In the field of high-end replica watches, Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 26331 “White Panda” has always been the most popular. As a classic chronograph that combines sport and luxury, it has captured the hearts of countless watch fans with its iconic octagonal case, “Grande Tapisserie” large plaid dial and three-eye layout. Recently, the 26331 stainless steel version launched by the APS factory once again aroused heated discussions in the circle with its Dandong customized integrated movement and high degree of restoration details.
Let’s talk about the highlights first. APS’s 26331 uses a genuine open-molded 41mm fine steel case with a thickness precisely controlled at 11mm. It completely bids farewell to the “pressure cooker” feeling of the 7750 movement that is often 15mm, and greatly improves the wearing comfort. The front of the bezel is brushed and the sides are polished. The octagonal shape is sharp and angular but does not cut your hands. The screw-in crown is also octagonal in design. The “AP” relief on the top is clear and three-dimensional. The polished details are the benchmark in its class.
The board is APS’s strength. The silver-white “large plaid” dial has a deep texture, and the interplay of light and shadow is almost the same as the original. The time scales are widened and shortened to ensure clear reading and avoid blocking the timing dial; the luminous coating is even and full, making it still clear in dark light environments. What’s even more surprising is the date font—the mimeograph is bold, the edges are sharp, and the texture is far superior to most replicas.
In terms of movement, APS is equipped with Dandong’s customized Cal.2385 integrated movement, which is not modified from 7750, and has a power reserve of 45 hours. The automatic rotor adopts 22K vacuum electroplating process and is engraved with AP logo. The edge weight is optimized to improve the winding efficiency, taking into account both visual and performance. The strap is a genuine molded integrated stainless steel chain, which is alternately polished and brushed to fit the curve of the wrist, making it stable and elegant to wear.
However, perfection always has flaws. The actual measurement found that the outer ring color of the three small timing dials is obviously different from the original one – the original one is polished stainless steel with a bright surface and reflective surface; while the APS version is made of black and lacks a sense of hierarchy, making it look “fake” at a close comparison. In addition, although the shape of the crown is correct, the length is slightly longer by about 0.4mm, which is a bit regrettable for players who pursue the ultimate original details. The height of the counter is not completely synchronized with the original. Although it is a huge improvement over the early 7750 “cross-eye” version, it is still not a perfect score.
It is worth mentioning that the multiple versions currently on the market, including APW, fail to completely solve the problem of disk details. In contrast, APS is still in the first echelon in terms of overall workmanship, dial color, pointer polishing and case processing. For collectors who pursue the ultimate restoration, the industry already has a “fully modified version” that uses an alternative disk + 1185 movement solution to achieve more than 95% version matching, which is currently the best solution.
Summarize:
APS 26331 “White Panda” has excellent performance in terms of wearing experience, movement stability and overall texture. It is especially suitable for players who pay attention to the balance between daily practicality and appearance. If you are not sensitive to minor flaws such as the color of the chronograph dial, it is undoubtedly the most cost-effective choice for replicating Royal Oaks under 10,000 yuan.