The AP questions thread (All the questions you want to ask about AP but were afraid to)

[speedywombat]

I'm currently looking at the ZF 15450 (in grey) or the XF v2 15202 (in blue) since those are the only AP models I think I can wear (16,5cm wrist size).

I've looked at both so much over the last days that honestly speaking it's all starting to blur. It also doesn't help that like half the gen pictures I see on chrono are renders and that the other half are a different kind of tapisserie with varying spaces and the amounts of ridges between the years, combine that with TD sites showing so many variations of these two models, with some having pictures from 2020 that are directly going against more current QCs I've seen and others advertising those QCs directly.
I frankly give up and have to ask for help.

The main thing I am interested in is 1. the dial being well textured, at least as good as a rep can get, 2. the movement being silent and reliable, 3. it being a clone movement.
I think the XF v2 15202 in blue seems closest dial wise, while the ZF 15450 seems to have a better movement? Please correct me if I am wrong there. From what I've seen the 15450 ASPF is too thick (10mm vs 9.8mm), but the dial of current batches (while being the Mark 3 tapisserie compared to the ZF mark 1) seems to be better executed than the ZF.

Would be glad for some input here to correct with the current opinions on this forum.

Any of the current 15202 reps have "pizza hand" issue as well, and plus both the xf nor the zf has close dial to gen, although I personally prefer the xf dial. I mean it is good enough if you're not too picky.

Regarding the 15450, trust me you cannot tell the difference between 10 vs 9.8 mm lol. The dials are pretty good, I personally prefer the ZF dials on these. If you are an AP nerd like some of us, you can immediately tell the difference between the rep dials to gen, be in 15450 or the 15202. However, looking at the wrist from a conversational distance most people who aren't AP nerds will not be able to tell the difference. Another issue with the 15450 that I know of, if you care, is that it does not have an instant date change mechanism.

Profile wise, I myself prefer teh 15202, as I find the thickness matches the profile of the watch better than the 15450.

 

[evnic.elgar]

Any of the current 15202 reps have "pizza hand" issue as well, and plus both the xf nor the zf has close dial to gen, although I personally prefer the xf dial. I mean it is good enough if you're not too picky.

Regarding the 15450, trust me you cannot tell the difference between 10 vs 9.8 mm lol. The dials are pretty good, I personally prefer the ZF dials on these. If you are an AP nerd like some of us, you can immediately tell the difference between the rep dials to gen, be in 15450 or the 15202. However, looking at the wrist from a conversational distance most people who aren't AP nerds will not be able to tell the difference. Another issue with the 15450 that I know of, if you care, is that it does not have an instant date change mechanism.

Profile wise, I myself prefer teh 15202, as I find the thickness matches the profile of the watch better than the 15450.

I mean, frankly speaking, I've only seen a Royal Oak (and a Nautilus) once in my life, and it was on the same guy who also sometimes wore his RM - all gen. I believe I couldn't tell rep from gen and so can't most people because most have never and will never seen one in the wild - also because they don't care and aren't looking.
I guess I am just spoiled by Rolex reps since those are pretty much perfect and as close to NWBIG as a rep can reasonably get for that price.

I care about the watch being close to gen because I feel like the artistic vision would be lost if, say, the sheen or manufacture didn't attempt to get as close to the design as possible. AP themselves get 99.99% there and I am looking for the RO rep that gets as close to the original design as possible. So even if the color doesn't match or the hands a pizza, as long as it looks good and looks not like it's trying to be a Royal Oak, but is a Royal Oak effectively speaking. Gen is a guarantee, rep is an attempt to get there.

 

[shaka69]

Hi all, I am looking to buy a 26400IO with the grey dial, but I find the choice a bit overwhelming between the factories and I can't find a lot of info online.
Currently I am looking at the TKF and the APF, I tend to like the TKF better on the picture just because the tachymeter looks closer to Gen, but again, I am a noob on APs.
Any advice is appreciated. @legend if you can suggest some mods, I am also happent o it as I am in Singapore as well.

Thank you all for your guidance. Cheers.

 

[cydman]

I mean, frankly speaking, I've only seen a Royal Oak (and a Nautilus) once in my life, and it was on the same guy who also sometimes wore his RM - all gen. I believe I couldn't tell rep from gen and so can't most people because most have never and will never seen one in the wild - also because they don't care and aren't looking.
I guess I am just spoiled by Rolex reps since those are pretty much perfect and as close to NWBIG as a rep can reasonably get for that price.

I care about the watch being close to gen because I feel like the artistic vision would be lost if, say, the sheen or manufacture didn't attempt to get as close to the design as possible. AP themselves get 99.99% there and I am looking for the RO rep that gets as close to the original design as possible. So even if the color doesn't match or the hands a pizza, as long as it looks good and looks not like it's trying to be a Royal Oak, but is a Royal Oak effectively speaking. Gen is a guarantee, rep is an attempt to get there.

Here is my APSF 15450 with a DP Dial + Deep crystal next to stock APSF. The difference is huge. The sunburst is good like it should be for that model, and the squares on the dial are the right size compared to too small on the stock APSF

 

[legend]

Gen is a guarantee, rep is an attempt to get there.

This just about sums it all up for everything about reps. Well said.

 

[speedywombat]

I mean, frankly speaking, I've only seen a Royal Oak (and a Nautilus) once in my life, and it was on the same guy who also sometimes wore his RM - all gen. I believe I couldn't tell rep from gen and so can't most people because most have never and will never seen one in the wild - also because they don't care and aren't looking.
I guess I am just spoiled by Rolex reps since those are pretty much perfect and as close to NWBIG as a rep can reasonably get for that price.

