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

[Charizard735]

I've spent the last few days reading through every single thread and piece of information I could regarding which is the best OOTB version of the AP 15400 Blue dial, with the cloned A3120 movement. Both the ZF and APSF look amazing.

I recognize that there are multiple dial variations throughout the years. Sometimes I find that the ZF shade of blue looks too 'purple' and sometimes I find the APSF shade of blue is too 'ice blue". I've also read that the ZF tapisserie pattern is slightly closer to gen than the APSF, but the APSF has better sunburst.

Hillbilly also posted that the APSF just updated their dials on V4, however the tapisserie is too small, and the 9:00 marker is now shorter than before.

Many people say the ZF build quality is better, but several modders us APSF as a base and say it's better quality.

I would love some recommendations on which version to go for, in terms of overall rep fit/finish/quality, and closeness to gen (any version of gen). If the expert @legend could chime in, I'd also appreciate it!

Thank you!

 

[legend]

I've spent the last few days reading through every single thread and piece of information I could regarding which is the best OOTB version of the AP 15400 Blue dial, with the cloned A3120 movement. Both the ZF and APSF look amazing.

I recognize that there are multiple dial variations throughout the years. Sometimes I find that the ZF shade of blue looks too 'purple' and sometimes I find the APSF shade of blue is too 'ice blue". I've also read that the ZF tapisserie pattern is slightly closer to gen than the APSF, but the APSF has better sunburst.

Hillbilly also posted that the APSF just updated their dials on V4, however the tapisserie is too small, and the 9:00 marker is now shorter than before.

Many people say the ZF build quality is better, but several modders us APSF as a base and say it's better quality.

I would love some recommendations on which version to go for, in terms of overall rep fit/finish/quality, and closeness to gen (any version of gen). If the expert @legend could chime in, I'd also appreciate it!

Thank you!

Try to go for the DP dial for the 15400.

 

[Charizard735]

Try to go for the DP dial for the 15400.

Thank you, I am considering that! And which base would you suggest between ZF or APSF? Having handled both, and owning gen, which would you say is better overall quality/fit/finish?

 

[Fusible]

Anyone have comments on this new release? Also green.

AP0842 - Royal Oak Offshore Diver 15710 SS/RU White APSF A3120 [AP0842] - $488.00 : Trusty Time Watch, Your Trusty Watch Shop

Trusty Time Watch AP0842 - Royal Oak Offshore Diver 15710 SS/RU White APSF A3120 [AP0842] - APSF Factory AP Royal Oak Diver 15710 MOVEMENT: Asia Clone 3120 Automatic Movement with decorated bridges & rotor like Genuine AP Calibre 3120 CASE DIAMETER: 42mm THICKNESS: 14mm DIAL COLOR: White...

trustytime888.io

 

[serumdiesel]

Anyone have comments on this new release? Also green.

AP0842 - Royal Oak Offshore Diver 15710 SS/RU White APSF A3120 [AP0842] - $488.00 : Trusty Time Watch, Your Trusty Watch Shop

Trusty Time Watch AP0842 - Royal Oak Offshore Diver 15710 SS/RU White APSF A3120 [AP0842] - APSF Factory AP Royal Oak Diver 15710 MOVEMENT: Asia Clone 3120 Automatic Movement with decorated bridges & rotor like Genuine AP Calibre 3120 CASE DIAMETER: 42mm THICKNESS: 14mm DIAL COLOR: White...

trustytime888.io

Commenting solely on the white one, but looks great to me. If you want to get all nitpicky about it, seems like the spacing between some of the numbers on the inner bezel could be broadened slightly but that's the only thing I see. I feel like APSF has been killing it lately and feel no differently about this one. This is a buy for me but I'm gonna get the instant date change mod. Hopefully others chime in with their opinions, as well.

 

[Fusible]

Commenting solely on the white one, but looks great to me. If you want to get all nitpicky about it, seems like the spacing between some of the numbers on the inner bezel could be broadened slightly but that's the only thing I see. I feel like APSF has been killing it lately and feel no differently about this one. This is a buy for me but I'm gonna get the instant date change mod. Hopefully others chime in with their opinions, as well.

Looking closer I think inner date window is supposed to be black on gen. Some of the close up photos also seem like the paint is coming off. Not sure if those are actual product photos but a bit concerning. Really wanting a solid white dial and apsf has been impressive.

