Answer
A super clone Royal Oak Offshore in forged carbon is a replica sold in the top factory tier. Reddit threads use the term for watches built to match genuine case dimensions, dial layout and a cloned automatic movement. The genuine forged carbon Offshore references are 26400AU at 44 mm and the 15706 Diver at 42 mm. Audemars Piguet makes a forged carbon case by pressing short carbon fibre and resin in a heated mold. Most replicas do not. They use layered carbon sheet or a carbon pattern resin shell over a steel or plastic case.
No lab test has compared a replica forged carbon case to the genuine article. Treat claims of "same material" as unverified.
Audemars Piguet Forged Carbon Royal Oak Offshore Cost: Genuine vs Replica
What forged carbon is
Forged carbon is a composite. Short carbon strands mix with resin and get pressed in a mold. The result shows a marbled grey and black swirl with no visible weave. Genuine Offshore forged carbon cases have a matte finish, and some references pair the case with a titanium or ceramic bezel.
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Reddit tier labels
The replica community sorts watches into tiers. Names change by forum and by year.
- Low tier: quartz movement, printed dial, case size that ignores real proportions.
- Mid tier: automatic movement, mineral glass, basic rubber strap.
- Super clone: cloned automatic movement, sapphire crystal, case within a millimetre of genuine, decorated rotor.
- Franken: a replica with one or more genuine parts, such as a dial or date wheel.
Reddit posts name factories with letters and numbers. Those names change, and factories ship new versions. A thread from 2019 does not describe a watch sold today.
Flaws reported in threads
- Case thickness above genuine. The 26400AU measures 14.6 mm. Some replicas measure 15.5 mm and up.
- Date window position and font.
- Subdial spacing on the chronograph.
- Carbon pattern that reads as a printed grid instead of a random swirl.
- Strap screws that take a different tool than the genuine part.
Price
Forum posts list prices from about $250 to $600 for this model in the top tier. Those are user reports. No independent audit confirms them.
Legal status
Counterfeit watches are illegal to import into the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection can seize the shipment, and the buyer can face civil penalties. Selling counterfeit goods violates trademark law. A single watch for personal use is a lower risk in practice, but the risk is not zero. The item can be destroyed.
How to read a listing
- Ask for case diameter and thickness in millimetres.
- Ask which movement sits inside and whether the chronograph runs.
- Ask for a daylight photo of the caseback and the carbon pattern.
- Compare the listing against the genuine reference number.
- Check the return policy before payment.
Open questions
No public test data exists on the resin used in replica forged carbon cases. Long term wear, UV fade and crack resistance are unknown.