AP Royal Oak ZF or XF 15202

[chris1306]

Hi guys!

After much deliberation, i have decided that my next replica watch will be a AP Royal Oak 15202.
I like the look of the watch very much and as I have read the current xf and zf watches are also very high-quality replicas.
Because my english is unfortunately not the very best and often I have not understand everything that has been written in the forum, now my question and please to the ap replica specialists.
Which of the current versions of the 15202 would you recommend me, the ZF or the XF?
The price is relatively the same, i will of course choose the better model.
kind regards, chris

[N0tail_]

The comments that come after mine won't be as nice. Why? Because there are two threads regarding this topic, both of which contain the information you seek and then some.

However, I feel that you should get at least some kind of answer.

So far no one has the ZF 15202 in hand yet, only QC photos. However, we can make a judgement based on the QC photos we've seen thus far + the track record ZF has with their 15400 and 15500 release. Both of which were highly praised.

The glaring issue with the ZF at the moment is the fat hand pinon. We'll need to wait and see until someone receives their watch in order to determine whether the hand pinon can be shaved, or whether it was done on purpose in order to hide a larger hole in the centre of the dial.

ZF flaws:
- Hand pinon
- Bezel screws (If you're very picky)
- Thickness (slightly thicker than the XF I believe)

XF flaws:
- Dial tappisserie
- Hand pinon (Not as bad as ZF but still fatter than gen)
- Mismatched lume

Flaws on both
- Movement (or lack of movement decoration)
- Dial colour

Personally, I think ZF is the better rep out of the box. I won't speak about which is closer to gen because the audience here on RWI seem to be split down the middle in regards to this. Hope this information helps you make a decision.

[chris1306]

hello!
First of all, thank you very much for your kind answer.
As I said, my English is unfortunately not the best, so it is really sometimes very difficult for me to fully understand what is written in the forum


Thank you in any case for the short and concise summary, that was exactly what I needed

[gilrob]

I suggest you wait for the inevitable side by side review of both watches and pick the winner.

[grillbrill]

+1

[legend]

The comments that come after mine won't be as nice. Why? Because there are two threads regarding this topic, both of which contain the information you seek and then some.

However, I feel that you should get at least some kind of answer.

So far no one has the ZF 15202 in hand yet, only QC photos. However, we can make a judgement based on the QC photos we've seen thus far + the track record ZF has with their 15400 and 15500 release. Both of which were highly praised.

The glaring issue with the ZF at the moment is the fat hand pinon. We'll need to wait and see until someone receives their watch in order to determine whether the hand pinon can be shaved, or whether it was done on purpose in order to hide a larger hole in the centre of the dial.

ZF flaws:
- Hand pinon
- Bezel screws (If you're very picky)
- Thickness (slightly thicker than the XF I believe)

XF flaws:
- Dial tappisserie
- Hand pinon (Not as bad as ZF but still fatter than gen)
- Mismatched lume

Flaws on both
- Movement (or lack of movement decoration)
- Dial colour

Personally, I think ZF is the better rep out of the box. I won't speak about which is closer to gen because the audience here on RWI seem to be split down the middle in regards to this. Hope this information helps you make a decision.

You have provided a sound breakdown and summary of both makes and I mostly agree with you. It is a good analysis and rather acute too.

However, there is a common misnomer used which I will like to correct.
The canon pinion/ hand pinion is actually the gear, usually attached with a pinion post/shaft where the minute hand goes on. While the pinion post diameter itself is large compared with gen for the ZF, I think what you are trying to say is that the hour hand base diameter is way too large, and this is the part which is commonly addressed by modders post-purchase. Very rarely is the pinion post itself shaved or trimmed, it is 99% of the times the hand base (sometimes hour hand base alone, sometimes both hand bases). This is one of the most common misnomers in the community. The pinion is not the one which look as large as a pizza plate. The hand base is. The pinion isn't the part being trimmed or shaved, the hand base diameter is.
Below is an illustration of the canon pinion (attached to the driving wheel) of an ETA movement.
Yes on the ZF, the pinion post diameter itself is too large vs gen. But this is not noticeable in real life as you will understand that it is very small, and surrounded by the hand base, which is a lot more visible and the pizza plate guys are talking about. For some reasons, many guys like to use the word "pinion" when referring to the hand base itself. The eyesore is mainly the large diameter of the hand base as opposed to the pinion shaft diameter itself (which is also incorrect, but less visible for this model). The pinion for the ZF 15202 can be illustrated to be like a muffin sitting in the center of a pizza plate. If you want the entire assembly to look smaller, you trim the pizza plate diameter, and not the muffin.

[WatchMeSailor]

This has been a really useful post. Thanks to those who have contributed. It wont be long before i pull the trigger.

[kk169]

The comments that come after mine won't be as nice. Why? Because there are two threads regarding this topic, both of which contain the information you seek and then some.

However, I feel that you should get at least some kind of answer.

So far no one has the ZF 15202 in hand yet, only QC photos. However, we can make a judgement based on the QC photos we've seen thus far + the track record ZF has with their 15400 and 15500 release. Both of which were highly praised.

The glaring issue with the ZF at the moment is the fat hand pinon. We'll need to wait and see until someone receives their watch in order to determine whether the hand pinon can be shaved, or whether it was done on purpose in order to hide a larger hole in the centre of the dial.

ZF flaws:
- Hand pinon
- Bezel screws (If you're very picky)
- Thickness (slightly thicker than the XF I believe)

XF flaws:
- Dial tappisserie
- Hand pinon (Not as bad as ZF but still fatter than gen)
- Mismatched lume
Flaws on both
- Movement (or lack of movement decoration)
- Dial colour

Personally, I think ZF is the better rep out of the box. I won't speak about which is closer to gen because the audience here on RWI seem to be split down the middle in regards to this. Hope this information helps you make a decision.

This is a great summary - I have a JF15400 and very pleased with it but it sits a bit too large on my chicken wrist so had been monitoring 15202 reps closely. For me the deal breaker for XF is the dial (the hand-base is bad but bortherline acceptable), and for the ZF its the pizza hand-base (dial is still wrong but again borderline acceptable).

In the end both have just too big a flaw for me to buy. Modding is not cheap and is another rabbit hole I tried not falling into again. My conclusion is to pass for now, and wait for the next versions/factory to come along.

Am keen if you have pulled the trigger on either? (Sounds like it would be ZF?)

[fire007]

legend so many pizza and muffins analogies in your post, I almost got sidetracked thinking it was a cooking forum... I feel like a margarita now... Gluten free mind you !! )

[N0tail_]

legend Thanks for correcting us on the correct terminology! I'll be sure to refer to as the pizza plate hand base from now on

[ken21]

Thank you legend for the info

[jrodshibuya]

Is the tapisserie really better on the ZF? Doesn't seem much in it to me, a matter of taste perhaps.

[Rainbowkin]

This is a great summary - I have a JF15400 and very pleased with it but it sits a bit too large on my chicken wrist so had been monitoring 15202 reps closely. For me the deal breaker for XF is the dial (the hand-base is bad but bortherline acceptable), and for the ZF its the pizza hand-base (dial is still wrong but again borderline acceptable).

In the end both have just too big a flaw for me to buy. Modding is not cheap and is another rabbit hole I tried not falling into again. My conclusion is to pass for now, and wait for the next versions/factory to come along.

Am keen if you have pulled the trigger on either? (Sounds like it would be ZF?)

Buy the XF and put on a JF 15202 dial.