Best choice for a super version Two Tone RG/SS Royal Oak 41mm?

[moechula]

If I was trying to create the best possible version of the two-tone stainless steel/rose gold 15400, which would be my best option? GeekTime told me the only available versions are JF and TWF, with JF being the best version.

What mods should I try to get done to this to reach a super clone level?

Would it be smarter to buy a super clone stainless steel 15400 and move the rose gold parts from the two-tone to the stainless steel version?

 

[legend]

First of all, you will need to manage your expectation and understand there is NO such thing as a "super clone" AP rep, especially out of the box.
The movement is totally different, and of course, a lot of the details vary from the gen as well, even on the best rep version. So there is no such thing as a "super clone" replica.
You can get good replicas, and learn to enjoy them. Don't try to pass them off as gens and you will be fine. Two tone 15400s are rare in real life anyway, so it is unlikely you have much to worry about.

Honestly if you want something respectable, this is what I would do:

1. Buy a ZF 15400 silver (only two tone dial variant in gen) for the case and the movement
2. Get whatever version of 2 tone 15400 rep
3. swap the dial, bezel, crown and bracelet over and hope they fit.
4. If the swapping fails, then wear the 2 tone watch and sell the ZF.
5. If the swapping is successful, assemble the other watch and sell it as a bastardized 15400. At the correct price someone will buy it.

 

[moechula]

First of all, you will need to manage your expectation and understand there is NO such thing as a "super clone" AP rep, especially out of the box.
The movement is totally different, and of course, a lot of the details vary from the gen as well, even on the best rep version. So there is no such thing as a "super clone" replica.
You can get good replicas, and learn to enjoy them. Don't try to pass them off as gens and you will be fine. Two tone 15400s are rare in real life anyway, so it is unlikely you have much to worry about.

Honestly if you want something respectable, this is what I would do:

1. Buy a ZF 15400 silver (only two tone dial variant in gen) for the case and the movement
2. Get whatever version of 2 tone 15400 rep
3. swap the dial, bezel, crown and bracelet over and hope they fit.
4. If the swapping fails, then wear the 2 tone watch and sell the ZF.
5. If the swapping is successful, assemble the other watch and sell it as a bastardized 15400. At the correct price someone will buy it.

Yeah I didn't mean a 'super' rep just the best I could do with what's available.

I had similar thoughts as yours, getting the best SS replica and trying to swap parts. I will look through this forum for someone who does AP work that I can pay for the swaps and adjustments. Is there anything else you recommend? I've seen on some Patek super reps how people may shave the bezel and such to match gen. Does anyone do something similar with AP reps?

Of course not trying to pass for gen just a personal project like you said they don't come around often.

 

[moechula]

Curious for anymore input from anyone

 

[legend]

Yeah I didn't mean a 'super' rep just the best I could do with what's available.

I had similar thoughts as yours, getting the best SS replica and trying to swap parts. I will look through this forum for someone who does AP work that I can pay for the swaps and adjustments. Is there anything else you recommend? I've seen on some Patek super reps how people may shave the bezel and such to match gen. Does anyone do something similar with AP reps?

Of course not trying to pass for gen just a personal project like you said they don't come around often.

If you are really not looking to pass this project off as gen, then just do whatever you want to bring it to your satisfaction visually. You really don't have a lot of options so do what pleases you the most.

 

[moechula]

If you are really not looking to pass this project off as gen, then just do whatever you want to bring it to your satisfaction visually. You really don't have a lot of options so do what pleases you the most.

Yeah am trying to pass it off as gen in the sense that I want it to look as close to gen as possible for me. I don't think anyone is going to buy an aftermarket AP at that price and not get it checked haha definitely just for me. But I'm OCD and want it to look good as possible.

I'm sourcing the ZF V3 SS 15400 to see if the parts will mix together.

 

[j21]

Buy the apsf and gold plate it, thats the best you can have imo
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[moechula]

Buy the apsf and gold plate it, thats the best you can have imo
​​​​​​

Who would be able to plate the individual links on a SS 15400? You know how the bracelet, the links in the middle are rose gold on this model. Can you seperate them middle links to get them plated?

Thanks

 

[j21]

Who would be able to plate the individual links on a SS 15400? You know how the bracelet, the links in the middle are rose gold on this model. Can you seperate them middle links to get them plated?

