Short answer
A replica Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore is a watch built to look like the Royal Oak Offshore. Audemars Piguet does not make it, does not sell it, and does not service it. The Swiss maker holds the trademark and the design rights. Copies come from third parties through online sellers and social media accounts.
The watch being copied
Audemars Piguet released the Royal Oak Offshore in 1993. The first reference was the 25721ST, a 42mm steel chronograph on a rubber strap. Collectors call it The Beast. Later versions added 44mm cases, forged carbon, ceramic bezels, titanium, and gold. Current steel chronographs from the maker retail above $30,000. Secondhand prices run higher.
What 1:1 and first copy mean
These are seller terms, not industry standards. There is no certifying body and no agreed definition. Sellers use 1:1, AAA, and first copy to signal a copy with closer dimensions and finishing than a cheap quartz model. The words describe marketing tiers.
Parts found in copies
- Case: 316L or 904L stainless steel. Low-end models use plated brass.
- Movement: Chinese mechanical chronographs, often a Seagull or Shanghai base with an added chronograph module. Some builds use Miyota or cloned ETA movements.
- Crystal: mineral glass on cheap units, sapphire on higher tiers.
- Strap: rubber or leather with a folding clasp.
Price bands
Low-end copies sell for $50 to $150. Mid-tier mechanical copies run $200 to $400. Higher tiers run $500 to $900. Above that, prices overlap with used genuine watches from other brands.
Details that differ
- Case thickness. Copies run 1mm to 2mm thicker to fit the movement.
- Subdial spacing and date window position.
- Pusher shape and crown engraving.
- Bezel screw slots and alignment.
- Dial text weight.
No public database tracks which versions correct these points. A buyer cannot verify seller claims before purchase.
Legal status in the US
US law treats these items as counterfeit goods. Trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. 2320. Trademark owners can sue sellers under the Lanham Act. US Customs and Border Protection seizes counterfeit watches at ports of entry. The personal exemption for one item of foreign merchandise does not cover counterfeit goods.
Service and parts
Audemars Piguet will not authenticate, repair, or supply parts for a copy. Independent watchmakers may decline the work. Movement parts for Chinese chronograph modules can be hard to source. Resale value sits near zero.