 

[serumdiesel]

Looking closer I think inner date window is supposed to be black on gen. Some of the close up photos also seem like the paint is coming off. Not sure if those are actual product photos but a bit concerning. Really wanting a solid white dial and apsf has been impressive.

I noticed that, as well, but think it could be batch variation as I also found several examples of an inner date window matching the APSF version.

Black:



White:

 

[legend]

I noticed that, as well, but think it could be batch variation as I also found several examples of an inner date window matching the APSF version.

Black:



White:

Nope, the date window surround is always black on the gen 15710 white/black model. No variations.

In the 3rd and 4th pics you posted, they are of the 15710 white/blue (boutique edition) models and not the white/black ones.
To differentiate, look at the lume color on the minute hand. It is white on the white/black ones and blue (but looks black most of the time) on the white/blue ones.

 

[Fusible]

Yeah seems as it's an oversight on the part of APSF. The green looks correct in the DW window, but undoubtedly we would need someone to share real photos to determine the true color.

 

[serumdiesel]

Nope, the date window surround is always black on the gen 15710 white/black model. No variations.

In the 3rd and 4th pics you posted, they are of the 15710 white/blue (boutique edition) models and not the white/black ones.
To differentiate, look at the lume color on the minute hand. It is white on the white/black ones and blue (but looks black most of the time) on the white/blue ones.

Fuck yeah. Good info there, bud. Appreciate it.

Yeah seems as it's an oversight on the part of APSF. The green looks correct in the DW window, but undoubtedly we would need someone to share real photos to determine the true color.

Yeah, so there you go. Seems like it's always something with any white dial diver rep. For me, though, I still like this one quite a bit.

 

[legend]

Fuck yeah. Good info there, bud. Appreciate it.


Yeah, so there you go. Seems like it's always something with any white dial diver rep. For me, though, I still like this one quite a bit.

There is always “something” with any rep. Show me a perfect replica and I’ll show you a gen. It’s just part of the hobby we have to live with. These are watches made in China for profit and worn for novelty purposes.
I do prefer the boutique edition diver over the 15710 white and black one myself, and think that the rep makers did a decent enough job. My personal (and I emphasize personal) policy is that if one does not pay the 1:1 price there shouldn’t be the expectation of a 1:1 watch. Little flaws and imperfections are totally fine. One pays 2-5% of the watch price and gets >90% (typically) of the watch price. A perfectly reasonable cost-benefit ratio IMHO.

 

[willthewristmaster99]

Is this RWI member right? I know the ZF 15202 is thinner than the 16202 because of the rotor/caseback/bezel so I was looking at the 15202 because I cannot find anyone to do any AP thinnings.

I have a BF 15202PT which has basically the same exact movement just with the AP skeleton rotor instead of the 50th. BF is 9.5mm

Can I just swap my movement/hands/dial into a ZF to achieve that 8.5mm? Not to mention it is much better finished. I don't care about the correct clasp stamping considering gen is platinum and this is steel and not tungsten. Basically it's just a fantasy steel RO to me and that's fine I just want it to be thinner.

 

[serumdiesel]

There is always “something” with any rep. Show me a perfect replica and I’ll show you a gen. It’s just part of the hobby we have to live with. These are watches made in China for profit and worn for novelty purposes.
I do prefer the boutique edition diver over the 15710 white and black one myself, and think that the rep makers did a decent enough job. My personal (and I emphasize personal) policy is that if one does not pay the 1:1 price there shouldn’t be the expectation of a 1:1 watch. Little flaws and imperfections are totally fine. One pays 2-5% of the watch price and gets >90% (typically) of the watch price. A perfectly reasonable cost-benefit ratio IMHO.

Yeah. Whether "flaws and imperfections" are "little" is a subjective measurement, of course, and left for the buyers to decide. For me, white divers seem to so far consistently have flaws on the bigger side, and it seems to not be an uncommon evaluation.

Figuring out what you can and can't accept is a big part of the overall fun. The modding journey for a particularly favored piece is one of the most enjoyable parts of the hobby, even with all the associated pains in the ass of sourcing, waiting, shipping, etc. included.

I don't really have a preference between the white/black or white/blue. Both look nice, and it's gonna be enjoyable pursuing a correction for the minute hand.

