APSF AP Royal Oak Black Dial Stainless Steel 15400ST.OO.1220ST.01

[watchfarma]

Hi everyone, haven't been on forum much as I had to sort out a multi-account issue! As I hadn't been very active over the years and had forgotten I'd opened other accounts over the years...whoops...thanks @trailboss99 for pointing it out to me in the right direction and the team for sorting it for me. Sorry!

Anyway, just got my hands on an APSF AP 15400 a few weeks ago and now have a bit of time to size the bracelet, so...not a review, but took some photos along the way, because...wow.....

So I'll let the photos do the talking, anyone have questions, please chime in!

Packaging is so professional these days it's just funny, but good to see the...effort? put in for the "experience"? lol




Clean mug shot before we get down to business




Shot from the Right




Shot from the Left...so..."clean" is the best word I can think of




Nice clean engraving on the crown, slight marking on the finishing on this particular one.




Clasp, engraved quite well in my opinion.




Beginning the sizing: taking out a screw. I guess that was the whole point when designing the Royal Oak, but that "jewelry-ness" of that bracelet...is spectacular, and shows something new under different lights, different angles...




With the bracelet apart, easier to take a caseback shot. The engravings also very nice and solid here. I always quite like the sandblasted finish on the back of the main case itself. The screws also super well polished, I'd say as good as it gets to real black polishing but from certain angles it's certainly black enough for one to admire.




And on an open back case, of course the obligatory movement shots. Good old super clone 15400. I'll note the rotor seems very well engraved; have seen some pretty average ones with wrong colours and mediocre engraving of the "AP" letters.




Another angle, just to show off the balance bridge, wheel.




Finally a no-shame post of the collection lol.




Overall, a very very satisfying piece. The 15400 was definitely one of the first reps that really got me so super excited back almost 10 years ago now. If I have time I'll dig that one out and post a shot here lol. Despite all the flaws of that one it was an absolutely joy to wear, just a nice stainless steel automatic watch. I still remember waking up the first morning after receiving the watch; seeing it sit there on the bedside table I really felt a smile creep up on my face lol. Memorable times. I like the 15400 so much I've never minded paying up for a new one if there's anything meaningful upgraded, and just like this one, every time, I'm still blown away...Super recommended

 

[Swiss_goupil]

Thank you for this. I miss mine and will definitely get a blue one at some point again

 

[trailboss99]

Very well done mini review mate, nice work.

 

[nathanwind]

I’ve got the same one (APSF V3) en route in blue, yours looks great.

Question on your 15202 (the bottom left of your watch box)….is that a blue dial? Or another black dial? Hard to tell in pics, and the latest generation of the dials look to be a bit ‘darker’ than the earlier ones, so just curious which color that 15202 is. Would love to see a closer up side-by-side with your black 15400….

 

[68snoopy]

I found the 15500 more comfortable to wear than the 15400. I think the 15400 is about 2mm longer measuring from lug to lug and that really makes a big difference on my small wrist. I also recently purchased an AP Chrono. I think it is just too thick. I can really feel it on my small wrist when wearing it. But I definitely like the look of the chrono.

 

[watchfarma]

I’ve got the same one (APSF V3) en route in blue, yours looks great.

Question on your 15202 (the bottom left of your watch box)….is that a blue dial? Or another black dial? Hard to tell in pics, and the latest generation of the dials look to be a bit ‘darker’ than the earlier ones, so just curious which color that 15202 is. Would love to see a closer up side-by-side with your black 15400….

Here ya go

Though this might not be that meaningful a comparison since this is a good old JF from circa 2018? and the latest from XF? or ZF? is it? might be much better/accurate? dunno. Though AFAIK the genuine ones do tend to have a grey hue to them (due to the colour itself and also the tapisserie under certain light) especially the older ones? Anyone who knows better please correct me...

I was so excited at the time and loved wearing it so much! I try to shy more away from the mainstream ones these days and this one is a bit it too "in" for me lol.

 

[watchfarma]

I found the 15500 more comfortable to wear than the 15400. I think the 15400 is about 2mm longer measuring from lug to lug and that really makes a big difference on my small wrist. I also recently purchased an AP Chrono. I think it is just too thick. I can really feel it on my small wrist when wearing it. But I definitely like the look of the chrono.

You know what, I didn't even realize until you mentioned this! I measured it and you're right; I think the case itself is that few mm more on the 15400 but more significantly is the way the bracelet seems to flex more near the lugs with 15500/15510, which measures almost 4-6mm less!

This could be unique to the particular factory of these particular two, but I think still worth pointing out:

I've tried to snap this as best I could but notice the first link is more visible on the 15400 i.e. wider appearance


In any case I'm thankful the 15510 exists; everyone of course their own opinion and maybe I'm just so use to the 15400, but the shorter hour markers on the original 15500 really didn't vibe with me haha

 

[kiasunkiasi]

I found the 15500 more comfortable to wear than the 15400. I think the 15400 is about 2mm longer measuring from lug to lug and that really makes a big difference on my small wrist. I also recently purchased an AP Chrono. I think it is just too thick. I can really feel it on my small wrist when wearing it. But I definitely like the look of the chrono.

what's your wrist size?

 

[watchfarma]

Oh thanks to @kiasunkiasi , completely forgot to post a wristie as part of the review!

FYI anyone, just as a guide, I'm a 7 inch wrist, but definitely more a rounded wrist type, not so much flat.

Though I guess camera lenses do sometimes tend to make the wrist look bigger than it really is, so make of this what you will

 

[SOLEX]

You know what, I didn't even realize until you mentioned this! I measured it and you're right; I think the case itself is that few mm more on the 15400 but more significantly is the way the bracelet seems to flex more near the lugs with 15500/15510, which measures almost 4-6mm less!

This could be unique to the particular factory of these particular two, but I think still worth pointing out:

I've tried to snap this as best I could but notice the first link is more visible on the 15400 i.e. wider appearance


In any case I'm thankful the 15510 exists; everyone of course their own opinion and maybe I'm just so use to the 15400, but the shorter hour markers on the original 15500 really didn't vibe with me haha

Wow that is actually amazing! A 15400 never fit my tiny 6.25" wrist, but seeing this really wants me to jump and get a 15500 or 15510 (assuming same case) as that 4-6mm is a HUGE difference. I was toying with trying the 15450 again, but thought that was a tad too small.... thank you!