Summary of Key Points about the Modified Audemars Piguet Royal Oak (Model 26239BC – White Gold Frosted / Hammered)
Based on the latest video transcript (focusing on the AP 26239BC white gold frosted watch), here are the essential features of this top‑tier modified watch.
1. Model & Frosted Process
- Model: Audemars Piguet 26239BC Royal Oak – white gold, frosted (hammered) finish
- The frosted gold process (Florentine hammering) is a very representative AP technique – the particles on the case and the grain on the strap shine under light, all hand‑hammered (not machine‑made)
2. Secondary Market Price (Genuine)
- ~1 million yuan – very expensive
3. Material & Weight
- Case and strap made of real precious metal – AU750 18K white gold
- Total weight: 254.6 grams – over half a jin (~0.56 lbs) – matches genuine
- The watch looks like steel but is actually white gold; weight is the key differentiator
4. Dial – Original Genuine
- Original grey dial – under light, its luster and texture are very strong
- Can be sent to a domestic authoritative testing agency for inspection
5. Movement – Original Genuine Calibre 4401
- The AP watch has a sapphire (exhibition) caseback – movement is visible
- Uses an original genuine 4401 movement – craftsmanship is excellent
- Can also be authenticated by testing agencies
6. Chronograph & Flyback Functions
- 6 o’clock – running seconds hand
- 9 o’clock – chronograph minute counter
- 3 o’clock – chronograph hour counter
- Large central hand – chronograph seconds hand
- When seconds hand completes one rotation → minute counter jumps one; after two minute jumps → hour counter jumps one
- Flyback function: Press top pusher to start; press bottom pusher directly to reset and restart immediately – exactly like the genuine 4401 movement
7. Case Craftsmanship – Original Data
- Developed and made with original data
- Bezel: Octagonal polishing – correct
- Chamfering and bevel grinding: Well executed
- Side middle case brushing: Matches genuine
- Case engravings: Full spelling of “Royal Oak”, AU750, dog head, scale – all engraved very clearly – these are details a good gold case needs
8. Buckle & Hallmarks
- Large AP engraving on the buckle – very clear
- Inside the buckle: AU750, dog head, scale – all very clear
9. Overall Quality Statement
- Achieves consistent material, weight, dial color/texture, movement functions, and exact thickness
- As long as you wear it, there are almost no obvious flaws
- Modification cost is not cheap, but compared to the genuine ~1 million yuan price, it helps you spend less to achieve more
10. Key Quality Checklist for AP 26239BC White Gold Frosted
| Component | What to Look For |
|---|---|
| Case/strap material | Real 18K white gold (AU750) |
| Weight | ~254.6g |
| Frosted/hammered finish | Hand‑hammered, sparkles under light |
| Dial | Original grey – strong luster/texture |
| Movement | Original genuine 4401 – visible through caseback |
| Flyback chronograph | Start, reset & restart instantly – works |
| Case finishing | Octagonal polishing, chamfering, side brushing |
| Case engravings | “Royal Oak”, AU750, dog head, scale – clear |
| Buckle | Large AP logo clear |
| Inner buckle hallmarks | AU750, dog head, scale – clear |
Concluding Comment
This video focuses on the Audemars Piguet 26239BC white gold frosted (hammered) Royal Oak – a watch that looks like steel but is actually made of 18K white gold. The genuine secondary market price is around 1 million yuan. The modified version uses real 18K white gold for the case and strap, achieving the correct weight of 254.6 grams (the key tell against steel copies). The frosted finish is hand‑hammered (not machine‑made), matching the original AP Florentine technique. The dial is an original genuine grey dial, and the movement is an original genuine Calibre 4401 – visible through the sapphire caseback. The 4401 movement delivers a working flyback chronograph (start, reset & restart instantly). The case finishing (octagonal polishing, chamfering, side brushing) and engravings (“Royal Oak”, AU750, dog head, scale) are executed to a high standard, as are the buckle and inner hallmarks.
Strengths:
- Real 18K white gold – correct weight (254.6g), material, and color.
- Hand‑hammered frosted finish – authentic AP technique, sparkles under light.
- Original genuine dial and 4401 movement – the movement is visible through the exhibition caseback, eliminating that tell; flyback function works correctly.