 

[zerodreamy]

I'm going to take the thread title as literal as possible here. I am not sure if it is my mind playing tricks on me but it seems like my watch's hands have, for one reason or another, become more raised. I've attached some pics for reference so someone can let me know if this is problematic.

I think earlier on when I got the watch the hands were more flush with the dial and I couldn't notice the sheen of the golden hour wheel on an angle nearly as much. The hands are not touching the glass enough to stop telling time, but it seems like they are noticeably raised. I am not sure if this is a cannon pinion issue, dial issue, anything in between, but I would appreciate some advice. Maybe nothing is up at all, I simply don't know enough to be sure one way or another.

 

[willthewristmaster99]

I agree with you, and even though I don't know watch making I think that something is shifting and moving the hands.

Do I think that eventually they will fall off or something? No. Would I have it fixed next service? Definitely.

Hope you can get a more technical answer from a pro!

 

[TonyMonatana44]

Hi everyone. I am new to RWI and have been going crazy (with no sleep) trying to research to the best of my ability which REP to purchase. I am on the fence between the AP Royal Oak RG with the black or the blue dial. I understand that these are REPs and if i wanted something as close to a GEN to just purchase a GEN. However, money is obviously the issue with my situation

I have read the thread posts prior to mine and see members are about a 50/50 on APSF and ZF.

@legend would you be so kind to share your input as to which one is the better choice here?

15400 3120 movement
15400 4302 movement

Or if you have any better choices other than ZF/APSF that would be awesome too.

RWI is awesome and am loving the threads you guys post! Cheers!

 

[TonyMonatana44]

Also - Does anyone know if any TD sell the AP Royal Oak Chrono that isn't 13-14 mm thick? I believe a GEN is roughly 10.5 to 11.5 mm thick but I wasn't able to find any TD who sell one that are close to the GEN size.

This is the AP i'm talking about.

AP

Image AP hosted in ClickPix.org

clickpix.org

 

[willthewristmaster99]

Hi everyone. I am new to RWI and have been going crazy (with no sleep) trying to research to the best of my ability which REP to purchase. I am on the fence between the AP Royal Oak RG with the black or the blue dial. I understand that these are REPs and if i wanted something as close to a GEN to just purchase a GEN. However, money is obviously the issue with my situation

I have read the thread posts prior to mine and see members are about a 50/50 on APSF and ZF.

@legend would you be so kind to share your input as to which one is the better choice here?

15400 3120 movement
15400 4302 movement

Or if you have any better choices other than ZF/APSF that would be awesome too.

RWI is awesome and am loving the threads you guys post! Cheers!

Black + RG = perfection with any outfit possible. Also most gen like dial.

15400 9.8mm , more robust keyless , slow date change that rolls at 11-11:30 and flips at midnight (not gen like)
15500 10.4mm , great movement imo better design , instant date change that snaps 🫰 at 12.

Hope this was helpful! Keep in mind ASPF is supposed to come out with tungsten weighted AP reps soon but if you don't care about weight or don't like straps on your AP then forget about it and buy what you like!

 

[TonyMonatana44]

Wow that is a beauty! I love the white dial.

I was planning on buying the RG with either leather or rubber straps. I bought a full SS YG AP before and I did not like the quality/finish on the links as it didn't look too good. I also believe a rubber band or leather is more comfortable for me as I tend to wear my watches even while I sleep

I think i'll go with the APSF 15400 as I'm not the biggest geek when it comes to the movement per say. I know the REP's will probably never be perfect as a GEN AP will, so it's more so looks for me. I was just asking about the movement as I know some of them aren't as reliable as others.

 

[legend]

Hi everyone. I am new to RWI and have been going crazy (with no sleep) trying to research to the best of my ability which REP to purchase. I am on the fence between the AP Royal Oak RG with the black or the blue dial. I understand that these are REPs and if i wanted something as close to a GEN to just purchase a GEN. However, money is obviously the issue with my situation

I have read the thread posts prior to mine and see members are about a 50/50 on APSF and ZF.

@legend would you be so kind to share your input as to which one is the better choice here?

15400 3120 movement
15400 4302 movement

Or if you have any better choices other than ZF/APSF that would be awesome too.

RWI is awesome and am loving the threads you guys post! Cheers!

There is no 15400 with 4302 movement. Did you mean the 15500?