I care about the watch being close to gen because I feel like the artistic vision would be lost if, say, the sheen or manufacture didn't attempt to get as close to the design as possible. AP themselves get 99.99% there and I am looking for the RO rep that gets as close to the original design as possible. So even if the color doesn't match or the hands a pizza, as long as it looks good and looks not like it's trying to be a Royal Oak, but is a Royal Oak effectively speaking. Gen is a guarantee, rep is an attempt to get there.

Yeah, what is acceptable to some people might not be good enough for some others. I guarantee you for *most* people even a shit rep will be passable, only the watch nerds might be able to tell. So it largely depends on your own tolerance and preference. As for myself, I'm on the pickier side but not too extremely picky lol. I'm usually not happy with most stock rep AP dials, pizza hand, and incorrect proportions. I don't care much about the movement accuracy to gen, hand details, and other smaller minute details.

You are absolutely right regarding the Rolex reps, they are much better than most AP reps out of the box.

 

[speedywombat]

Here is my APSF 15450 with a DP Dial + Deep crystal next to stock APSF. The difference is huge. The sunburst is good like it should be for that model, and the squares on the dial are the right size compared to too small on the stock APSF

Yeah the stock 15450 dial by APSF looks quite off because the tapisserie just appear much smaller. The ZF 15450 dial is more accurately sized in that regard.

 

[evnic.elgar]

Here is my APSF 15450 with a DP Dial + Deep crystal next to stock APSF. The difference is huge. The sunburst is good like it should be for that model, and the squares on the dial are the right size compared to too small on the stock APSF

Yeah, this is what I am talking about. Left actually looks like a RO. It's that damn dial. I wish there was some way to buy it with that dial right away, instead of having to ship it from A to B to C to B to get it fixed. Feels like buying a broken product.
I think I'm just going to get a Nautilus (and leave the 3KF sticker on there, so I don't get mugged) since it's Genta, not the original and way too high profile, but it captures the spirit better out of the box.

 

[coolbeans1911]

as of this moment in time, what is the best factory that makes the RO in black ceramic? OBVIOUSLY OTHER THAN AP.

 

[DasReich69]

Just received my first AP and it's a thing of beauty! Thanks Legend for all your help. Your tag does you justice!
I'm not a photographer but here's some pics.

 

[speedywombat]

Just received my first AP and it's a thing of beauty! Thanks Legend for all your help. Your tag does you justice!
I'm not a photographer but here's some pics.

Absolute beauty! Anything done to it? These 26240s are getting more and more tempting, but I am trying very hard to resist getting one myself!

 

[Fusible]

Absolute beauty! Anything done to it? These 26240s are getting more and more tempting, but I am trying very hard to resist getting one myself!

Yeah I just need to see 347 more examples of it and then I’ll be ready. So probably by next Tuesday I’ll be putting the order in

 

[legend]

Yeah I just need to see 347 more examples of it and then I’ll be ready. So probably by next Tuesday I’ll be putting the order in

347 more examples?
Just wait for 24hrs more. Every other wristshot is a 26240.

 

[speedywombat]

347 more examples?
Just wait for 24hrs more. Every other wristshot is a 26240.

Yeah I think I'll take your advice on having some variety of Royal Oaks since every single royal oaks I got is of 3-hand variants! This black 26240 should be a good addition...

 

[speedywombat]

Yeah I just need to see 347 more examples of it and then I’ll be ready. So probably by next Tuesday I’ll be putting the order in

Join the club with me bro, so I don't feel all that bad for having too many royal oaks lol

 

[Fusible]

Join the club with me bro, so I don't feel all that bad for having too many royal oaks lol

I'm just a humble guy wanting more off shore reps.

 

[DasReich69]

Absolute beauty! Anything done to it? These 26240s are getting more and more tempting, but I am trying very hard to resist getting one myself!

Here's what was done:-

1. Service and regulate movement
2. Enhance and polish case and bracelet chamfers
3. Rebrush watch to gen spec
4. Realign all dial markers .
5. Waterproof to 6atm
6. Align and polish bezel screws
7. Clean and refinish hands

Legend sorted it for me. The watch looks 1000 times better in person.

 

[speedywombat]

Here's what was done:-

1. Service and regulate movement
2. Enhance and polish case and bracelet chamfers
3. Rebrush watch to gen spec
4. Realign all dial markers .
5. Waterproof to 6atm
6. Align and polish bezel screws
7. Clean and refinish hands

Legend sorted it for me. The watch looks 1000 times better in person.

Man, I completely believe you. For some reason, yours really stood out compared to most other pics, no wonder!
I already got few projects with him, seems like I'm gonna ask him for a 26240 project as well lmao

 

[DasReich69]

Man, I completely believe you. For some reason, yours really stood out compared to most other pics, no wonder!
I already got few projects with him, seems like I'm gonna ask him for a 26240 project as well lmao

Good call!

 

[RoterRot]

So I have been reading a lot.
Legend said that the watch that comes closest to GEN is the 15500 and we all know The watch will be 1:1 when the price is 1:1!
But now with the release of the 26240 Iam wondering if the 15500 is like 85% to gen how close is the 26240?
And how reliable to we think are the clone movements of these watches? (Would you use the chrono of the 26240 a lot?)