APS vs ZF was the classic Royal Oak question, but in 2026 APS is out of production: members reported in May 2026 that APSF was raided and closed, and the maintainer of the r/RepTime "Who Makes the Best" guide removed it as a closed factory on May 30, 2026. For the 15500, the May 2026 guide ranks the free-sprung ZF first, and VSF first for the standard clone version. For the 15510, it names Top for the blue dial and VSF for the other dials. For the 15202 Jumbo, ZF is still the documented option, with two clear limits: a Miyota-based movement and a wide hand base.
The genuine watches first
These are the genuine watches. Use them, not seller figures, as the baseline:
| Reference | Size | Movement | Dial |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15500ST | 41 mm | Calibre 4302, 70 hours | Grande Tapisserie |
| 15510ST | 41 mm | Calibre 4302, 70 hours | Grande Tapisserie |
| 16202ST, the current 39 mm "Jumbo" | 39 mm, 8.1 mm thick | Calibre 7121, 52 hours | Petite Tapisserie |
APS vs ZF Royal Oak: movements by reference
| Reference | APS (closed in May 2026) | ZF | Others to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15500 | 4302 clone (V2 in 2022); a free-sprung APS version was in the February 2026 guide, before APSF was removed as closed | 4302 clone; the free-sprung version is first in the May 2026 guide and was in buyer QC in September 2026 | VSF is first for the standard clone version (May 2026 guide) |
| 15510 | 4302-type clone; the exact version is not confirmed | Sold as "4302"; the exact movement is not verified | VSF with DD4302 V2 (April 2026); TOPF with DD4302 (June 2026) |
| 15202 | No owner teardown found | Miyota-based movement sold as a "2121 clone" | No better current option documented |
A "4302" or "2121" label on a listing is a sales name. Ask for a movement photo of the watch you buy.
APS vs ZF Royal Oak: what owners report
15500 dial. An August 2022 thread preferred the ZF dial, because the APS dial lacked the sunburst of the genuine watch. That is old evidence. The February 2026 community guide rated the free-sprung APS 15500 a step below the top tier because of its dial; three months later, APSF was gone from the guide.
15500 bracelet. In January 2026 a long-time forum reviewer wrote that ZF bracelets beat APS, which had very uneven link thickness and areas of shiny edges, and that VSF looked just as good as ZF if not better.
15500 thickness and date. A ZF free-sprung owner measured about 10.5 mm in September 2026; an August 2026 reviewer gave about 10.4 mm for the genuine watch. Nobody posted a current APS measurement, so "APS is thinner" is not proven. A September 2026 ZF QC showed a centered date and aligned hands.
15510 bracelet. The 15510 has a thinner bracelet than the 15500. A commenter reported in October 2025 that APS kept the thicker 15500 bracelet on its 15510. In an August 2025 caliper comparison, TOPF links near the clasp were almost 1 mm thinner than a ZF 15500 bracelet, but the end links were not thinner. The same reviewer rated the ZF brushing better.
15510 dial color. In June 2026 one owner preferred the TOPF blue and found the VSF blue too dark and grey. Choose by the dial color you want and its QC photos.
15202 Jumbo. An April 2023 ZF owner review reported a case about 0.3 mm thicker than genuine, a convincing Petite Tapisserie, a good bracelet, a gradual date change near midnight and a hand base that is too wide (the "pizza hands"). In January 2026 another forum reviewer called the ZF 15202 a good base for modification, but criticized the stock dial and the hand pinion.
How to choose between APS, ZF and the others
- 15500: the free-sprung ZF, or VSF for the standard clone version. If a dealer offers APS, it is old stock: ask which version (the older V2 or the free-sprung version) and for movement photos.
- 15510: TOPF for the correct thinner bracelet and its blue dial; VSF for the DD4302 V2 and green or blue dials. Avoid an APS 15510 with the 15500 bracelet.
- 15202 Jumbo: ZF, and accept the Miyota-based movement and the wide hand base, or plan a hand swap.
- Any reference: compare the Tapisserie squares, the date window and the hand tips in your QC photos.
Comparing other factory pairs? See ZF vs 3K Factory and 3KF vs PPF on the Nautilus.
Sources
- Who Makes the Best guide, spreadsheet updated May 29, 2026 and the May 30, 2026 update post (r/RepTime)
- APSF: raided or not? May 30, 2026 and Who makes the best: post-APSF? October 1, 2026 (r/RepTime)
- Updates to the "Who Makes the Best" guide of Feb 20, 2026, posted February 21, 2026 (r/RepTime)
- Top Factory AP 15510 vs ZF AP 15500: a comprehensive review, August 22, 2025 (r/RepWatchForum)
- Official Audemars Piguet pages, read October 14, 2026: Royal Oak 15500ST, Royal Oak 15510ST and Royal Oak 16202ST
- AP 15500: APS V2 vs ZF V3, August 2022 (r/RepTime)
- AP 15500 comparison: ZF vs VSF, January 2026 (r/RepWatchForum)
- Which factory is best for the AP 15510, November 2025 (r/RepTime)
- Royal Oak factories, October 2025 (r/RepTime)
- VSF new release: AP 15510, April 2026 (r/RepTime)
- Best option for 15510ST models, June 2026 (r/RepTime)
- ZF 15500 black dial review, September 2026 (r/RepTime)
- ZF 15500 blue dial QC, September 2026 (r/RepTimeQC)
- Full review: ZF AP 15202ST, April 2023 (r/RepTime)
Next steps
- ZF factory profile
- Audemars Piguet buyer's guide
- How to spot quality in QC photos
- Trusted Dealers list
Gold, platinum and custom versions
Guide
Gold Rolex replica: plated, wrapped, weighted or solid 18k gold
Gold plating in microns, tungsten-weighted builds and solid 18k parts, with weights and reported prices.
Guide
Custom replica watches: gold, diamonds, weight and genuine parts
What you can change, diamonds or moissanite, the order steps and the prices owners report.