Audemars Piguet ROO Rubens Barrichello review!

[gioarmani]

My first Audemars Piguet.

This is part II of my review of eight pieces from my Euromtimez Christmas order. First was the Tag SLR chrono, then this piece, tomorrow or Saturday will be my IWC 06 Cousteau and the AP ROO quartz. I also ordered a couple of Hublots, but since the order was so large it was split into three packages (apparently for Florida, nothing shipped after Dec 4th made it before Christmas...)

Here is the gen:

http://www.gemnation.com/watches/Audemars-Piguet-Royal-Oak-Offshore-Rubens-Barrichello-Chronograph-2792.html

The rep is amazingly close to the gen. On to the pictures:

This is the piece in stainless steel, not titanium; blue crocodile strap, blue dial with black underlay, silver sub-dials, silver hands, black chrono-hands, ceramic bezels, ceramic chrono-pushers, and a steel crown with a ceramic AP branding. All the chrono-hands reset as they should.

To be frank, I don't know anything about AP, other than the correct pronunciation. But after looking at pics of the gen I decided this was close enough to the real thing to actually spring for it. So, since I am uneducated as to the ins & outs of the ROO, I'll just let the pics do most of the speaking.

The pushers:

Side of the case with crown:

Side of the case & ceramic bezel:

The inside of the croc band:

The band's clasp is also simplistic, but effective. I thought I was going to have to wear kid-gloves with it, but whatever the material & construction, it's quite strong and doesn't seem to want to give.

The end is nicely engraved as well--very crisp & sharp.

The AP engraving on the case, near the case-back.

And the case-back itself; held onto the case with eight hex-screws. Even though I haven't had this tested, I imagine after lubricating it would be waterproof; the crown screws down tight, and the case-back was a royal pain in the ass to get off.

And the case-back markings:

And the lume:

All in all, that's pretty much it. I've also worried about the look of this piece on a smaller wrist, but this watch (as the cliche' goes) truly does disappear on the wrist. Even being a 44mm, it doesn't feel much bigger than the DSSD--which up to last week, was the largest profile watch I owned. The leather strap is also quite comfortable--more so than even the rubber strap.

Anyway, hoped you liked this quasi-noob AP review, and feel free to educate me with the AP trivia (so I don't sound like a fool if someone asks me about this piece).

Take care & Happy New Year!

[redwatch]

Amazing pics Gio! Looks great!!! I quite like the blue on black dial layout. Very sharp! How about a wrist shot?

[Guest Sql_pl]

That's a beauty but I think you should know that genuine of this with blue face is available only in platinum so you got yourself the most expensive RB2 available

Wear it well!

[gioarmani]

Really? Not sure if I can pull off an $80K watch driving an '06 Volvo V70 wagon...

[gioarmani]

FOR THOSE PM'ING ME:

Here is the exact link for this one:

http://www.eurotimez88.com/product_info.php?cPath=7_19&products_id=3693&osCsid=128dbbaac746a41506ca562fe6825ba4

Thanks.

Edited January 3, 2010 by gioarmani

[Toadtorrent]

Nice piece...really nice piece...and great photos. These RB Roo's are the only ones to really grab my eye. Thanks!

[bertieng]

The RB II is a great piece.

For all the flaws have been well discussed. If you can live with it, it is a stunning watch on the wrist.

Enjoy.

[gioarmani]

I think I can definitely live with it.

[hackR]

nice looker, Gio...wear it well...

i kinda like these pieces...love to see a wrist shot, too...

what's the latest on the need for servicing and graphite treatments on these?!...

R-

[gioarmani]

I'm certainly not going to tear this beauty apart until it starts acting up. I've never seen a modified 7750 movement sweep this smoothly.

Damn it...now I'm getting curious to see...