Replica Audemars Piguet ceramic watches are copies of Royal Oak and Royal Oak Offshore models that use a ceramic bezel, a ceramic case, or both. The ceramic on a replica is zirconium oxide, the same base compound Audemars Piguet uses on its own ceramic pieces. The gap is in grade, finish, and quality control, not in the name of the material.
Which AP models get copied in ceramic
- Royal Oak Offshore Diver, ceramic bezel, rubber strap, 42mm.
- Royal Oak Offshore chronograph, 42mm and 44mm, ceramic bezel and ceramic pushers.
- Royal Oak 34mm, 37mm, and 41mm, ceramic bezel on two-tone and full ceramic versions.
- Royal Oak Concept, full black ceramic, copied in small numbers.
Ceramic grades in the replica market
Three builds show up. The first is a steel case with a ceramic bezel. The second adds a ceramic case middle. The third is a full ceramic case, bezel, and back with a titanium inner frame for the movement.
Zirconia has a density of about 6 grams per cubic centimeter. Stainless steel runs about 7.8. A full ceramic case therefore weighs about 20 to 25 percent less than a steel case of the same size. Zirconia also rates about 1,200 on the Vickers hardness scale. Stainless steel rates about 200. That hardness stops scratches. It does not stop chips.
Checks on a ceramic AP replica
- Bezel edges. Brushed zones and polished zones should meet on a straight line, with no wavy border.
- Screw slots. Hexagonal bezel screws on genuine watches do not all point the same way. Alignment is not proof of anything.
- Weight. A full ceramic case feels light in the hand. A heavy watch with a ceramic bezel is a steel case.
- Caseback. Check the model number, the depth rating, and the engraving depth.
- Movement. Most copies run a Chinese automatic or a Japanese automatic. Some run a clone of the AP 3120 or the AP 4302. A display back shows which one you have.
- Chip points. Look at the bezel rim and the lug tips. Chips there cannot be polished out.
Price ranges
Ceramic AP replicas sell from about $150 to about $800. Steel cases with a ceramic bezel sit at the low end. Full ceramic cases with a clone movement sit at the top. Listings above $1,000 exist but are not common. A claim of "same ceramic as AP" is a sales line, not a spec sheet.
Care and repair limits
Ceramic needs no polishing. Rinse with water and dry with a soft cloth. Keep the watch off tile, stone, and gym floors. A dropped ceramic replica tends to break at the bezel or the lug. Replacement parts come from the same replica supply chain, so match the model number before you order.
Legal status in the United States
Selling a counterfeit watch is trademark infringement under US law. US Customs and Border Protection can seize counterfeit shipments at the border. A personal-use purchase does not make the sale legal.