APS Factory Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 26240 Super Clone Watch

In the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak family, chronographs have always occupied a special place. They not only inherit the classic octagonal aesthetics of the Royal Oak, but also have a complex movement structure and a more sporty disk layout, making them the "ultimate goal" in the hearts of countless watch fans. The reference number 26240ST.OO.1320ST.07 is a very representative work in this pedigree - a 41mm stainless steel case, a silver "Grande Tapisserie" large checkered dial and a sub-panel of the same color. The overall presentation presents a calm, pure and high-end texture.

This time, APS Factory used Top Collecttechnology to perfectly reproduce this classic work. From the 41mm case to the Cal.4401 integrated chronograph movement, from the delicate texture of the silver large checkered dial to the precise layout of each chronograph sub-dial, APS Factory strives to present every watch enthusiast with a Royal Oak chronograph that is “impeccable from the inside to the outside”.

1. Model positioning: 26240ST’s solid color aesthetics

In the product line of Audemars Piguet Royal Oak chronographs, the color matching of the disk can be roughly divided into two categories: one is the "panda disk" (white disk with black eyes) or the "reverse panda disk" (black disk with white eyes), which emphasizes strong contrast between light and dark; the other is the "pure color disk" (main disk and sub-disk of the same color), which pursues color unity and visual harmony.

26240ST.OO.1320ST.07 belongs to the latter - the silver dial is paired with a silver sub-dial, giving the overall look a calm, pure, almost monochromatic high-end texture. This design language can be traced back to 26300ST.OO.1110ST.04 (commonly known as "silver plate and silver eyes") launched in 2008, and has since continued to evolve in models such as 26320 and 26331. In 2022, with the launch of the 26240ST series, Audemars Piguet will continue this classic color scheme to a new generation of chronographs, equipped with a new self-produced Cal. 4401 integrated chronograph movement.

The super clone watch Royal Oak APS factory is based on this new generation of chronograph with silver plate and silver eyes, and strives to achieve all-round accurate restoration in terms of dial tone, grid depth, sub-disc proportions and movement functions.

2. Case technology: 41 mm golden ratio and fine steel texture

Exquisite balance of size: APS factory strictly follows the original data. The case diameter is 41 mm and the thickness is approximately 12.5 mm. This size is the “golden ratio” among sports watches – it has the presence and toughness that a Royal Oak should have without appearing too bulky. The lugs are designed in an arc shape to closely fit the curves of wrists of different thicknesses.

The polishing philosophy of the stainless steel case: One of the most iconic features of the Royal Oak is the strong contrast between brushed and polished. The APS factory adopts a "drawing first, then polishing" process for the surface treatment of the watch case - the front and sides of the case are mainly longitudinally drawn with large areas, while the edges of the bezel, bevels of the lugs and other parts are subjected to high-gloss mirror polishing. The two textures flash alternately under the light, greatly enriching the visual layering of the entire watch. This kind of polishing not only tests the accuracy of the equipment, but also tests the craftsmanship of the craftsman - the drawing texture must be uniform and in the same direction, and there must be no random or broken lines; the polished surface must be as transparent as a mirror, without orange peel or fogging.

Iconic octagonal bezel: The bezel adopts a classic octagonal design and is fixed to the case by eight hexagonal screws. The screws are slightly sunken (slightly lower than the ring surface), which is a key detail that distinguishes the high version from the ordinary version. The chamfering treatment on the inside of the bezel is rounded and delicate, forming a light and dark contrast with the brushed texture of the main body of the case.

Crown and chronograph buttons: The hexagonal screw-in crown is located at 3 o'clock, with the AP logo engraved on the top. The timing buttons on both sides of the crown adopt a rectangular design, which is simple and tough. The APS factory restored the pressing feel of the button - the three gears of start, stop and zero are clear and distinct, and the damping feeling is moderate.

3. Disk art: silver “Grande Tapisserie” large plaid pattern and sub-disk of the same color

The most charming part of this watch is its dial. The APS factory’s investment in dial production can be said to be full of sincerity.

“Grande Tapisserie” large plaid pattern: The most iconic visual element of the Royal Oak is the “Tapisserie” plaid dial. This decorative process, pioneered by Audemars Piguet in the 1970s, creates a rich layering of light and shadow by pressing regularly arranged micro-squares on the dial. The silver dial reproduced by APS Factory adopts the Grande Tapisserie version - the size of each square is larger than the ordinary version, and the visual impact is stronger. The plaid pattern of the APS factory is convex and full, and each small square will produce independent light and shadow under the light. The arrangement is regular and the three-dimensional effect is strong. The grooves between the squares are of uniform depth, and you can feel the obvious concave and convex texture when you run your fingers across the disk - this is a reflection of the high-precision stamping process.

The unified tone of the silver main dial and silver sub-dial: Different from the strong contrast of the "panda dial", this version of the sub-dial and the main dial are matched in the same color system - the 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock, the small seconds counter at 6 o'clock, and the 12-hour counter at 9 o'clock are all painted in silver. The APS factory has made the color matching of the sub-disc the same as that of the main disc. The surface of the sub-disc is also decorated with delicate concentric circles. This is an important detail that distinguishes the high-end version from the ordinary version. The design of the same-color sub-dial makes the visual language of the entire disc more unified and restrained, making it suitable for wearers who pursue a low-key and high-end feel.

