Short answer
Audemars Piguet does not list reference 14760 in its public Royal Oak archive. The number shows up in replica listings and in some dealer notes. No factory spec sheet for a 14760 is public. The 36 mm Royal Oak from the 1990s that appears in auction catalogs carries reference 14790. Treat any listing marked 14760 as a seller description, not as a proven factory reference.
What the Royal Oak is
The Royal Oak launched in 1972. First reference: 5402ST. Designer: Gerald Genta. Case: stainless steel, 39 mm wide, 7.5 mm thick. Bezel: octagonal with eight hex screws that thread into nuts on the caseback side. Bracelet: integrated, tapering links. Dial: tapisserie grid. The watch was steel at a gold price, and it sold.
Later sizes: 36 mm mid-size, 33 mm small size, 42 mm Offshore, 41 mm 15400.
Reference numbers in the 147xx block
Audemars Piguet used 14700-range numbers through the late 1980s and the 1990s. The documented mid-size watch is the 14790: 36 mm steel case, date at 3, caliber 2225, based on the 2120 automatic family. The 14760 number sits in that range but does not appear in AP's public lists. If a seller cites 14760, ask for a caseback photo and the movement number. If the seller cannot show either, the number carries no weight.
What replica sellers mean by ref 14760
Most listings that use 14760 describe a 36 mm to 37 mm steel Royal Oak with a date at 3 and a tapisserie dial. Some describe a two-tone case. Photos from two sellers rarely match each other. There is no single 14760 replica design. Judge the photos, not the number.
Specs to compare against the 1990s 36 mm Royal Oak
- Case: 36 mm wide, about 8.3 mm thick.
- Caseback: solid, engraved with reference and movement number.
- Dial: tapisserie grid, applied AP logo at 12, date window at 3.
- Bracelet: integrated, tapering links, folding clasp with AP engraving.
- Movement: caliber 2225, automatic, date, 2120 family base.
What replica versions get wrong
- Thickness. Many replica Royal Oaks run 10 mm to 12 mm. The genuine 14790 is about 8.3 mm.
- Bezel screws. Genuine screws hold the bezel and thread into nuts. Replica screws are decorative or glued.
- Bracelet. Genuine links taper. Replica clasps are thicker and carry the wrong stamp depth.
- Dial print. Font weight and letter spacing differ from the original.
- Date window. Cut, bevel, and numeral font differ.
Price ranges
Replica Royal Oaks sell from about $200 to about $900. Sellers label the top tier super clone or 1:1. Price does not prove quality. Genuine steel 14790 examples trade at auction for five figures. Values move with condition, box, and papers.
Legal notes for US buyers
Importing a counterfeit watch into the United States violates 19 U.S.C. Section 1305. U.S. Customs and Border Protection can seize and destroy the shipment. Trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal offense under 18 U.S.C. Section 2320. Buying one watch for personal use is not trafficking in most cases. A replica has no collector market and no resale value at auction.
Checklist before you pay
- Caseback photo with the movement number visible.
- Side profile photo with a ruler or caliper in frame.
- Close photo of the clasp engraving.
- Movement name. Miyota 9015, Seiko NH35, and Asia 2824 are common. A 2120-family clone is rare.
- Return policy and who pays if customs seizes the parcel.
- Compare dial photos to auction archive photos of a 14790.
Bottom line
Ref 14760 is a label, not a documented Audemars Piguet reference. The real 1990s mid-size Royal Oak is 14790. Buyers who want a 36 mm look should compare every photo to a 14790 auction lot and check thickness first. Buyers who want a genuine watch should read the caseback number before anything else.