Summary of Key Points about the Modified Audemars Piguet Royal Oak (Model 26239OR – Frosted Gold / Florentine Hammering)
Based on the video transcript, here are the essential features of this top‑tier modified AP 26239OR.
1. Model & Material Options
- Model: Audemars Piguet 26239OR Royal Oak – frosted gold (Florentine hammering) with blue dial.
- Budget option: Steel case + gold plating.
- Premium option (strongly recommended if budget allows): Real precious metal – AU750 18K rose gold for case and strap.
- Real gold gives consistent material, color, weight, and texture – impossible to achieve with steel and electroplating.
2. Weight
- Total weight: 265.8 grams – over half a jin (~0.58 lbs), very heavy and substantial.
- Steel + plated version would weigh only about 180 grams (difference of tens of grams). Only real precious metal achieves correct weight.
3. Frosted Gold / Florentine Hammering Process
- Under different light, the watch sparkles – very, very shiny.
- Exclusive AP process, hand‑hammered by master craftsmen – not machine‑made.
4. Dial, Hands & Date Wheel (High‑Quality Aftermarket)
- Developed with original data – aftermarket parts.
- Dial: Correct color, correct distance between tapisserie patterns, full sunburst radial effect.
- Hands: Central axis effect exactly the same as original.
- Date wheel: Thick‑fill aftermarket calendar – fills entire date window.
5. Movement – Clone 4401 with Flyback Chronograph
- Modified and upgraded based on original 4401 movement – an integrated 4401 clone.
- Plated with real 18K precious metal – appearance over 95% similar to original movement.
- Functions:
- Normal chronograph: top pusher start, top again pause, bottom pusher reset.
- Flyback function: After starting timing, press bottom pusher directly to reset and immediately restart without stopping first – can repeat timing.
6. Restoration Goal
- To wear without being easily recognized, the watch must restore: material, weight, color, texture, external accessories, movement structure, and functions.
7. Key Quality Checklist for AP 26239OR Frosted Gold
| Component | What to Look For |
|---|---|
| Case/strap | Real 18K rose gold (premium) or steel+plating (budget) |
| Weight | ~265.8g (real gold) – steel version ~180g |
| Hammered finish | Hand‑hammered, sparkles under light |
| Dial | Correct blue, tapisserie spacing, sunburst |
| Hands | Correct central axis |
| Date | Thick, fills window |
| Movement | Clone 4401 with working flyback chronograph (reset & restart instantly) |
| Plating on movement | Real 18K gold – 95%+ similarity to original |
Concluding Comment
This video focuses on the Audemars Piguet 26239OR frosted‑gold Royal Oak – a blue‑dial, hammered‑finish gold watch. Bozwatch presents two paths: a steel + plating budget option and a premium real 18K rose gold version. He strongly recommends real gold for correct weight (265.8g vs. ~180g for steel), material consistency, and no fading. The hand‑hammered Florentine finish is correctly replicated to sparkle under light. The dial, hands, and date are high‑quality aftermarket parts developed from original data. The movement is a clone 4401 with a working flyback chronograph – not only start/stop/reset but also the ability to reset and restart instantly without stopping (flyback). The movement is plated with real 18K gold, achieving over 95% visual similarity to the original.
Strengths:
- Real 18K gold option gives correct weight and feel.
- Hand‑hammered frosted finish – exclusive AP technique correctly replicated.
- Functional flyback chronograph – a sophisticated complication.
- High‑quality dial, hands, date – correct tapisserie, sunburst, central axis.
- Movement plating with real gold – improves authenticity.
Weaknesses / Considerations:
- Very expensive for real gold version.
- Movement is a clone, not genuine AP 4401.
- Case, dial, hands, date are aftermarket – not AP‑stamped.
- Still an unauthorized replica.
Final verdict: For collectors who want a hammered‑gold AP Royal Oak with a working flyback chronograph and correct weight, the real 18K gold 26239OR is a top‑tier choice. The steel+plating version is a budget alternative but lacks the heft and long‑term durability of solid gold. As always, independent verification of gold purity (XRF) and movement functionality is recommended. Bozwatch’s emphasis on weight, hand‑hammered finish, and flyback function provides a solid buyer’s checklist. This is the “spend less, enjoy a genuine‑spec frosted gold AP” proposition.
Hello everyone, this is Bozwatch.
Every watch is a work of art, a testament to time, and I am a fan of them. I also hope that all watch enthusiasts can avoid pitfalls and find their own “Bole” (discerning patron).
Today I bring you an Audemars Piguet 26239OR – a frosted‑gold Royal Oak from AP. Let me share with you how we can play it well and enjoy it.
In fact, there are many versions on the market for you to choose from. If your budget is limited, you can play with a steel case, plated version. If you have enough budget, you can play with real 18K precious metal – AU750 18K rose gold – to customize its case and strap.
For a gold watch like this, why do we use precious metal to make it? Because using precious metal gives you consistent material, consistent color, consistent weight, and consistent texture – something that steel and electroplating cannot replace. If you have sufficient budget, I strongly recommend you play with a watch customized with real precious metal.
For example, this AP 26239OR is made of 18K rose gold – real gold. This Royal Oak – let’s weigh it together as usual. How much does the entire watch weigh? You can see that this watch weighs 265.8 grams – that’s over half a jin (about 0.58 lbs). It’s very heavy and feels very substantial. If you made it with steel and electroplated materials, the total weight would be about 180 grams – a difference of several tens of grams. Only by using real precious metal can you achieve such weight.
The frosted‑gold process of AP is also known as the Florentine hammering process. You can see that under different light, it sparkles – very, very shiny. This is an exclusive AP process. Our frosted‑gold process is all hand‑hammered by master craftsmen, achieving that brilliant effect. Very good.
For this watch, the surface accessories and the movement on the back are all made after development using original data. The dial, hands, and date wheel are developed and made with original data – these are aftermarket parts. They achieve the same color as the original, the same distance between the tapisserie patterns, and the same sunburst radial effect. From the side, the central axis effect is exactly the same as the original. See? The date wheel is also an aftermarket calendar – a thick‑fill date that fills the entire date window.
This watch has an important function – the flyback chronograph (non‑reverse timing). Its movement is a 4401 movement. Our 4401 movement is modified and upgraded based on the original 4401 movement – an integrated 4401 movement. It is then plated with real 18K precious metal. This plating makes its appearance over 95% similar to the original movement, achieving the same functions.
What functions? After pressing the top pusher, it starts timing. See? Press again to pause. Press the bottom pusher to reset. That’s a normal chronograph. But it has an extraordinary flyback function: after you start timing, you can press the bottom pusher directly to reset and immediately restart without stopping first – that’s the flyback function. Press again, and it resets and restarts again. It can repeat timing.
For a watch like this, if we want to play with it, we must restore it in every aspect – achieving the same material, weight, color, texture, the color of external accessories, the movement structure and style, and functional consistency. Then you can wear this watch without being easily recognized, and you won’t feel embarrassed.
This is an AP 26239OR with a blue dial and a frosted‑gold case – upgraded using original CNC data. A modified watch sharing.
If you like this watch, you can contact Bozwatch. If you like Bozwatch’s videos, please double‑tap to like and follow. See you next time.
