In the high-end replica circle, APS Factory has long won the reputation of “controlling details” by virtue of its high degree of restoration of complex watches such as Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet. And its popular models APS 26240(Reproduction of Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 26331/26320) has recently received an important upgrade——The V2 version officially adopts a card-free integrated movement, completely bid farewell to the “snappy” design of the early V1 version. This change may seem small, but it actually involvesAdjustment accuracy, long-term stability and after-sales guarantee. Today we will explain it thoroughly: What is the difference between V1 and V2? How to choose?
1. What is “Kadu”? Why is no card more advanced?
In a mechanical watch movement, “card” refers toSpeed needle adjustment device——Change the effective length of the hairspring by moving the speed needle to adjust the travel time. This structure is low in cost and quick to adjust, but it is easily affected by vibration and has poor accuracy and stability after long-term use.
AndFree-sprung then cancel the speed needle and useAdjustable weight screw on balance wheel(usually 4 or more) to fine-tune the center of gravity and inertia to achieve more accurate and stable travel time. High-end watches such as original Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe all adopt card-free designs, which is the iconic feature of “high-end movements”.
2. V1 version: There is a card, but it needs to be modified to be “card-free”
The early APS 26240 V1 version usedIntegrated movement with card, although the 4401 structure has been integrated, there are still two quick and slow needle devices below the balance wheel. In order to pursue the “original feel”, many players have toSpend hundreds of dollars to find a master to cut the speed needle and modify it to be card-free.。
But problems arise:
- After modificationUnable to adjust error(Because no weights are installed);
- Once the movement fails,Factory refuses to insure(Due to private modification);
- After long-term use, the travel time deviation is large, but there is no way to adjust it.
3. V2 version: native card-free + four-weight fine-tuning, one step
The biggest breakthrough of the V2 version is:Designed to be card-free from the factory, andFour adjustable weight screws are integrated directly into the balance wheel. This means:
✅ No external modification required: Save modification costs and avoid damaging the movement structure;
✅ Support precise adjustment: By rotating the weight to fine-tune the speed and polarization, the error control is more flexible;
✅ Enjoy official after-sales service: Because it is an upgraded version from the original factory, faults can be repaired normally;
✅ Appearance updated: The balance wheel is hollowed out and simple, almost the same as the original 4401 movement.
Looking from the back of the movement, the V2 version of the balance wheel is clean and neat, with no speed needle blocking it. The radial pattern and CD pattern are finely polished. The golden plywood has a high degree of color restoration. The layout of the three chronograph small dials is precise, and the overall “flaw” is extremely low.
4. There is almost no difference from the front. How to choose depends on your budget and needs.
interestingly,There is almost no difference between V1 and V2 on the front of the dial.——The hands, scales, small dials, and mirror craftsmanship are exactly the same. The caliper device is hidden deep inside the movement and cannot be noticed in daily wear.
Therefore, the selection recommendations are as follows:
- Limited budget/mainly for daily wear: Choosing the V1 version is completely sufficient, with no loss in functionality or appearance;
- Pursuing the ultimate restoration / movement party / long-term collection: Decisively choose the V2 version. No card and four weights are the future trend, which also saves you the trouble of subsequent modifications.
Conclusion: APS uses the V2 version to prove that replicas can also have “original thinking”
The upgrade of the APS 26240 V2 version is not only a technical iteration, but also a response to the pain points of users – it no longer allows users to “spend money to find trouble”, but directly makes high-end configurations as factory standards. For watch lovers who like the Royal Oak style and want the movement to be “real”, the V2 version is undoubtedly the most worth buying at the moment. The V1 version is still a cost-effective choice. Both are excellent, just choose according to your needs.