Short answer
"26470O" is not a complete Audemars Piguet reference number. Audemars Piguet writes references as a longer string, for example 26470ST.OO.A027CA.01. The five digits 26470 name the Royal Oak Offshore chronograph with a 42 mm case. The two letters that follow name the case material: ST for stainless steel, OR for pink gold, IO for titanium. A seller who lists "26470O" as the whole model number is either selling a counterfeit or does not know the watch.
Specs of the real 26470
- Case: 42 mm across, about 14 mm thick.
- Movement: calibre 3126/3840, automatic, 21,600 vph (3 Hz), 59 jewels, 365 parts, power reserve near 50 hours.
- Chronograph: subdials at 12, 9 and 6 o'clock. Small seconds at 12, 30 minute counter at 9, 12 hour counter at 6.
- Date window at 3 o'clock.
- Dial: Mega Tapisserie grid pattern.
- Crystal: sapphire on the front and the back.
- Water resistance: 100 m.
Checks on the case and dial
- Bezel screws: eight hexagonal screws. The slots line up with the case sides. Fakes have screws that sit above the bezel or point in random directions.
- Dial grid: the Mega Tapisserie squares are cut deep and even. Copies show shallow squares and soft edges.
- Indexes: applied metal with polished bevels. Glue marks or flat paint under an index point to a copy.
- Date font: matches the AP typeface. Copies use a generic font and a date wheel that sits below the dial surface.
- Crown and pushers: ceramic on the steel 26470. Copies use painted steel or plastic. Pusher travel is short and firm on the real watch.
- Case back: sapphire window, engraved reference and serial. Laser etching that is hard to read, or a solid steel back on a 26470, points to a fake.
Movement check
The 3126/3840 shows hand finishing: beveled bridges, circular graining, and a gold rotor with the AP monogram and the family crest. Copies use a mass-produced chronograph movement. Common signs are a rotor with flat printing, decorative plates screwed over a base movement, wrong jewel counts, and a winding sound that is loud and rough. A watchmaker sees the difference in under a minute with the case back removed.
Weight and feel
Steel 26470 watches have a dense, solid feel in the hand. Copies often use a lighter alloy or a plated brass case. Weight alone proves nothing. Use it with the checks above.
Papers, serials and price
Boxes, manuals and warranty cards are easy to copy, so paperwork proves little. Genuine steel 26470 watches trade in the five figure range in US dollars on the secondary market. An offer far below that level, or a seller who cannot name the full reference, is a warning sign. Serial numbers can be checked with an Audemars Piguet boutique or an authorized dealer.
Law in the United States
Trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. 2320. U.S. Customs and Border Protection seizes counterfeit watches at ports of entry. Authorized service centers do not accept counterfeit watches for repair.
Steps before you buy
- Ask for the full reference string, for example 26470ST.OO.A027CA.01.
- Ask for photos of the case back, the movement, the clasp and the crown.
- Compare the photos with the current catalog on the Audemars Piguet site.
- Have an independent watchmaker open the case and check the movement.
- Confirm the serial number with an authorized dealer.
Unknown: the exact production totals for each 26470 variant. Audemars Piguet does not publish that figure.