To be honest, in the past few years of playing Richard Mille replicas, I have stepped on many pitfalls – those so-called “high imitations”, once the movement is disassembled, it is full of fake gears, the oscillating weight rotates for half a day, and the interior does not move at all. It wasn’t until I got my hands on the RM35-02 from APS that I finally breathed a sigh of relief: It turns out that replica watches can also be “the same on the outside and on the inside.”
When I got it for the first time, my first reaction was “Why is it so light?” One weighed it – 75.5 grams! It is lighter than a mobile phone and can hardly be felt when worn on the hand, but the sense of high-end is overwhelming. The case is made of NTPT carbon fiber, with a rough and regular texture, exactly the same as the original RM35-02 style designed for Nadal’s high-intensity confrontation. When the sun shines on it, the flow of the carbon filament is particularly eye-catching, and it is by no means comparable to the printed skin on the market.
Here comes the point: the movement. APS did not take shortcuts this time, but spent two years developing it together with Dandong.Exclusive RMAL1 integrated automatic card-free movement. What is “one body”? That is, from the barrel to the gear set to the automatic rotor, everything is truly linked, without a single decorative part! I deliberately turned the crown slowly and watched the gears rotate one by one. The mechanical beauty makes only those who really understand watches make their hearts beat faster.
Even more ruthless is the automatic rotor – APS reproduces the original variable geometry structure and installs 18 0.3mm micro screws. The bottom plate and bridge plate are all made of grade five titanium alloy. Do you know what this means? It’s light, strong, corrosion-resistant, and polished so brightly that you can’t find any faults even with a magnifying glass. Those “automatic rotors” on the market that are made of steel sheets will loosen after a few turns, but this one is as stable as a rock.
All metal parts of the entire watch, including the buckle, lugs, and even the small springs, are all made of titanium. The buckle is detachable, the middle rocker is very elastic, and the “click” when it is opened and closed is crisp and reassuring. The strap is made of original factory-grade floating rubber, which is soft and close to the hand. It is not like some factory-made hard rubber that will leave marks on the wrist after being worn for a day.
Luminous is also correct! The pointers and scale tips are coated with the same luminous material. When illuminated in the dark, the brightness is uniform and the shape is exactly the same as the original. In order to save trouble, many manufacturers just touch the luminous light casually, which will reveal the secret from a distance, but APS has even taken care of this detail.
As for the size, it is indeed not small at about 41mm, but Richard Mille has a flamboyant style, so when he wears it, he has an aura of “I am the focus”. And because it is ultra-light and has a floating tape fit, it is not tiring to wear for a long time. You can play ball, drive, or work without any burden.
Now there are ZF and other manufacturers on the market that are also making RM35-02, but the movements are all assembled and modified, the gears are not linked, and the balance wheel is exposed when it moves. The APS model, from the inside to the outside, is all designed for “true restoration”. If you’re still wondering whether to spend extra money to buy a modified version – there’s really no need. APS RM35-02 is currently the most worth buying Richard Mille replica within the price of 10,000 yuan.
It is not just a watch, but a redefinition of “reproduction craftsmanship”:If you can move, don’t pretend; if you can be light, don’t make do. Put it on and you will understand what “artwork inside a toy watch” is.