gen. This V1 is no updated with a black datewindow....still round and wrong anyway. Theo

give Paul some more time, he is very busy so his answers take longer....try again next week. Theo

I did that once with the PloProf and it was a fail.....its just like spending double the money. And in the end none will buy my used 1st version....my 0.02$ Theo

Dear All, I am looking to buy a black PVD´ed deployment buckle for my IWC TG. Saw that PARNIS offers our wellknown IWC Big Pilot deployments in black PVD but they are not responding to my request to get only the buckle. Any idea from your side is greatly appreciated and all ideas will be concidered. Thx guys.....please see what I am looking for in the attached pic. Theo

8 pages of pure .... NOTHING.....

Best way is to contact your standard dealer. Its very hard to source spare parts for AP ROO´s. Theo

Well.....my deployant came broken and I strongly believe it was titanium allthough my dealer persist that its stainless steel! Theo

This jacket on watcheden looks really silly....look where the put the belt. Further more you have to question the material.....this will be poly inside so you have a walking sauna when temperature rises above 13C Theo

Every ROO bezel is a scratch-magnet....OK, the Titanium one of the CP even more....it gets scratches by only looking at it But it is an amazing watch, Theo

This old-school dial is a bit too blue....should be darker. Also the pushers need to be dark-blue....this rep copies the ss version of the gen, there was a titanium version of it as well....but that one got a grey/blue dial. I do have the MBW version of it that has a far better dial but is only sec@9. I asked for the possibility to change the new-style case for the old-style case (like the EoD) but the factory is not willing to. Anyway I am thinking of getting this baby.... Theo

On this website for FILMJACKETS enthusiasts you´ll find the offer from a Leather-Shop based in UK that offers very nice jackets: Page 1-8 offers some styles, they are working on a webshop right now but that will take some more months.... The Steve McQueen style jacket is leather, very nicely done. ....I do have some of their jackets, top notch. cheers Theo

The new sec@12 ROO´s take the APBands straps easy....they do fit 100% with the rep-conversion kit. Don´t worry. Theo BTW...and its a simple job.

Looking at my watch-boxes I can only say: "I do need one of those handsome tools" Cheers and good work, Theo

Edge hit the nail....a wonderful watch, highly accurate. A very good rep indeed. Theo