A replica Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Chrono is a counterfeit copy of AP's openworked concept chronograph, usually priced from $150 to $1,500 depending on movement and case finishing. None are made, licensed, or serviced by Audemars Piguet, and importing one into the United States is illegal under federal trademark law. Treat every listing as a counterfeit, not a discount.
What is the genuine Royal Oak Concept Chrono?
Audemars Piguet launched the Royal Oak Concept line in 2002 as a test bed for new materials and movements. Chronograph models include the 2015 Royal Oak Concept Laptimer Michael Schumacher and the later Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT.
These watches use titanium, forged carbon, and black ceramic, with cases around 44 mm. The Laptimer runs two independent chronograph mechanisms plus a lap timer, the feature most often claimed by replicas and least often copied.
How do replica versions differ from the real watch?
Every replica Concept Chrono relies on a generic quartz or basic automatic movement, never an AP calibre. That changes the pusher layout, subdial behavior, and date logic.
Do replica Concept Chronos use a real automatic movement?
Some use a generic automatic, but it is not an Audemars Piguet calibre, and none reproduce the Laptimer's dual chronograph architecture. Expect standard 7750-style automatic or quartz movements.
- Case finishing: Softer bevels, uneven brushing, and misaligned bezel screws are common.
- Dial: Openworking is often a stamped plate instead of skeletonized bridges.
- Weight: Steel replicas run heavy, plated alloy runs light, and neither matches titanium on the wrist.
- Crystal and lume: Weak anti-reflective coating and short-lived lume.
What do replica Royal Oak Concept Chronos cost?
Pricing reflects the movement and finishing, not the brand on the dial.
- Budget, $150 to $350: quartz movement, alloy case, printed dial.
- Mid-tier, $350 to $800: automatic movement, steel case, better bracelet.
- High-end super clone, $800 to $1,500 and up: decorated automatic, closer case geometry, sapphire crystal.
A higher price does not make a counterfeit legal or serviceable. Independent watchmakers generally decline to repair counterfeit movements.
Is buying a replica Audemars Piguet legal in the US?
No. Federal law bars importing and trafficking counterfeit trademarked goods, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection can seize and destroy shipments.
Buyers risk losing both the watch and the money, while sellers face civil and criminal penalties. Resale value is effectively zero and there is no warranty or parts support.
How can you tell a Concept Chrono replica from a genuine watch?
Focus on details that are expensive to fake: movement behavior, case finishing, and documentation.
- Compare chronograph function against AP's published logic, not just the appearance.
- Inspect bezel screw slots and polished bevels under magnification.
- Weigh the watch and compare it with published specs, noting strap versus bracelet.
- Verify serial and reference against AP records, which replicas cannot match.
What are better alternatives?
If the appeal is the openworked industrial look, mainstream brands sell legitimate skeleton chronographs at similar prices. Pre-owned authorized watches hold value and can be serviced.
A counterfeit saves money upfront and costs more later through repairs, seizures, and lost resale.