Short answer
Audemars Piguet stopped making reference 25721 in the mid-2000s. A watch sold as a new 25721 is a counterfeit. Genuine examples move through auction houses and dealers with paperwork. Copies sold as the best version fail on four points that photos do not show: bezel screw construction, case thickness, dial texture, and caseback engraving.
What the 25721 is
The Royal Oak Offshore reference 25721 launched in 1993. Design credit goes to Emmanuel Gueit, who extended the Royal Oak shape that Gerald Genta drew in 1972. Collectors call it The Beast.
- Case: stainless steel or gold, 42 mm wide, about 14 mm thick.
- Bezel: octagonal, with eight hexagonal screws that pass through the bezel and thread into nuts on the case side.
- Dial: mega tapisserie, a grid of raised pyramids cut into the plate. Early versions came in blue, black, and white.
- Crown and pushers: rubber coated. Chronograph pushers sit at 2 and 4 o'clock, crown at 3.
- Movement: automatic chronograph from the Jaeger-LeCoultre 889 family, 28,800 vph, power reserve near 40 hours. Published caliber codes differ by source.
The reference left the catalog in the mid-2000s. Later Offshores carry different numbers, so a listing for new old stock ref 25721 needs a caseback check.
audemars piguet offshore 25721 fake vs replica
Checks that separate a 25721 from a fake
- Bezel screws. On a genuine watch the screws are functional and each one threads into a nut. Slot angles vary from screw to screw. Fakes glue decorative heads in place and line the slots in one direction.
- Thickness and weight. A 42 mm steel case at this thickness has a set heft. Copies come in thin or heavy.
- Dial. Tapisserie pyramids have sharp edges and even spacing. Printed copies show soft edges and squares that drift at the date window.
- Caseback. Reference 25721ST.OO.1000ST.01 and a serial number are engraved. Font, depth, and spacing matter. Fakes use the wrong font or a reference number that belongs to another model.
- Movement. Look at rotor engraving, perlage, and bridge edges. Copies carry ETA 2824 bases or Chinese chronograph movements with rough finishing.
- Chronograph feel. Pushers on a genuine watch start, stop, and reset with a firm click. Copies feel soft or stick.
- Papers. Audemars Piguet issues an Extract from the Archives for a fee. The extract lists the reference, case number, and sale date. A seller who refuses this step is a risk.
Limits of a photo check
Photos hide thickness, weight, and movement finish. A caseback photo does not prove the case matches the movement. Any purchase of a 25721 should include a hands-on inspection by a watchmaker who has opened the watch.
Legal and service facts in the US
Trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. 2320. Penalties for a first offense reach 10 years in prison and a $2 million fine for an individual. US Customs and Border Protection seizes counterfeit watches at import. Brand service centers do not service counterfeit watches, and parts for the 25721 sit on the secondary market.