In the luxury watch industry, Audemars Piguet (Audemars Piguet) Royal Oak collection has been popular among connoisseurs and fashion enthusiasts for decades. Yet, thanks to better manufacturing methods of replica Audemars Piguet, most consumers are no longer able to tell the difference when they buy. In this article here, we’re going to talk about the general characteristics of fakes Audemars Piguet seriously and offer you some practical tips on how to tell them apart so that you won’t be scammed.
1. Why are there so many Fake Audemars Piguet on the market?
Audemars Piguet is a top Swiss watchmaking brand. The price of its Royal Oak series is usually between $20,000 and $500,000, which makes many consumers feel discouraged. Fake Audemars Piguet offers similar-looking products at a price of $500 to $5,000, attracting some buyers who pursue “high-end appearance” but have limited budgets.
In addition, in recent years, domestic replica watch manufacturing technology has made rapid progress. Some fake Audemars Piguet even use movement structures close to the original, making it more difficult for ordinary consumers to distinguish. Therefore, it is crucial to master the correct identification method.
Did you know? In 2020, U.S. Customs confiscated over 7,800 fake Audemars Piguet timepieces in Texas all at once, with a price tag of up to $83 million!This is the largest counterfeit watch seizure in the history of the U.S. Customs.
2. Common flaws of Fake Audemars Piguet
2.1 Dial details
- Logo font: The “Audemars Piguet” logo of the genuine AP is printed clearly with sharp edges, while the fake Audemars Piguet font is often thicker or blurred.
- “Tapisserie” checkered pattern: The iconic checkered dial of the Royal Oak presents a fine three-dimensional sense on the genuine watch, while the counterfeit watch is usually flat and even has an uneven grid.
- Luminous coating: The luminous coating of the genuine product is uniform and long-lasting, while the luminous coating of the fake product may be insufficient or unevenly distributed.
2.2 Case and bracelet
- Material discrimination: The original Royal Oak would typically be made of 316L stainless steel or noble metals, while the counterfeit Audemars Piguet would possibly employ inferior steel and weigh less.
- Polishing of bracelets: The genuine bracelets are polished on their edges carefully and are silky, whereas the fake ones are burry or sharp.
- Screw-fixing method: The bezel for Royal Oak is fixed by hexagonal screws. The genuine screws fit perfectly with the case, while the fake ones may have loose screws or misalignment.
2.3 Movement Comparison
- Shock absorber: Genuine AP usually uses advanced shock absorber system (such as Incabloc), while fake Audemars Piguet may use cheap shock absorber, or even directly imitate the appearance without actual function.
- Movement polishing: Genuine AP movement has extremely fine Geneva grain and fish scale grain, while fakes usually only have simple brushing and lack three-dimensional sense.
- Balance wheel: High-end AP movement usually uses free balance wheel, while fakes may use ordinary balance wheel, which affects the travel accuracy.
A pawnbroker industry expert once pointed out: “No matter how hard the imitations work, they can never be as perfect as the originals in terms of details, craftsmanship and movement technology. In particular, the polishing process and shock absorber of the movement are often the key points to distinguish the authenticity.”
3. How to avoid buying Fake Audemars Piguet?
3.1 Choose a regular purchase channel
- Authorized official dealers: Purchase from AP stores or authorized retailers for authenticity assurance.
- Be patient when reselling in the secondary market: When reselling on second-hand platforms (like Chrono24), make sure to attach the original certificate, warranty card and sales receipt.
3.2 Professional authentication service
- Third-party authentication agencies: Such as China Certification and Inspection Group (CCIC) or WatchCSA, which can provide professional authenticity authentication.
- Brand after-sales verification: Some AP stores can provide movement testing services (for a certain fee).
3.3 Be vigilant about abnormal prices
- Too low price = fake? If a “new” Royal Oak is priced below $10,000 USD, it is very likely to be a fake Audemars Piguet.
- Auction houses and pawn shops: Some pawn shops will clearly mark “replica watches“, but there are still merchants who pass off fakes as genuine ones, so you need to check carefully.
4. Market impact of high-end replicas and genuine products
In recent years, the manufacturing level of fake Audemars Piguet has been continuously improved, and some “super replicas” even use Swiss ETA movements with a very high degree of simulation. This leads to:
- Chaos in the second-hand market: Some buyers purchase replicas without knowing it and encounter legal disputes when reselling them.
- Brand reputation damage: Luxury brands such as AP invest millions of dollars each year to combat counterfeits, but the counterfeit market continues to expand.
5. Conclusion: How to ensure that you buy an authentic AP Royal Oak?
- Learn basic identification knowledge (as described in this article).
- Avoid informal channels (such as WeChat merchants, unknown websites).
- Request complete documentation (warranty card, invoice, original box).
- Seek professional identification when necessary.
If you find an AP price that is “too good to be true”, it is likely a fake Audemars Piguet. In the high-end watch market, you get what you pay for, so choose carefully to avoid losses!
