When it comes to the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, the first thing that pops up in the minds of experienced players is often the 39mm “Jumbo” ultra-thin model. Especially 16202, which will be launched in 2022, is the core work of the 50th anniversary. It has a high public price, long queues, and is even more difficult to find in the secondary market. The replica circle has also been obsessed with this watch in recent years, but ZF Factory is the only one that can really deliver the “matching answer sheet”. We won’t pile on the parameters today, let’s get started directly, from the shell shape, disk, movement to the wearing feel, and clean the underpants of this “Steel King” replica.
1. 39mm ultra-thin shell: the proportions are right and the texture is natural
39mm diameter + 8.8mm thickness, this ratio is the most classic “golden size” of Royal Oak. The ZF factory did not play tricks with the size this time. The weight of the entire watch is controlled at about 131g. It will not put pressure on the wrist when used, and it retains the heft that fine steel should have.
The material is made of 316L fine steel, and the polishing continues Audemars Piguet’s iconic “brushing + polishing” alternating process. The octagonal bezel is vertically brushed finely and evenly, and the eight hexagonal screws are sunken. The opening directions are exactly the same. Many small manufacturers will simply ignore this. The side of the watch case is rounded and chamfered, the light shining through it has a clear sense of layering, and the industrial style and luxury feel are just right.
The AP logo on the crown at 3 o’clock is clearly engraved, the anti-slip pattern is moderately deep, the damping is even when screwed in for adjustment, and it is fully waterproof and sweatproof for daily use. The shell shape has not been made thicker, but it has taken the ultra-thin route. It fits the wrist very well, and it does not look out of place on Asian wrists.
2. PVD starry sky disk: if the texture is right, the sense of high-end will come out
The dial is the soul of this watch. The ZF factory gave up the traditional stamping texture this time and switched to the PVD physical vapor deposition process to reproduce the authentic “Tapisserie” starry sky grain pattern at a 1:1 ratio.
The blue base is covered with a translucent coating. When you turn the watch body, you can see a deep gradient effect, like stardust in the night sky, completely bidding farewell to the “rigid reflection” of the cheap version. The hour markers and simplification hands are filled with Super-LumiNova, which is full and even, and is very clear when reading in dark light.
The edge of the pointer is polished in place, without burrs or distortion, and the needle tip and scale are accurately aligned. The 3 o’clock calendar window uses a midnight blue background color, the font is centered, the ink is solid, the edges are sharply cut, there is no color spillage or blur, and you can’t find any faults at a close distance. This approach of not relying on stacking materials but relying on craftsmanship is what a large factory should be like.
3. Cal. 7121 movement: Stability and worry-free are the key to replicas
As for the movement, the ZF factory directly installed the self-developed Caliber 7121 ultra-thin integrated movement, with a thickness reduced to 3.2mm, and the structural layout is completely in line with the genuine product.
The vibration frequency is 28,800 times/hour, the daily error is controlled within ±15 seconds after official adjustment, and the power reserve is about 48 hours. If you take off the watch for two days on the weekend and put it on on Monday, it will still run normally without the need to manually mend the chain frequently. Wear it for daily commuting and business trips, no need to wait at all.
The back is open, the plywood is finely and neatly polished with hand-made fish scale patterns, the 50th anniversary logo is engraved on the automatic rotor, and the coating color is pure. The movement’s engravings are deep and clear, the shock absorbers and jewel bearings are accurately positioned, and the overall visual quality and functional stability are among the first echelons in the replica circle. It’s not the kind of “look-alike” that’s fooled by a fake splint, but a practical movement that can actually run stably.
4. Integrated steel belt + butterfly buckle: details determine the upper limit of wearing
Royal Oak’s title of “King of Steel” is partly due to its shell shape and partly to its strap. The one-piece steel belt links from the ZF factory are finely polished, the edges are polished and rounded, the splicing gaps are even, and there is no abnormal sound when shaking.
The most important thing is that the headpiece (the connection point of the watch lug) has a fully movable design, which is flexible in opening and closing and can naturally fit wrists of different thicknesses. This is the core detail that distinguishes the high and low versions. Many manufacturers make the lugs of the watch to death in order to save costs, which makes the watch cumbersome and cumbersome after being worn for a long time. The ZF factory did not cut corners in this area.
The watch buckle is equipped with the same original folding butterfly buckle, which opens and closes smoothly, the buckle is tight, the surface brushing/polishing process echoes the case, and the AP logo is clear. Wear it for daily commuting and business trips, it is safe and comfortable. It can be worn on bare wrists in summer without getting caught in hair.
5. Finally, let’s be honest: Is it worth investing in?
Based on comprehensive actual measurements, the ZF factory Audemars Piguet 16202 has indeed restored most of the essence of the “Steel King” in terms of shell proportions, disk craftsmanship, movement performance and strap details. The 39mm ultra-thin body shape is suitable for Asian wrists, the PVD starry sky disk has a high-quality texture, the Cal. 7121 movement is stable and worry-free, and the movable headband + butterfly buckle complete the wearing experience.
If you have a limited budget and want to experience the industrial aesthetics of Audemars Piguet’s 50th anniversary model, this watch is currently the safest choice on the market. Those who buy replicas are “wearing it with peace of mind and looking at it comfortably.” The work delivered by the ZF factory this time is worthy of the title of “ceiling.”
Suggestions for getting started: Give priority to the classic style in blue, which will look perfectly matched with formal or casual wear. Find a reliable channel to get the product, and first check the flexibility of the headband, the centering of the calendar, and the clarity of the back lettering. If there is no problem with these three points, you can basically wear it with confidence.
Warm reminder: This article is only for communication and reference for watch enthusiasts, and supports genuine products and rational consumption. Playing with watches is to please yourself, don’t let blindly follow the trend and kidnap your wallet.