- High‑quality case finishing – octagonal polishing, chamfering, side brushing.
- Clear engravings and hallmarks – “Royal Oak”, AU750, dog head, scale on case and buckle.
- Value proposition – expensive but far less than the genuine 1 million yuan price.
Final verdict: The modified AP 26239BC white gold frosted Royal Oak with original movement and dial is the ultimate “franken” AP build – a genuine movement inside a high‑quality aftermarket 18K white gold case with hand‑hammered frosted finish. The weight, finish, movement visibility, and flyback function make it virtually indistinguishable from the genuine in normal wear. For the collector with a substantial budget who understands the trade‑offs, this watch delivers the true frosted gold AP experience at a fraction of the million‑yuan price. As always, independent verification of the movement (genuine 4401) and gold purity (XRF) is recommended. Bozwatch’s emphasis on weight, hand‑hammering, original movement, and flyback function provides a solid checklist. This is the pinnacle of AP frosted gold modification.
Hello everyone, this is Bozwatch.
Every watch is a work of art, a testament to time. I am a fanatic believer in them. I also hope that watch enthusiasts can avoid pitfalls and find their own mentor.
Following a fan’s request to learn about Audemars Piguet’s frosted (hammered) process and how to play with it, today I paid out of my own pocket to buy such an AP 26239BC white gold frosted watch to share with you. Let me explain how a modified AP Royal Oak frosted‑gold watch is played with.
First, before we play with this watch, we must know that its secondary market price is worth about one million yuan. At first glance, this AP watch looks like steel, but it’s not. The original material is AU750 18K white gold. So the first problem we need to solve is material and weight.
As usual, let’s weigh it first. How much does the entire watch weigh? You can see on the scale – 254.6 grams. That’s over half a jin (about 0.56 lbs). Why can it reach such weight? Because this watch uses real precious metal – AU750 18K white gold – for its case and strap.
This watch features the frosted gold process (Florentine hammering), a very representative AP technique. That means the particles on the case and the grain on the strap shine under light – all hand‑hammered. This grainy texture is not machine‑made. Only by pure handmade production and hand hammering can it compare to the genuine.
The accessories on this watch are also exquisite. As I’ve said before, the purpose of these modified watches is to get as close to the original as possible through modification and customization. For this watch, the dial and the movement are made with an original genuine movement.
The AP watch has a sapphire caseback – you can see the movement inside. If you have enough budget and pursue perfection, you can use this original movement to upgrade. The movement model is Calibre 4401. Let’s take a look – this is the original movement. Its craftsmanship is excellent.
The dial is an original grey dial. Under light, its luster and texture are very strong. Both the dial and the movement can be sent to a domestic authoritative testing agency for inspection. This means the watch has been modified and upgraded with original accessories and an original movement, combined with an 18K white gold case – the effect is very, very good.
This watch is a chronograph. At 6 o’clock is the running seconds hand. At 9 o’clock is the chronograph minute counter. At 3 o’clock is the chronograph hour counter. The large central hand is the chronograph seconds hand. When the seconds hand completes one rotation, the minute counter jumps one. When the minute counter completes two rotations, the hour counter jumps one.
Its chronograph function also features flyback timing. Press the top pusher to start timing. Press the bottom pusher directly to reset and restart – that’s the flyback function of the original 4401 movement. Everyone must understand this clearly.
What I love most about this product is that it achieves consistent material, weight, the color and texture of surface accessories, the movement’s functions, and the exact same thickness. As long as you wear this product, there are almost no obvious flaws.
According to the merchant, this case is developed and made with original data. Whether it’s the bezel’s octagonal polishing, the chamfering and bevel grinding, or the side middle case’s brushing – everything matches. Including the precious metal engravings on the case – the full spelling of “Royal Oak”, AU750, dog head, and scale – all are engraved very clearly. See? These are the details a good gold case process requires.
The watch’s buckle is also very important – a large AP engraving, with precious metal hallmarks inside. Let’s look at the AP engraving – AU750, dog head, scale – all very clear.
This is an AP frosted‑gold watch – the 26239BC. A simple watch explanation. This watch is modified with an 18K white gold case, an original movement, and upgraded original accessories. This watch is not cheap to modify, but compared to the original price of nearly one million yuan, it helps you spend less to achieve more.
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