Audeube Royal Oak Series Perpetual Calendar reproduction Watch 26574
The continuation of the legend: Audeupeter Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Replica Watch 26574 Full analysis when classic design meets complex function reproduction
1. The birth and innovation of the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar
1.1 Royal Oak rebel gene
In 1972, Audemars Piguet launched the first Royal Oak watch, designed by legendary designer Gerald Genta, with refined steel, octagonal circle and “Tapisserie” check dial to subvert the definition of traditional luxury watches. Its name is derived from the British Royal Navy battleship “Royal Oak”, a symbol of robustness and innovation.
1.2 Milestones of the perpetual calendar function
In 1984, Audeudets launched its first Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar watch Ref.5554 with an ultra-thin movement Cal.2120/2800, combining complex functions with a sporty aesthetic. The 26574 model, as a modern iteration (released in 2015), is equipped with Cal.5134 automatic movement, and the accuracy of the new weekly calendar display and moon phase is increased to 122 years error only 1 day, becoming a symbol of the brand’s technical strength.
1.3 The market demand for duplicate watch
The official price of the original 26574 is about 800,000 yuan, and the limited release and secondary market premium (some models exceed 1.5 million yuan) have spawned high-end replica demand. The replica version achieves more than 90% appearance restoration at a price of less than 5%, becoming a popular “detoxification” for veteran players.
2. Original 26574 design analysis: details determine the height
2.1 Iconic appearance
case and material : 41mm stainless steel case, thickness 9.9mm, octagonal bezel with 8 white gold screws;
dial design : blue “Grande Tapisserie” large check, white gold three-dimensional time scale, 3-point weekly/monthly calendar, 9-point month/leap year, 12-point week/moon phase multi-window layout;
watchband process : integrated fine steel chain belt, chain chamfer polishing and wire drawing alternately.
2.2 Complex functional architecture
Perpetual calendar mechanism : automatically recognize the size of the month and leap year, only need to manually correct once every 122 years;
moon phase accuracy : laser engraving of the lunar surface, the error rate of the industry leading;
Instant jump switch : date, week, month jump at midnight, no delay.
2.3 movement technical barrier
Cal.5134 movement based on Cal.2120 improvement, thickness 4.3mm, vibration frequency 19,800 times/hour, 38 hours of dynamic storage. Its modular perpetual calendar structure achieves functional integration through 334 parts and is known as the “micro-mechanical universe”.
3. Copy 26574 Process breakthrough: How to approximate the original?
3.1 Comparison of exterior reproduction accuracy
|
Detail item |
The original 26574 |
Top replica |
|
Dial grille |
Swiss CNC stereo etching, |
Asian high precision die stamping, |
|
Moon dial |
Platinum plating |
Titanium alloy plating, |
|
Bezel screw |
White gold, hand lock |
316L steel rhodium plated, |
3.2 Compromise and innovation in function realization
basic movement choice : The replica version mostly adopts the Shanghai 7750 restructured movement (with additional DD module), retains the functions of week, month and moon phase, but can not achieve 122 years accuracy, need to be manually adjusted every 2-3 years;
Moon phase instantaneous jump optimization : the original jump speed is simulated by independent gear group, which is close to the naked eye;
thickness control : the duplicate version is about 11.2mm (1.3mm thicker than the original), due to the superposition of modules, but the wearing difference is not obvious.
3.3 Material alternative
case : 904L steel (corrosion resistance is better than the original 316L steel) has become the high-end reengraving standard;
sapphire glass : arc coating mirror, anti-glare effect comparable to the original;
strap : Some versions offer a ceramic middle link to reduce weight.
4. The controversy and value of replica watches
4.1 The boundary between law and morality
Intellectual property risks : If the duplicate table uses the AP trademark or 1:1 clone movement code, it may constitute infringement;
industry unwritten rules : the top duplicate circle defaults to “no brand letching” and “fine tuning design to avoid copyright”, such as changing the AP abbreviation to AR or adjusting the screw Angle.
4.2 The hidden ecology of the collection market
player rating : entry-level pursuit of “far see no flaw”, senior players demanding screw sink depth and font spacing;
circulation premium : limited numbered edition (such as N factory V4 version) second-hand price can reach 2 times the sale price;
modification culture : Some users will copy the case with the original movement to create a “Frankenwatch” (hybrid watch)
4.3 The logic of coexistence of original and copy
The original version defends the “peak of mechanical art” and is reproduced to meet the “universal aesthetic experience”. As the copy circle famous saying: “Wear copy is the highest tribute to classic design, but also the rational resistance to the brand premium.”
5. Buying Guide: How to choose the top copy 26574?
5.1 Key identification points
moon phase pupil ratio : the original moon phase disk pupil accounted for 23%, inferior copy is often less than 20%;
calendar font thickness : the original version uses AP customized font, and the duplicate version is prone to stroke adhesion;
crown damping sense : the original screw-in crown needs 2.5 turns to lock, and the remastered version generally needs more than 3 turns.
5.2 The brand recommended
N factory : the longest history, strong movement stability, moon phase accuracy ±5 seconds/day;
VS factory : the first Cal.5134 clone movement (fully functional but high failure rate);
XF factory : focus on the watchband process, link removal tools and the original universal.
5.3 Use and maintenance
avoid function abuse : adjust duration to avoid 21:00-3:00 (movement gear engagement period);
waterproof warning : the replica version is usually only 30 meters waterproof (the original 50 meters), do not wear swimming;
maintenance cycle : every 2 years need to disassemble and wash the movement and replace the waterproof ring, the cost is about 500 yuan.
6. Conclusion: Re-engraving table, is it compromise or awakening?
The existence of Audeube Royal Oak 26574 replica watches reflects the contradictions of the mechanical watch industry: on the one hand, the original maintains a luxury premium with a technological monopoly; On the other hand, the perfection of the reproduction process proves that “aesthetic democratization” is not a fantasy. Or as Gerald Genta said, “Design should belong to everyone.” And how to find a balance between respecting innovation and popularizing classics will be an eternal issue.
