The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 67651 is a 33 mm quartz Royal Oak, and any watch sold as a "replica" of it is a counterfeit: an unauthorized copy of AP's case shape, dial, and trademarks. In the United States, importing or selling those copies is illegal, and Customs officers can seize them. The genuine reference is made by Audemars Piguet in Switzerland and sold through authorized dealers.
What is the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 67651?
Reference 67651 sits in the Royal Oak Quartz family, the smaller line AP builds for wrists that a 41 mm Royal Oak would swamp. It carries a 33 mm case, the octagonal bezel with eight hex screws, and the integrated tapered bracelet that Gerald Genta sketched in 1972.
AP lists the movement as the quartz caliber 2713. A battery-powered movement lets the case stay thin, and a closed case back hides the works, which fits the dressier role this size plays.
- Case: 33 mm stainless steel, with pink gold and yellow gold versions in the same family
- Movement: quartz, battery powered
- Crystal: sapphire
- Water resistance: 50 m
- Dial: Grande Tapisserie pattern with a date window at 3 o'clock
Why does the 67651 get copied?
The Royal Oak name carries weight, and a 33 mm quartz watch is cheap for a counterfeiter to imitate. A battery movement costs little to source, and the closed case back means a buyer cannot inspect the movement without a tool. That mix makes the 67651 an easy target.
Is it legal to buy a replica Royal Oak 67651 in the US?
No. Counterfeit watches infringe registered trademarks, and US law bars their import and sale. A parcel can be seized in transit by US Customs and Border Protection, and the money paid is gone.
- No manufacturer warranty, since AP never made the watch
- No service from AP or any watchmaker bound by brand parts rules
- No resale market worth naming
- Payment sites that collect card details and ship nothing
How does a replica differ from the genuine 67651?
Case and finishing
Genuine Royal Oak cases get hand-finished bevels, with brushed flats that meet polished chamfers at a sharp line. Fakes show rounded edges, uneven brushing, and screw slots that sit at random angles.
Dial and printing
The Grande Tapisserie grid on a real dial has depth and a surface that shifts with light. Copies print a shallow pattern or use a stamped sheet, and the date font and applied logo give them away under a loupe.
Bracelet and clasp
AP tapers the bracelet links by fractions of a millimeter and finishes each link on several surfaces. Replica bracelets feel loose at the end links, and the clasp engraving looks stamped instead of crisp.
Case back and numbers
Every genuine watch carries a case number and a reference number engraved on the back. AP can confirm a serial, while counterfeit numbers either fail that check or repeat across thousands of fakes.
How can you check a 67651 before you pay?
- Ask for the case number and reference, then verify them with AP or a dealer.
- Request close-up photos of the bezel screws, date window, and clasp engraving.
- Check the screw heads: real hex screws are functional, not decorative.
- Compare the bracelet taper against photos on AP's own site.
- Buy from a dealer who offers a return window and takes a credit card.
What are the alternatives to a replica?
A pre-owned 33 mm Royal Oak Quartz from a dealer with papers costs far less than a steel 41 mm Royal Oak and comes with a real service path. If the integrated-bracelet look matters more than the name, watches such as the Tissot PRX and Maurice Lacroix Aikon offer that shape under their own designs, warranties, and parts support.
Common questions
Does the Royal Oak 67651 come in gold?
Yes. AP has offered the reference in steel and in gold, and diamond-set bezels appear on some Royal Oak 33 mm variants. Gold adds cost and weight but uses the same quartz movement.
Will a replica hold value?
No. Counterfeit watches sell for a fraction of retail on the secondhand market, and many dealers refuse them outright. A genuine quartz Royal Oak trades below mechanical Royal Oaks, but it keeps a real market.
Can Audemars Piguet service a replica?
No. AP services only watches it produced, and authorized watchmakers follow the same rule. A counterfeit has to go to a general repair shop, and parts often do not exist.