A replica Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Chrono is a third-party copy of AP's openworked Royal Oak Concept chronograph, built with a forged-carbon-style or titanium-look case and a skeletonized dial, and sold for about $100 to $800 instead of six figures. It is a copy, not a genuine Audemars Piguet, so it carries no collector value and cannot be serviced by the brand. Rules on buying and importing one differ by country, and customs agencies in the US and the EU can seize counterfeit watches at the border.
What does the real Royal Oak Concept Chrono look like?
Audemars Piguet started the Royal Oak Concept line in 2002 as a design experiment that pushed the octagonal case into sharper, more technical shapes. The Concept Chronograph, launched in the mid-2010s, put an openworked dial inside a large case (roughly 44mm) with forged carbon or ceramic parts and skeletonized hands.
The features a replica has to reproduce:
- Octagonal bezel with eight exposed hexagonal screws
- Skeletonized dial with visible chronograph wheels and bridges
- Two or three subdials with thin openworked hands
- Angular lugs that continue the case line
- Large crown and chronograph pushers, some references with a rubber grip
Reference numbers, dial colors, and materials change between models, so compare any replica against photos of the exact reference it claims to copy.
What separates a good replica from a bad one?
Case and bezel
Check screw alignment first. On the genuine watch the eight bezel screws sit flush and line up with the case edges. Cheap copies use glued-on screw heads or sit visibly crooked. Weight matters too: forged carbon feels light, steel should feel dense, and a titanium-look case that feels like plastic is a giveaway.
Dial and hands
Look at the openworked layers. High-end replicas cut real bridges and add perlage or Cotes de Geneve-style finishing. Budget ones print the pattern on a flat plate. Subdial rings should be crisp, the chapter marks even, and each hand should reach the right track.
Movement
Most replicas run a Chinese automatic chronograph, often based on a Valjoux 7750 design, with a rotor and plates decorated to mimic AP's in-house calibers. That architecture is thick (7mm or more), which is why many replicas sit taller on the wrist than the real watch. Ask for the movement name and the case thickness before you pay.
Crystal, lume, and strap
- Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides, not flat mineral glass
- Lume that glows for hours, not a faint green flash that dies in minutes
- Rubber or leather strap with a working deployant clasp, not a stamped buckle
- Case back engraving that is deep and sharp, not laser-printed
How much do replica Royal Oak Concept Chronos cost?
- Budget tier ($90 to $180): mineral glass, printed dial detail, glued screw heads, quartz or a basic automatic movement.
- Mid tier ($200 to $400): sapphire crystal, a cut skeletonized dial plate, a decorated 7750-type automatic, usable lume.
- Top tier ($450 to $800): forged carbon or ceramic case parts, cloned bridges, better AR coating, a properly sealed case back.
Above that range you are paying for a seller's branding, not for better parts. No replica is worth four figures.
What should you ask before you buy?
- Which movement is inside, and is it automatic or quartz?
- What is the case diameter and thickness in millimeters?
- What is the case material: forged carbon look, ceramic, steel, or a titanium-look coating?
- Is the crystal sapphire or mineral, with AR coating on one side or both?
- Does the chronograph function, or are the subdials decorative?
- Can the seller send photos of the actual watch instead of stock images?
Is it legal to buy a replica watch?
It depends on where you live. Selling counterfeits is illegal in the US, the EU, the UK, and most of Asia, and US Customs and Border Protection can seize and destroy imported counterfeit watches. Personal use is treated less harshly in some countries, but the import itself still carries risk. Check your local rules before you order.
Other trade-offs to accept up front:
- No brand service, no warranty, and no parts from Audemars Piguet
- Resale value near zero
- Water resistance claims that no one has tested
- You cannot resell it as genuine without committing fraud
Frequently asked questions
Does a replica Royal Oak Concept Chrono keep time?
Yes, if the movement is a working automatic. A Chinese 7750-type caliber tends to run within about 10 to 30 seconds a day. That is looser than a chronometer rating but fine for daily wear.
Can I swim with it?
Do not. Case gaskets on replicas go untested, and water enters through the chronograph pushers. Keep it away from pools, showers, and salt water.
Will a jeweler service a replica?
Most will not touch a counterfeit because of trademark liability. Some independent watchmakers will clean and oil a 7750-type movement if you ask. That is the practical route.
How can you spot a replica Royal Oak Concept Chrono?
Check case thickness, screw alignment, and the finish under the dial. Replicas run thick, use glued or crooked screws, and show printed rather than cut bridges. A loupe on the openworked layers settles the question in seconds.
Bottom line
Spend at the tier you can afford and inspect the parts that matter: movement, crystal, screw alignment, and case thickness. Treat any replica as a costume piece rather than an investment, and know your country's import rules before you order.