Thanks

Bezel crown hands gold plate them,. bracelet dial buy them ready from a factory that has it, gen dial is relatively cheap also

 

[j21]

Clean factory produce great rubber straps with gold plated clasp, also an option

 

[moechula]

Clean factory produce great rubber straps with gold plated clasp, also an option

Thanks. Will use all these. I'll look around the forums for some quick plating options for indvidual parts. Re: Dial, I am going to use a custom dial a look I have in mind.

 

[legend]

Yeah am trying to pass it off as gen in the sense that I want it to look as close to gen as possible for me. I don't think anyone is going to buy an aftermarket AP at that price and not get it checked haha definitely just for me. But I'm OCD and want it to look good as possible.

I'm sourcing the ZF V3 SS 15400 to see if the parts will mix together.

An AP Royal Oak is not just about gen parts, but it is also about the superlative finish and quite frankly the beauty of the caliber seen through the caseback.
So if you are OCD, then the miyota 9015 movement won't do. It is as far from the gen movement as Earth is to the moon. So then, the other gen parts aside, I will also recommend you consider upgrading the movement to a gen 3120 caliber for completeness to satisfy your OCD. Otherwise, you will have a watch which looks good on the wrist but will disappoint you each time you take it off and turn it over. Being OCD in this hobby often means that you will ultimately have to go gen because its always the details you don't get right which will bother you consistently.

But at the end, it is your call, how acceptable your watch is to you in your own eyes. If you care to post pictures of your project we can all chime in to help you get it to where you eventually would want it. All the best!

 

[ADCJ]

legend , I just saw some of your awesome polishing/finishing handiwork on a 15202 in the sales section. In light of your comment above regarding the superlative finish on gen Royal Oaks, I was curious how, close you think your magical modding gets to the gen finish?

Also, regarding AP movements and case-backs, I've seen some quartz APs (Royal Oak flavored, but I don't recall the reference number) that have solid case-backs. Do you think that such a case-back could be used to cover up an otherwise-unsightly miyota 9015? (Kind of drawing inspiration from the 15703 vs. 15710 thing...)

 

[mech500]

The JF bracelet mid links ain’t gold plated on their sides.

Only top and bottom surfaces are plated.

Looks shit.

Don’t know who geektime is and haven’t tried the other factory version he mentioned...but if it’s worse than the 5year old JF rep, then forget it.


Sent from my iPhone using RWI

 

[legend]

legend , I just saw some of your awesome polishing/finishing handiwork on a 15202 in the sales section. In light of your comment above regarding the superlative finish on gen Royal Oaks, I was curious how, close you think your magical modding gets to the gen finish?

Also, regarding AP movements and case-backs, I've seen some quartz APs (Royal Oak flavored, but I don't recall the reference number) that have solid case-backs. Do you think that such a case-back could be used to cover up an otherwise-unsightly miyota 9015? (Kind of drawing inspiration from the 15703 vs. 15710 thing...)

legend , I just saw some of your awesome polishing/finishing handiwork on a 15202 in the sales section. In light of your comment above regarding the superlative finish on gen Royal Oaks, I was curious how, close you think your magical modding gets to the gen finish?

Also, regarding AP movements and case-backs, I've seen some quartz APs (Royal Oak flavored, but I don't recall the reference number) that have solid case-backs. Do you think that such a case-back could be used to cover up an otherwise-unsightly miyota 9015? (Kind of drawing inspiration from the 15703 vs. 15710 thing...)

Thank you ADCJ.

There are different brush finishes on the gen but I haven’t seen a subpar finish on a new Royal Oak. The gen and rep steel used are largely the same and as such the surface finish can be done to the same level. Both gen and rep finish will deteriorate and mar over time, such is the law of nature and gen AP steel is not immune to this.

If the closed caseback is of the same dimensions then it can either fit or be modded to fit. But if you realize, having a closed caseback (something many 26470 ROO owners like to implement on their LWO powered frankens) is visually as wrong as (or arguably worse than) having the wrong movement type/decoration. I do recognize it’s up to the owner preference but covering up the wrong movement with a closed caseback is replacing one issue with another IMHO. It will depend on why you wish to do that. I’m one of the guys who applaud AP adopting an open caseback design, primarily because the beautiful rotor and caliber can be appreciated and also because it provides greater segregation between the gens and the reps. I like both gens and reps but very differently and like them on their own merits: Gens for the obvious high end luxury feel and reps because I find it very admirable that the Chinese can produce such lookalikes for a fraction of the prices and these watches can be worn and banged around without worry about damage, loss or robberies.