The AP Royal Oak has long been a classic on the wrist. Over the years, there have been different sizes of the watch on the market. To cater to modern wrist sizes, the watch has become bigger and bigger and the current version is now 41mm big. While it is nothing wrong to follow the trend, I do think the 39mm version is the best size for a Royal Oak.
This 15300or here is a watch from year 2005. The first owner is an English gentleman who owned a law firm before he retired. The watch features a 39mm rose gold case on a brown alligator strap with a deployant buckle. The movement is the famous AP Caliber 3120 which is referred to by many as “one of the greatest automatic movements”. The finishing is of the highest end of course and the rotor is also something to behold. The dial features AP’s signature petit tapisserie patterns which takes hours to finish.
Having worn this watch for a few months now, I feel that 39mm is really the perfect size for an Royal Oak. The case of a Royal Oak is actually bigger than what the official size tells you as the size only measures from edges of the bezel, excluding the other part of the case. When the watch is on the wrist, it is not at all like any 39mm watch as it has so many sharp edges reflecting light like nothing else. As a dressy sports watch, the size is just about right. The 41mm version is surely more sporty but it seems to have less sophistication in it. It is also more showy and less understated to me while some wrists will also find it too big due to the Royal Oak case’s design. Also, the big 3D AP logo on the 15300 is way sharper than the way smaller logo on the 15400or. The lack of the hour index at 3 o’ clock also avoids overcrowding there with the date window. The date wheel on the 15300 is also more readable with black printing against a white background while the 15400 date wheel has white printing against a black background.
On a brown leather strap the 15300or is good for any occasion. While the bracelet version is way more shiny, it is more of a Rolex style, which is not very appropriate for a Royal Oak which is supposed to be way more classy. But would the strap decrease the watch’s sportiness? Not at all. Due to the octagon case design and the sharp edges all over the watch, with casual wear, it is always a star on one’s wrist and the case stands out even more on a leather strap due to the color and material contrast.
Overall speaking, the 15300or is a perfect watch to match any casual or dressy wear. Being a rose gold watch, it is both understated and classy due to its not having a rose gold bracelet. The finishing of both the case and the movement is absolutely top-notch. A full set 15300or is now around 170,000 – 190,000 HKD now depending on its condition.
This watch here is for sale at 180,000HKD full set. Please contact me if interested.