No Audemars Piguet Royal Oak carries the reference number 16402. If you saw that number in a listing, the seller means one of the 41mm Royal Oaks or the Jumbo: 15400, 15500, 15202, or 16202. Replicas of those watches sell from about $70 to $600, and the price gap shows in the bezel screws, the bracelet taper, the dial texture, and the movement.
This guide covers which reference you want, how the quality tiers differ, and what to ask a seller before you pay.
Is there a Royal Oak 16402?
No. Audemars Piguet has used five-digit Royal Oak references since the original 5402 in 1972, and 16402 is not part of that run. The numbers closest to it are 15400 and 16202, which points to a mistyped or invented reference.
Some replica sellers invent reference numbers to dodge brand takedowns. Others copy a number from the wrong model by mistake. Either way, ignore the number and ask for the case size and dial color in writing.
Which Royal Oak reference do you mean?
Four references cover most of the replica market.
- 15400: 41mm, date at 3 o'clock, the most copied Royal Oak on the market.
- 15500: the 41mm that replaced the 15400 in 2019, wider hour markers, larger date window.
- 15202: the Jumbo, 39mm, extra-thin, no running seconds hand.
- 16202: the 50th anniversary Jumbo from 2022, thin case, updated movement.
Case size matters more than anything else. A 41mm Royal Oak and a 39mm Jumbo wear nothing alike, and a seller who cannot state the size is guessing.
Dial color matters too. Blue and silver sell in volume, so reps of those dials get more factory attention than rare colors like salmon or green. If you want a color AP made in small numbers, expect fewer good replicas.
What separates a first copy Royal Oak from a cheap replica?
Four parts decide how a replica looks and feels on the wrist.
Bezel and case
The Royal Oak bezel holds eight hexagonal screws that sit flush with the metal and angle the same way. Budget reps use flat screws with slots that stand above the bezel. On a good first copy the screw heads sit level, and the brushed top surface meets the polished bevel with a crisp line.
Bracelet and taper
A real Royal Oak bracelet narrows through the links toward the clasp, and each link edge is chamfered so light runs along the side. Cheap reps keep the bracelet one width to the clasp and leave the edges square. Run a thumb down the outside: a good copy feels smooth, a bad one catches.
Dial texture
Royal Oak dials use a raised grid pattern called tapisserie. Stamped copies show shallow squares with soft corners under a loupe. Better replicas cut the grid deeper, align the date window, and match the font weight on the signature.
Movement
Most first copy Royal Oaks run a Japanese automatic such as the Miyota 9015, or a Chinese clone of the AP caliber with a decorated rotor. The movement sets the case thickness. A slim profile on a 41mm rep is the clearest sign that money went into the inside.
What are the quality tiers?
- Budget, about $60 to $120: plated steel, hollow bracelet, rough automatic, screws that sit proud of the bezel.
- Mid tier, about $150 to $280: solid 316L steel and a working automatic, but a thick case, wrong fonts, and a bracelet with no taper.
- First copy, about $300 to $600: closer case profile, tapered bracelet, deeper dial texture, sapphire crystal, and a movement built for the case.
Prices move with the market and the seller, so treat these as ranges rather than fixed rates.
What should you expect from a first copy Royal Oak?
At the first copy level you get a watch that passes at arm's length and feels solid on the wrist. No replica matches a genuine AP bracelet, so the links flex more and the clasp does not close with the same snap. A Miyota-based movement will keep time within a few seconds a day, and it will need service at some point.
How do you check a replica Royal Oak before buying?
Ask for photos that answer five questions. A seller with a real watch in hand will send them.
- Case size and reference, written out.
- A straight-on caseback shot showing the engraving and screws.
- A side profile so you can judge thickness.
- A clasp photo that shows the bracelet taper.
- A close shot of the date window and the logo.
Confirm the movement base and the return window as well. Sellers who take payment in a way you cannot reverse carry more risk than any flaw in the watch.
Questions buyers ask about replica Royal Oak watches
Is a replica Royal Oak waterproof?
No. Replica gaskets fail, and most reps are splash-proof at best. Keep the watch away from pools, showers, and salt water even if the listing claims 50 meters.
Can a jeweler tell it is a replica?
A watchmaker who handles Royal Oaks will spot case thickness, bracelet flex, and movement finish in under a minute. From a few feet away, most people see a steel sports watch with a blue or silver dial.
Does the 16402 number change what you get?
No. The reference in the listing does not control the build. The same factory output ships under several names, so judge the photos and the stated specs, not the number in the title.
The short version
Royal Oak 16402 does not exist. Pick the real reference you want, 15400, 15500, 15202, or 16202, and judge the replica on bezel screws, bracelet taper, dial texture, and movement. That list tells you more about quality than any reference number a seller prints.