AP Forged Carbon / FC Diver review -- $398 TrustyTime version

[machiavegli 7]

Hey guys,

 

The Audemar Piguet Forged Carbon (FC) Diver was released as a gen last year, and V1 and V2 reps are available and have been reviewed here and elsewhere, from Angus at PureTime among others. However, all these versions have been flawed, mostly due to imperfections in the "grain" of the forged carbon itself. Here's a mini-review of the V2 and the current PT ad, price $528:

http://www.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php/my-forged-carbon-152340.html

http://puretime.co/product/royal-oak-offshore-diver-forged-carbon-11-best-edition-on-rubber-strap-a2824-v2/

 

This April, Andrew at TrustyTime began to post pics of a completely new version of the AP FC (I believe H-fac) and started accepting pre-orders, with correct "grain" on the FC. Here's the post and the current TT ad, price $398:

http://www.rwg.bz/board/index.php?showtopic=50095

http://www.ttw888.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=352&products_id=10716

 

I preordered in April and got mine today.

 

Here it is:

 

My QC pics from Andrew:

 

 

 

 

 

It's + 8 sec/day, which I can easily live with:

 

QC was great, comms were great, and packaging was the best I've had in the rep biz so far. The only thing that was not ideal was the long delay between the planned and actual product launch date, which was not TT's fault.

 

After unboxing, some wristies:

 

 

 

 

My impressions:

 

I am not as much of an AP lover as many of us on the forum(s). However, the overall quality of AP reps has increased dramatically over the last few years. This is no exception. I have also handled the gen in person, as we have a high-end watchmaker down the street from my house. The SS caseback has perfect 1:1 engraving (down to the bubble texture background around the logo). The dial printing is sharp. The dial texture (almost invisible cote de geneve underneath the raised squares) is perfect. Finish on hands and dial markers is good. Date wheel advances with an authorative "click" and DW font looks good to me. The lume is well applied and is average-to-good; per the description is gen Superluminova. AP's usual mix of materials (SS back, polished SS bezel screws, brushed titanium lug pieces and buckle) are matched correctly.

 

For comparison, here is a photo of the gen from ABlogToWatch:

 

 

One issue I had initially was the somewhat strange appearance of the 12 o'clock triangle on the rotating inner bezel (which works perfectly, although I had to wiggle it a bit to get the triangle exactly where I want it). As you can see from the wristie and QC photos, the triangle looks a bit odd as it has a black outline on the right side only, making it look crooked. However, this annoying but true to gen. A close-up of gen photo above:

 

 

The movement is absolutely smooth highbeat Asian (28.8K) and rotor is quiet. When I operate the crown there is a little "play" between positions 0 and I (watch continues to wind when you are screwing the crown down), and also between positions II and III (you have to give a relatively good tug to get it from date-set to hour-set).

 

After handling the original, which feels feather-light, this felt a little heavier in the hand. Here is the TT AP RC rep on the scale. Only stats I could find on how much the FC is supposed to weigh is "under 120 grams", which this certainly is:

 

 

If the gen -is- lighter I wonder if it's because movement components are lighter since the movements are made by AP in house. BUT for comparison (apples to oranges) I weighted my full stainless steel but chunkier AP ROOS, also on rubber, for comparison... it was about 50% heavier.

 

 

Finally, about that "grain" on the forged carbon case. The "grain" on the prior AP FC reps is more of a "swirl", or maybe wood grain effect. As you can see by looking at the QC and wristie pics above, this rep has "grain" that looks completely different and more true to gen. I'm not really sure what to call it, it looks a little like the pattern you see on a frosted window or the mica pattern in finished granite. Anyway, it looks cool.

 

Conclusion: A better rep at a better price. Worth adding to any collection.

 

-Mach

[nativenvs 0]

Tempting!! Very Nice Piece!

[donjuan18 0]

Bow!

[machiavegli 7]

I know, right? Love this thing. Forgot to mention AR is colorless and good, one wristie is in direct sunlight.

 

-Mach

[P4GTR 0]

I'm not a fan of pre-orders. That said, I understand that quality takes time. J/A could've easily released a sub par product but from what i've seen so far, they knocked this one out of the ballpark. I haven't seen a case yet that is sub par. I applaud the initial integrity i've seen regarding this release. They look absolutely stellar.

