Short answer

I could not verify a Royal Oak Chronograph reference 25800 in Audemars Piguet's published catalogs. The reference numbers AP lists for that model are 25860, 26300, 26320, 26331, and 26240. Listings that use "25800" come from replica sellers and keyword lists, not from the manufacturer.

Documented Royal Oak Chronograph references

  • 25860: launched 1997, 39 mm steel case, caliber 2385.
  • 26300: launched 2005, 39 mm, caliber 2385.
  • 26320: launched 2012, 41 mm, caliber 2385.
  • 26331: launched 2017, 41 mm, caliber 2385.
  • 26240: launched 2022, 41 mm, in-house caliber 4401.

Caliber 2385 is based on the Frederic Piguet 1185, an automatic chronograph about 3.95 mm thick. Caliber 4401 is Audemars Piguet's in-house integrated chronograph.

Price gap

Steel Royal Oak Chronograph references trade in the five-figure USD range on the secondary market. Replica listings for the same model ask USD 200 to 800. A genuine caliber 2385 or 4401 costs more than a complete replica watch.

Parts a replica does not match

  • Case finishing: beveled edges with brushed and polished surfaces that meet at sharp lines.
  • Dial: tapisserie pattern with correct square size and alignment to the indexes.
  • Movement: thin automatic chronograph with a rotor engraved for the reference.
  • Date wheel: font, position, and color matched to the dial.

U.S. legal status

18 U.S.C. 2320 makes trafficking in counterfeit goods a federal crime. A first offense carries up to 10 years in prison, a repeat offense up to 20 years. 15 U.S.C. 1117 lets the trademark owner recover profits and damages. U.S. Customs and Border Protection can seize and destroy counterfeit watches at import.

Checks before buying

  1. Ask for the caseback reference and serial number.
  2. Compare the reference against Audemars Piguet's catalog entries.
  3. Request service records from an authorized service center.
  4. Have a watchmaker or an authorized service center inspect the movement.

Open question

I cannot confirm that Audemars Piguet ever assigned 25800 to a watch case. The number appears in replica listings and keyword lists. Treat it as a search term, not a reference number.