These days, tons of watch factories are rolling out Audemars Piguet Royal Oak models left and right. VS Factory does the Audemars Piguet 15510, 3K Factory makes the 15202, OM Factory has the 26240, and now BLS Factory also launched their version of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 262401:1 Best Edition Swiss Replica Watches. This model is super hot on the market right now.
I’ve been working as a watch dealer for years, and I cooperate with top big factories including BLS Factory. I got my hands on the first batch of BLS Factory Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 26240 silver dial pieces right away. I spent a whole week taking them apart, comparing details side by side, and wearing them daily. Now I’ll share my real and honest buying tips with you guys.
BLS Factory Audemars Piguet 26240 available color options
BLS Factory didn’t just release one or two basic popular colors this time. They covered almost all mainstream colorways of the original 26240: silver/blue/green/black/rose gold/two-tone gold and steel. Every watch case is built with 316L stainless steel.
For the rose gold and full gold versions, they adopted premium electroplating craft. The base material is still 316L steel, only the surface finish is different. They add a micron-level rose gold plating layer on the 316L steel base for these styles. It perfectly restores the real rose gold color and luster, and also works well to stop oxidation and color fading.
Why use electroplating instead of real precious metal?
It’s pretty straightforward. The genuine Audemars Piguet rose gold version uses 18K red gold material. This raw material costs hundreds of thousands per kilogram. Just the material cost for one single watch would hit 30000 to 40000.
By using 316L steel plus electroplating craft, the cost is only a tiny fraction, but the color and visual effect look exactly the same as the original. That’s exactly why electroplating is the best practical choice here.
How is the blue dial on BLS Factory Audemars Piguet 26240?
I took the watch outside under direct sunlight to check the real performance of the blue dial. It shows a deep and steady blue tone. The color variations and reflective texture under light are worthy of the price of the BLS factory Audemars Piguet 26240 replica watch.
But if you ask me to compare it with APS Factory and pick the better one, I still lean toward APS Factory. APS Factory’s dial has richer layered light reflection and a more natural gradient effect. BLS Factory is still new to making Audemars Piguet lines, so they lack enough experience accumulation. APS Factory has been focusing on Audemars Piguet watches for many years, so their overall craftsmanship foundation is way more solid.
Chronograph durability of BLS Factory 26240
This model is fitted with Dandong Factory 4401 movement, no regulator design equipped. The whole chronograph structure is stable and reliable. This movement is only 6.8mm thin, way better in overall structure than the old 7750 movement.
Daily use experience is really smooth. Start/stop/reset all respond instantly with no delay at all. The no-regulator design brings a huge advantage: even if you keep the chronograph running nonstop for two hours, the time error only stays around +6 seconds per day. It won’t slow down over time like the traditional 7750 movement does.
Clasp engraving quality on BLS Factory 26240
It comes with the classic AP integrated folding clasp. The AP logo on the front is laser engraved with decent depth. It looks clear and sharp to the naked eye, no blurry edges at all.
But flip the clasp open, the inner engraving still has room to improve. For instance, check the letters M and R in AUDEMARS PIGUET, you can spot tiny burrs at the letter joints under bright light. I believe BLS Factory will fix this small flaw in their later production batches.
Case thickness comparison with the original
The genuine Audemars Piguet 26240 case thickness is 12.4mm. BLS Factory uses the thin Dandong Factory 4401 movement (6.8mm thick) and keeps the case structure 1:1 replica of the original.I measured it with a caliper myself, the actual thickness is 12.4mm. Same thickness as the genuine product.
The thin Dandong Factory 4401 movement is the key reason BLS Factory can pull off this slim case design. In contrast, most other factories still use the 7750 movement which is 7.9mm thick, so their finished watches are hardly under 13mm. BLS Factory hits about 98% similarity on case thickness. When compared with APS Factory, BLS Factory takes the lead in this aspect.
Which factory makes the best Audemars Piguet 26240?
In the past, people only recommended APS Factory or ZF Factory when talking about top-tier Audemars Piguet pieces. But now more and more factories are stepping up and putting big effort into Audemars Piguet models.
So which one should you choose? It all depends on your priority demands.
If you value slim case thickness and movement stability most, go for BLS Factory. Its 12.4mm thickness and highly restored movement structure are unmatched by APS Factory right now.
If you care more about dial fine details and just want a solid basic movement, APS Factory is your better option. APS Factory has longer experience making Audemars Piguet watches. Its dial pattern texture/date window metal border/bezel edge polishing are all more refined than BLS Factory. BLS Factory’s blue dial is nice but not top-tier, and its bracelet smooth finish also can’t beat APS Factory.
When it comes to cost performance, BLS Factory is usually tens of dollars cheaper than APS Factory. Combine that with its obvious movement and thickness advantages, BLS Factory Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 26240 is definitely the more cost-effective choice overall.