Obviously I’m a fan of this model, so while this is only technically a dial refresh, it’s a good opportunity to sing its praises. Aside from the slightly weak power reserve, I think the watch continues to check all of the boxes for an integrated bracelet perpetual calendar, and despite my continued love of AP, it puts me in a hard place if I had to pick between the two.
Comparing prices, for only $6,000 more than AP (or thereabouts) you get a watch in full 18k white gold versus the steel Royal Oak, and it’s thinner. It is also finally holding value on the secondary market (after being a bit of a steal for a while at a bit under retail), so the price box seems checked too. Vacheron is having a moment, and while I’m not sure how much a slightly different dial might drive demand, more options are often good options.