VS Factory Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15500 vs APS Factory: Which is better?

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15500 model is produced by VS Factory with a high-tech ceramic case, standard case diameter and high-precision automatic Super Clone movement architecture. It is among the most successful 1:1 super clone watch reviews on the market, with its sapphire crystal AR coating glass, original case tolerances and detailed workmanship.

Currently this 15500 from VS only comes in two color options: blue and gray. White and black are not out yet. For now I only have the gray one; Because the first batch was very popular and it was quite difficult to order, I was able to bring a gray one. Before VS came out, it was always APS that made the 15500 the best. Now VS has started to do it too; Let's see how he does it. Because VS's quality control and workmanship in every aspect is really quite good. Now, when he made AP, I think he was really successful.

Dial and Hand Details

Based on the color difference, let's first take a look at the dial. The biscuit (tapisserie) texture on the dial is made with a really nice feeling of shine. Even in the sections on the side, in those square corners, they processed this texture and were able to create that sense of shine. The dial of the APS is not badly made either.

When I compare these two factories, VS and APS, I think they are quite close to each other. But if you look very closely and enlarge it, VS's is visibly better than APS's; That's such a small difference. When we look at it enlarged, those textures on the side are processed a little better in VS than in APS. As for the hour and minute hands, VS's hour and minute hands are not bad either, they are very well made.

As for the central hub, this is also machined; It's not rough at all, quite soft and smooth. The lume fill in this center hub also has that granular texture, done right. As for the hour markers, the fine lines on them are processed and the lume filling still has that granular texture.

There are many factories currently making the 15500; Other factories make this part thick, they do not process it so thinly. VS has made this part thinner, in a more accurate way, just like APS. As for the date window, it has done the date better than APS; because the date color is a little more yellow, in a white-yellow tone. In APS, the texture is a little more white, giving a white-gray feeling.

Movement and Caliber Performance

As for the mechanism, it is not the same as that of APS. Both of them are 4302, but VS's movement is Dandong-made, while APS's is Shanghai-made. So what's the difference between them? In fact, they are almost identical in workmanship and other aspects. But Dandong's uses ceramic balls in the balls here; So when we shake it, its sound is a little quieter, it's not as loud, and the rotor's rotation is also smoother. That Shanghai mechanism of APS is steel, that is, it uses steel balls; so when we shake it, its sound is a little louder, not as smooth as Dandong's. Other points are almost the same.

As for the Shanghai mechanism, that of the APS, it has now been upgraded to a cardless (regulatorless) weight adjustment screw system. When you pull out the crown, the APS is now raised; That Shanghai-produced 4302 has weight adjustment screws, the adjustment is made with these screws, and now it is a one-piece mechanism without a card. VS's Dandong production does not yet have these weight adjustment screws, but it will probably increase this in the future. After upgrading, the price will definitely increase a little more. Because APS became more expensive after upgrading; They took out a card and made it without a card. In VS, the card is hidden at the bottom, and it is not the weight adjustment screw type; Normally it looks like it doesn't have a card, but it actually has a card. Because the one without a card has weight adjustment screws, so the margin of error can be adjusted from the balance wheel section.

Strap, Buckle and Comfort

As for the font, they are also engraved; The font is engraved, not a print, and quite deeply engraved, again very well done overall. If you like the one without a card and with a weight adjustment screw and if your budget allows it, you can choose APS. Because APS's has now been upgraded to cardless, while Dandong's is not cardless yet. If you want the one with a card rather than without one, I still think... (when you look at the dial details by enlarging it, you see that it is actually better made than APS). Additionally, the steel bracelet is more upright and fits better on your wrist. Both mechanisms are quite stable; Because it has been many years since these mechanisms have been released, they provide very good after-sales service in every aspect. The stability of the mechanism is also very good.

VS's is a little more yellowish and closer to the rounder one. The outer bezel is also brushed; The brushing texture is also very fine and elegant, extremely finely processed. The side is polished. The case body is actually almost identical to that of the APS, there's not much to say. But the steel bracelet is better than that of APS; In other words, it hangs down more, so it fits your wrist much better and adapts to your wrist better when you wear it. The APS's does not sag that much, it stays more or less like this, it looks a little protruding. VS's hangs lower; its steel bracelet is better than that of APS. As for the brushing texture, a brushing effect has also been applied on the inside. The interior is not rough at all. This strap section inside is a bit prone to feather compression; Because the spaces here are quite narrow, if you have a lot of hair on your wrist, it may pinch your hair.

I hope my articles will be useful to you. I will share more detailed disassembly, real shot review and real-replica comparison in the future.