Trying to spot the difference between the APS Factory 15400 Royal Oak and the genuine article? Prepare to be impressed. APS has pushed replication to near perfection, focusing on details that often trip up even high-end replicas. Let’s break down the key comparison points:

👑 Dial & Hands: Flawless Finishing

• Hands: The hour, minute, and seconds hands exhibit exceptional clarity in shape and polish. Edges are impeccably finished, showing no signs of roughness or burrs. The lume color is identical to genuine – a pure, high-end white.
• Dial: The “Tapisserie” texture is deeply embossed and full of质感 (texture/substance). APS perfectly matches the genuine dial color. The font used for all dial text (including English markings) is spot-on. Even the date window font has been meticulously re-typeset and printed to match the original.
• Lume Application: Filling of the lume plots on the dial and hands is consistent with the genuine watch.
• Hand Stack Upgrade: Crucially, APS has upgraded the hands to feature a solid center pinion, matching the visual appearance of the genuine watch perfectly. Hand polishing ensures they are completely free of burrs.

⚙️ Movement: Beyond the Decoration – A True Clone

• Major Advancement: APS has moved far beyond the common Miyota 9015 base + decorative plate approach. They now replicate the genuine Calibre 3120 as a true, integrated one-piece movement.
• Free-Sprung Balance: Like the genuine 3120, the APS movement features a genuine free-sprung balance.
• Shock Absorber: It utilizes the correct triangular Incabloc shock absorber, identical to the genuine movement.
• Rotor Axle: The central axle of the automatic rotor matches the genuine part.
• Internal Finishing: Movement finishing internally is executed meticulously, mirroring the genuine movement’s techniques.
• Calendar System: The date change mechanism is perfectly replicated.
• Rotor Position: The balance wheel is correctly positioned at the 7 o’clock location, as per the genuine 3120.

🔧 Case & Bracelet: Precision Engineering

• Thinness Achieved: The case measures a remarkable 9.7mm thick, identical to the genuine Royal Oak 15400. This is a significant achievement, as most other replicas on the market hover around 11mm.
• Case Proportions: This slim profile, combined with the 41mm diameter, perfectly captures the genuine watch’s iconic proportions.
• Case Finishing: Case finishing has been upgraded. The signature straight-grained “bevels” (anglage) on the case sides are razor-sharp with a fine, delicate brush, indistinguishable from genuine. A new anti-fingerprint coating technology prevents discoloration, especially noticeable on the four corners of the caseback.
• Crown: The “AP” logo engraving on the crown matches the genuine font and depth.
• Bracelet – The Soul: The bracelet receives exceptional attention. All beveled edges on the links are polished to a brilliant shine. Link articulation points feature polished chamfers, while the main surfaces retain a fine brushed finish, offering good resistance to light scratches. The finishing feels refined, not sharp.

🔍 Caseback: Attention to Detail

• Exterior: The brushed finish on the outer ring of the exhibition caseback and the “AUDEMARS PIGUET” engraving perfectly match the genuine watch.
• Rotor: The engraving and finish on the 22k gold rotor are virtually identical to the genuine piece.

✅ The Verdict

The APS Factory Royal Oak 15400 represents a massive leap in replica quality. By moving to a true clone 3120 movement (not just decorated), achieving the correct 9.7mm thickness, upgrading critical details like the solid center pinion and anti-fingerprint coating, and meticulously replicating every surface finish – from the dial texture and hand polishing to the case bevels and bracelet chamfers – APS has created a watch that is, frankly, remarkably close to the genuine article. For discerning enthusiasts seeking the pinnacle of replication for the 15400, APS is currently setting a very high standard.

Welcome to Site Library. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!