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

[cotti-rottie]

looks good on the rubber strap

 

[Shea9798]

Hello everyone I’m currently looking for the Royal Oak 41 Steel / Gray 50th Anniversary I’m looking to get the ZF version but I’ve heard it has the 15500 bracelet is there anyway to find the 15510 bracelet or mod it that way. Please let me know that’s the only flaw I really see with this watch. Pics down below

 

[alpharp]

Another photo from another TD, different strap, same dial.

APSF V3 has been out for some time now. They did a great job with the hands. Dial is still nowhere near gen.

 

[speedywombat]

APSF V3 has been out for some time now. They did a great job with the hands. Dial is still nowhere near gen.

Thanks for the info. Do you know whether there are any 15400 or 15500 with a dial that's closest to gen? Particularly in white.

 

[Dienekes]

Hi all, what do you guys think of APSF 15400 V3 new release? Seems like the dial is very promising with just the right amount of sunburst.

You might want to check this one out:

AP 15400 black&white Gen vs. ZF vs. APSF comparison pictures

Hi, my friends Today we bring you one of the most popular AP’s comparison. The overall of ZF, APSF watches are in a very similar situation, they use the same movement and are sold at the same price. As I can see, for the white dial, APSF is more close to gen. ZF is a bit greyish. The...

forum.replica-watch.info

As far as the resemblance goes, I reckon that the dial on ZF's 15400 is more "gen" than ZF's 15500.

 

[speedywombat]

You might want to check this one out:

AP 15400 black&white Gen vs. ZF vs. APSF comparison pictures

Hi, my friends Today we bring you one of the most popular AP’s comparison. The overall of ZF, APSF watches are in a very similar situation, they use the same movement and are sold at the same price. As I can see, for the white dial, APSF is more close to gen. ZF is a bit greyish. The...

forum.replica-watch.info

As far as the resemblance goes, I reckon that the dial on ZF's 15400 is more "gen" than ZF's 15500.

That is very interesting. ZF did 15400 dial better than their 15500...

 

[Dienekes]

That is very interesting. ZF did 15400 dial better than their 15500...

In my opinion and only with "gen-likness" in mind (sunburst effect) it seems so. However, remember that there's more to the dial than sunburst alone, so I'm not sure that 15400's is better all around

 

[speedywombat]

For 15500, does anyone have any experience with dials aside from the big manufacturers?

ORF dial

OMF dial

 

[speedywombat]

For 15500, does anyone have any experience with dials aside from the big manufacturers?

ORF dial

OMF dial

For comparison, this is the ZF 15500 on the same website

 

[alpharp]

Thanks for the info. Do you know whether there are any 15400 or 15500 with a dial that's closest to gen? Particularly in white.

To be honest with you, I don’t think any of the white/silver rep dials are anywhere near gen. My personal 15400 is an APSF V3 with a gen dial and other mods from Legend. It’s not cheap, but if you want the complete gen-like appearance on the wrist, that would be the route you have to take. If you want to stick with rep dials, I would go with the black option.

My 15400:

 

[alpharp]

Also, I would recommend staying away from the “modded” dials from DP and Hillbilly.

 

[speedywombat]

To be honest with you, I don’t think any of the white/silver rep dials are anywhere near gen. My personal 15400 is an APSF V3 with a gen dial and other mods from Legend. It’s not cheap, but if you want the complete gen-like appearance on the wrist, that would be the route you have to take. If you want to stick with rep dials, I would go with the black option.

My 15400:

Absolutely gorgeous timepiece!

 

[speedywombat]

Hi again guys,

I found another possible interesting project. Found that MPF makes stunning dials for 15510. Now I'm thinking of swapping my white dial zf 15500 with gray dial and date wheel from a gray 15510 MPF.

Is this possible? are the dial and date wheel between an 15500 and 15510 interchangeable?

 

[alpharp]

Hi again guys,

I found another possible interesting project. Found that MPF makes stunning dials for 15510. Now I'm thinking of swapping my white dial zf 15500 with gray dial and date wheel from a gray 15510 MPF.

Is this possible? are the dial and date wheel between an 15500 and 15510 interchangeable?

I have seen this done before here. I believe it can be directly swapped into the ZF V2 and earlier with the Miyota movement. Clone would need modification.

I think the MPF sunburst is too “aggressive” compared to gen. A lot of the modded dials do that too. No rep dial will be perfect to gen. If you like the stronger sunburst, great, but that still isn’t “gen-like.”

If you want to keep your rep dial, I would personally stick with the stock ZF. If you really want to improve it, Legend does great dial refinishing work. Lots of posts to be found here about that. If you want to swap, the only dial that will truly be perfect is gen.

 

[shalke]

Also, I would recommend staying away from the “modded” dials from DP and Hillbilly.

I am having a hard time finding parts from other TDs as factories do not really sell parts. So these modders are the other option. Any other recommendations for dials/parts/straps ?

 

[Plenitude]

I apologize if this has already been asked, but I wasn't successful with my search. Does the 15400 APS V3 have instant date flip?

 

[alpharp]

I apologize if this has already been asked, but I wasn't successful with my search. Does the 15400 APS V3 have instant date flip?

It does not unfortunately. Some Chinese modders have claimed to be able to do it with the clone 3120. Hopefully, the clone 3120 will offer it from the factory eventually.

 

[Plenitude]

It does not unfortunately. Some Chinese modders have claimed to be able to do it with the clone 3120. Hopefully, the clone 3120 will offer it from the factory eventually.

Thank you for your answer. It actually seems strange to me how this movement is praised as a clone with so many comparative pics piece by piece and then has such an important flaw. I just received one, black dial and my intention was to have the bezel screws plated and put a deep crystal, but now I'm no longer so convinced.

 

[alpharp]

Thank you for your answer. It actually seems strange to me how this movement is praised as a clone with so many comparative pics piece by piece and then has such an important flaw. I just received one, black dial and my intention was to have the bezel screws plated and put a deep crystal, but now I'm no longer so convinced.

I have a 15400 franken and love it, I wouldn’t worry about the date change too much. It’s still a great watch. The Dandong 3120 isn’t a “true clone” hence the flaw. I’ve heard it was done to increase stability.

Getting the screws either plated or refinished look great. IMO, I don’t think a deep xtal is needed. I have a gen dial in mine and didn’t even change the xtal. I honestly can’t tell the difference between stock and deep most of the time.

 

[pam63C]

I have seen this done before here. I believe it can be directly swapped into the ZF V2 and earlier with the Miyota movement. Clone would need modification.

I think the MPF sunburst is too “aggressive” compared to gen. A lot of the modded dials do that too. No rep dial will be perfect to gen. If you like the stronger sunburst, great, but that still isn’t “gen-like.”

If you want to keep your rep dial, I would personally stick with the stock ZF. If you really want to improve it, Legend does great dial refinishing work. Lots of posts to be found here about that. If you want to swap, the only dial that will truly be perfect is gen.

I can't agree more to this.

The Legend modded ZF dial is good enough and I can assure you most Royal Oak owners can't call it out with the rep on your wrist. Probably geeks here can do better. I am saying so as one who owned two gen ROs and a rep 15500 (from Legend).

If you want perfection, then go for a gen dial. No point wasting money on the DP and rest which are not cheap either.