About a year ago, when Audemars Piguet held its yearly event to present its new collection, the brand introduced a highly appealing version of the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Selfwinding, made with artist and seasoned collector John Mayer. Besides the incredibly textured dial, AP issued a highly important statement. This AAA Swiss replica watches marked the swan song of the calibre 5134, becoming the last watch to feature the movement based on the calibre that once powered the 1972 Royal Oak. Well, without further ado, let’s go straight to the point: here’s the new generation of Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Selfwinding (ref. 26674), inaugurating the calibre 7138, a very clever movement that is a clear step up compared to the old calibre. A great way to mark the beginning of AP’s 150th-anniversary celebrations.
Modern mechanics, the new Calibre 7138
Perpetual calendars are a long tradition at Audemars Piguet. Notably, in 1955, the company released the world’s first perpetual calendar wristwatch with a leap year indication, nine examples of which were created between 1955 and 1957. About 20 years later, in 1978 and at the height of the quartz crisis, AP released the world’s thinnest self-winding perpetual calendar fake watches for sale of its time, calibre 2120/2800, obtaining its thinness thanks to a combination of the ultra-thin calibre 2120 and a slender QP module. And now comes the important part for today’s topic, the release in 1984 of the first Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar (ref. 5554), which relied on this movement – and actually, the original 1972 Royal Oak Jumbo 5402ST used the same base calibre – a movement that was in production until 2022.
In 2015, Audemars Piguet released the calibre 5134. This movement, still using the 2120 as a base, introduced a new module adapted to a larger 41mm case diameter, as well as inaugurating the original display of the week on its periphery. This movement powered dozens of cheap 1:1 copy watches – RO and Code – including the all-important full ceramic versions (black, white, openworked, blue…) until AP announced its retirement last year with the release of the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar John Mayer Limited Edition. But in the meantime, AP did its homework and, in 2018, released the Royal Oak Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin, known as RD#2 – the world’s thinnest automatic perpetual calendar wristwatch of its time. The main objective here was thinness and convenience, with all the perpetual calendar functions on one single level, as well as offering an intuitive, user-friendly complication that can be set and corrected anywhere without tools.
In 2022, Audemars Piguet celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Royal Oak by presenting the new generation of Jumbo, the 16202ST. And while its looks were hardly updated, the mechanics inside jumped into the 21st century with the new calibre 7121 – still automatic, still ultra-thin, now working at 4Hz, with a longer power reserve and finally a quick-set date.
Now, in 2025, it’s time for the high quality replica Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Selfwinding watches to enter a new generation, benefitting from the upgrades of both the calibre 7121 and the research done with the RD#2 concept. This brand new generation of a self-winding perpetual calendar movement, calibre 7138, enters with modern features such as an all-important all-in-one crown. And that means no more correctors inserted into the case side. These correctors to adjust the different sub-dials were activated with small tools, which in turn degraded the water-resistance.
The new calibre 7138 found in the new-gen Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Selfwinding is a combination of the calibre 7121 as a base, with a new module on top that’s been developed thanks to the knowledge acquired with the module on top of the calibre 5133 found in the Royal Oak Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin. First, all corrections are controlled exclusively by the crown, meaning that the complication is adjustable anywhere without tools and without risk of damage. “As all calendar functions are synchronised thanks to the new crown correction system and more robust movement construction,” explains AP, “it is impossible to desynchronise the watch and damage the mechanism if the user tries to set their watch when the automatic date change mechanism is active (between 9 pm and 3 am).”
The new crown incorporates four different positions. The first is used to wind the luxury super clone watches clockwise. Pulling the crown out one step (position 2) allows the date to be set clockwise and to adjust the month and the leap year in the opposite direction. By pulling out the crown again (position 3), the user can set the time bidirectionally. The last position is reached by pushing the crown back one step (position 2) to set the day and week clockwise and the moon phases counterclockwise. Indeed, thanks to a complex keyless works system, the middle position of the crown is different whether it’s pulled or pushed. This is based on an innovative lever and wandering wheels system that meshes with the different calendar wheels and is protected by two patents.