 

Looking forward to making a few straps worthy of this release.

[machiavegli 7]

I'm not a fan of pre-orders. That said, I understand that quality takes time. J/A could've easily released a sub par product but from what i've seen so far, they knocked this one out of the ballpark. I haven't seen a case yet that is sub par. I applaud the initial integrity i've seen regarding this release. They look absolutely stellar.

 

Looking forward to making a few straps worthy of this release.

 

Hi Daniel,

 

I was actually one of the members bitching about how long this took. I'm glad I waited, it's the real deal.

 

-Mach

 

P.S. I hate rubber straps and can't wait to see what you come up with!

[cwazy1 0]

why is the lume on the inner bezel yellow like that? theres something wrong with that part of it.

[Wriggles 12]

Very nice Mach, very nice indeed. Bet all those who shelled out for the earlier way overpriced model are sick now!

 

An AP I might actually consider getting, who'd have thunk it!

 

Nice review, enjoy the watch often

[mianos 0]

I would have written an identical review, Ordered at the same time, just got mine a few days ago. I agree, it's an amazing looking watch. Except for this:

 

> When I operate the crown there is a little "play" between positions 0 and I (watch continues to wind when you are screwing the crown down), and also between positions II and III (you have to give a relatively good tug to get it from date-set to hour-set).

 

Mine has exactly the same problem. WTF? did they make the crown stem too short or something? It's f*ing terrible.

 

Even though it feels so so bad winding, setting the time, screwing the crown in, mine keeps really good time. I hope it lasts. It feels like the whole keyless is made from plastic and tinfoil. I have never felt a watch worse.

 

The materials in this watch are amazing. Real feeling/looking forged carbon, amazing ceramic bezel, an lovely slightly reflective crystal, super polished screws and a grey titanium buckle.

[mianos 0]

ps. I got number 92. There can't be a hell of a lot out there yet.

[machiavegli 7]

ps. I got number 92. There can't be a hell of a lot out there yet.

 

It's like every other rep, man. You and I are just looking for every better version holding this fairy dust holding this *hit together

 

- Mach

 

[machiavegli 7]

why is the lume on the inner bezel yellow like that? theres something wrong with that part of it.

 

Hi Cwazy,

 

You're a guru of mine, but doesn't it look true to gen? It's like the inner bezel triangle, the design guys in Guangzhou are like ... Ok... I can make it like this... but do they want it exactly like this?!?

 

-Mach

[baxter 6]

looks beautiful Mach - enjoy !!

[Chrisby 1]

Hmm yes thanks for the review of this watch, this maybe one I consider getting, at that price you can't really go wrong!

 

Wear it well!

[NFleischer 4,355]

Very cool looking- Congrats. This seems to be a better value than the Noob version; $80 less.

[replicastuff 0]

wow, this is starting to grow on me

[machiavegli 7]

Hmm yes thanks for the review of this watch, this maybe one I consider getting, at that price you can't really go wrong!

 

Wear it well!

Very cool looking- Congrats. This seems to be a better value than the Noob version; $80 less.

wow, this is starting to grow on me

 

Thanks guys!! It's great to buy a just-out watch and have it work out so well. I wouldn't look at the other factory until their FC case improves.

 

-Mach

[HeavyKrush 32]

Not only does it look great, but it's freaking spot on.

[machiavegli 7]

Not only does it look great, but it's freaking spot on.

 

My thoughts exactly. Worth the wait!

 

-Mach

[nyckid 0]

This is an amazing watch! I just got mine and I have not been able to take it off :P

[Freepower 0]

Congrats very nice FC

[RobertG129 0]

Great review thank you. I've been considering buying this watch.

[reelodin 0]

That looks great especially for the price

[machiavegli 7]

Great detailed review by fellow member Edgematic HERE. He is very critical of the AR coating on crystal and cyclops, which is absolutely correct, it is absolutely more reflective than the gen. In the notes, several people have created franken projects where they combine the best of the H-fac and Noob factory versions.

 

-Mach

[wrenches&watches 0]

Mine is in route from Andrew with lightning fast speed so far, DHL might be my new favorite shipper. I can't wait to wear it and love all over it! After seeing that Angus has an even newer version at over $100 more I'd love to see a comparison between the two, anybody else?!