i like AP introducing the Sapphire back... but why only the ROO Rose Gold has metal band, while the rest is either rubber band or Gator band?
anyone has similar feelings with me that AP made the edges of the ROO casing too rounded?
Not an expert and justchipping in from memory: RO started out and was acceptable as a sports watch in the 70s but today, it's perceived more ike a dress watch and than sports watch.
The ROO was meant to be a sturdier, sportier spin-off of the RO that could really step up as a functional luxury sports watch by modern standards (or at least i think that's what AP wanted to position it). Hence the chronograph, use of rubber, large size dial.
We all know how it progressed from there, the limited editions, many colours. It became the rich man's Swatch. Very successful product with commendable use of innovation in materials etc.
I am not sure if the water resistance is compromised with the introduction of the sapphire back. I believe AP consciously kept it that way for many years to still preserve the sports image of ROO, for what it's worth. Obviously that "worth" has finally dropped to a level where they see fit to have sapphire backs on ROO.
TLDR: Limited use of metal bands in ROO vs rubber straps I believe is to still keep the sporty image differentiation between RO and ROO.