Platinum fluorescent three-dimensional time scale: The time scale is made of platinum material, with a classic layout of alternating bars and triangles. The APS factory has restored the three-dimensional feel of this design - the edges of the hour markers have been finely chamfered, and the luminous filling is full and even. The double-bar time scale at 12 o'clock and the small seconds dial at 6 o'clock form a visual balance. The design language of the entire dial is simple and powerful.

Royal Oak Pointer: The classic flat-top baton pointer (also known as the "Royal Oak Pointer") is another symbol of this series. The hands of the APS factory adopt solid craftsmanship, and the central axis cap has a three-dimensional and clear structure. The inside of the hands is filled with white fluorescent material, which shows practical green/blue fluorescence in dark light environments. The design of the tail weight block of the large chronograph seconds hand has also been accurately restored to ensure the balance of the hand operation.

4. Movement core: the complete functions of Cal.4401 integrated chronograph movement

The value of a top Collectchronograph watch lies not only in its exquisite appearance, but also in the structural integrity and functional accuracy of the chronograph movement. The APS factory equipped this 26240ST with a customized Cal.4401 integrated chronograph movement-the technical breakthrough of this movement deserves to be highlighted.

The original Audemars Piguet Cal.4401 movement made its debut in 2019 and is installed in the 50th anniversary model of the Royal Oak series. It is a new generation of integrated chronograph movement independently developed by Audemars Piguet. Its core technical features include: column wheel and vertical clutch structure, flyback chronograph function, 70-hour power reserve and instantaneous date. The launch of Cal.4401 marks that Audemars Piguet has officially entered the era of "self-production integration" in the field of chronograph movements.

When replicating this movement, the APS factory strives to achieve a high degree of restoration in terms of functional logic and appearance structure:

Column wheel and vertical clutch: Through the sapphire back, you can see the column wheel structure of the movement - this is the iconic part of advanced chronograph movements, responsible for controlling the start, stop and zero reset of the chronograph function. The APS movement realizes functional correspondence on this structure. When the chronograph button is pressed, the column wheel rotates, the vertical clutch is pressed, and the chronograph second hand starts to move. The APS factory has restored this mechanical logic, and the pressing feel of the timing button is clear and distinct.

Flyback function: The core advantage of the original 4401 movement is flyback timing - if you press the zero button directly during the timing process, the chronograph second hand will instantly return to zero and restart timing without pressing the stop button first. The movement version of APS also supports this functional operation, which means that you can continuously record the time interval between two events without the cumbersome three-step operation of "stop-zero-start".

Calendar instant jump: The calendar is located at 4:30. The APS factory restored the calendar's instant jump function-at midnight, the calendar numbers will jump instantly instead of crawling slowly. The thickness, size, and centering of the calendar font are consistent with the original version.

Core performance parameters:

• Vibration frequency: 28,800 times/hour (4Hz)

• Power reserve: about 65-70 hours

• Balance wheel position: consistent with the original version

5. Watch strap and wearing experience: stainless steel one-piece comfort

Integrated strap design: One of the most iconic design languages ​​of the Royal Oak is the seamless connection between the case and the strap. The APS factory has restored this spirit - the transition between the case and the strap is smooth and natural, and the width of the first link perfectly matches the lug without any abrupt steps.

Uniformity of polishing process: The strap links adopt the same "brushing + polishing" alternating treatment as the case - the central link is brushed longitudinally, and the bevels on both sides are high-gloss polished. Each link is individually polished, with soft edges that fit your wrist perfectly without any irritation when worn. The connection between the chain links is tight and seamless, and the phenomenon of "getting looser with more wear" will not occur after long-term wearing.

AP folding buckle: The buckle adopts a double-button folding buckle design, and the buckle surface is engraved with the AP logo. The APS factory restored the embossed texture of the buckle - the logo is three-dimensional and clear, and the edges are burr-free. The opening and closing damping feeling is properly adjusted, the sound is crisp when buckling, and it will not loosen after long-term use. There is also a fine-adjustment mechanism inside the buckle, which can be finely adjusted according to the thickness of the wrist.

Wearing experience: The 41mm watch diameter and curved lugs fit perfectly on Asian wrists. The thickness of 12.5 mm is within a reasonable range for a chronograph. When paired with a stainless steel strap, the weight of the entire watch is evenly distributed. You can feel the "pressure feel" that the Royal Oak should have without feeling overburdened. The "all-steel" combination of a silver dial and a stainless steel strap is one of the most classic and versatile watch color schemes - it can be worn with a formal shirt or a casual T-shirt with ease.

6. List of configuration parameters

Conclusion: The calm aesthetics of silver plates and silver eyes

Among the many colors of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph, the silver plate and silver eyes always occupy a special position. It is not as ostentatious as the blue plate, and not as eye-catching as the panda plate, but it interprets the Royal Oak's "simple but not simple" design philosophy in a calm, pure and restrained way.

The APS factory's Collectof this 26240ST silver plate chronograph watch accurately captures this aesthetic core. On the 41mm stainless steel case, the brushed and polished light and shadow alternately tell the Royal Oak's more than 50 years of craftsmanship inheritance; on the silver "Grande Tapisserie" large checkered dial, each raised square flashes independent light and shadow in the light; and the Cal.4401 integrated chronograph movement equipped with a column wheel and vertical clutch responds to every player who loves mechanical timing with the complete functions of flyback chronograph and instantaneous calendar.

As a senior watch friend said: "The charm of the Royal Oak is that the closer you look, the better it is." This silver plate 26240ST from the APS factory is a work that can withstand closer inspection. Whether it is an entry-level choice for chronograph watches or an advanced Collection of Royal Oak series, it is worthy of your careful appreciation.