Now, let’s move to the QP module itself, which benefits from the innovations of calibre 5133 launched in 2018 with the Royal Oak Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin RD#2. As such, it incorporates all perpetual calendar functions in one single layer within the movement. The end-of-month cam is similarly integrated with the date wheel, while the month cam is combined with the month wheel. Crown corrections form a second layer, enabling the movement to keep a thin 4.1mm profile. The rest of the movement is based on the calibre 7121 of the new RO Jumbo, meaning a 4Hz frequency, a 55h power reserve, refined finishing with a solid gold rotor on ball bearings and a balance wheel with directly inserted inertia blocks.
The display has changed, too, compared to the older generation of Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Selfwinding models. While the signature week indication remains on the periphery, it is now the first week of the year (1) that appears at 12 o’clock (instead of week 52). In the same logic, “Monday” and “1” have been aligned at 12 o’clock in their respective sub-dials to mark the start of the week and the first day of the month. Finally, the dial also features a patented progressive step for the date display at 12 o’clock. The AP teams developed a date wheel with 31 custom-made teeth, the size of which varies to adapt to the width of the digits and enhance readability. A 24-hour indicator has been inserted in the day sub-dial at 9 o’clock. In addition, a no-correction zone is marked in red between 9PM and 3AM to indicate when the top replica watches UK cannot be set. However, if the user attempts to set the watch during this time, the date might not be corrected, but there is no risk of damaging the movement in the process. Finally, the moon phase now features a realistic depiction of the Moon based on a NASA photograph.
Two new steel or sand gold versions and a classic look
Now that we’ve talked about the mechanics, it’s time to take a closer look at these new versions of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Selfwinding – ref. 26674ST and 26674SG. And the least we can say is that, just like when AP updated the 15202ST to become the 16202ST, most of the evolution is found inside the case and through the sapphire back. There isn’t much difference between these new RO QP and the old models, which might be for the best. After all, it might well be the recipe to create an icon.
That being said, the new movement has had its implications on the design, and some specificities of the perfect copy watches need explaining. What we’re looking at is a pair of permanent collection models, available either in the most classic combination possible for a Royal Oak – stainless steel and blue dial – or in a more luxurious but rather discreet version based on the brand’s latest alloy, 18k sand gold. Dimensions and overall design are identical to the previous generation of Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Selfwinding, with a 41mm diameter and a thickness of 9.5mm. Looking in detail, you’ll see the same emblematic octagonal bezel with 6 white gold screw-shaped studs, the classic combination of vertical brushed surfaces with polished bevels, and sapphire crystals on both sides.
An even closer look reveals two important evolutions. As we explained, since the crown is now used to operate all the calendar functions, there’s no need to rely on recessed correctors in the casebands. This results in a much cleaner look, not to mention a far more practical replica watches wholesale to use. The other advantage of this evolution is water-resistance. While the previous generation was rated at 20m – basically splashproof – this next-gen QP has a more comfortable water-resistance of 50m – and that, without the slightest change to the thickness of the case.
In addition to the 26674ST in stainless steel, Audemars Piguet also introduces a solid gold edition, made in the highly appealing sand gold alloy unveiled last year. Hovering between white and pink gold, its colour changes according to the light and has a delicate warmth but never feels too present or ostentatious. It’s a discreet, luxurious Swiss made fake watches that has a refined presence, specifically with its tone-on-tone dial.
Talking about the dials – either in classic blue shades (PVD coating) or in sand gold tones (galvanic treatment) – the Grande Tapisserie pattern that’s a hallmark of the collection has been retained. On both replica watches shop, the hands and applied markers, which are filled with luminescent material, are made of solid 18k white gold. The blue model has white inscriptions for great contrast, while the sand gold model features black printings for a more striking look. Both have realistic representations of the Moon set against a starry blue sky.
As you’d expect, these new Royal Oak Perpetual Calendars are paired with an integrated RO bracelet, matching the case in material and finish. It is closed by a triple-folding clasp. And no, AP still doesn’t offer a micro-adjustment system or a quick-change device on the RO – the latter is only available on the ROO. Both would be a welcome addition, in all fairness.
Availability and price
The two new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Selfwinding with calibre 7138 are released as part of the permanent collection – which doesn’t mean we’re talking about readily available best quality fake watches. That being said, AP is releasing two limited editions of 150 pieces each, with a vintage Audemars Piguet signature on the moon phase and special engravings on the back (150 logo). The rest is entirely identical.
The prices of the steel reference 26674ST.OO.1320ST.01 and the sand gold reference 26674SG.OO.1320SG.01 are respectively CHF 109,300 and CHF 130,000 (both incl. taxes).
