Audemars Piguet

Hi everyone,

I’m currently considering a Royal Oak 14790ST and received a macro photo of the caseback from the seller (attached below).

While there seems to be a small hallmark (possibly a case maker’s stamp), I can’t see any serial number engraving (e.g. Dxxxx), which I thought should be standard on this reference.

I’d really appreciate your insights on this:

• Have some original casebacks ever been delivered without a serial number?
• Could this be a service/replacement caseback, sent blank and meant to be engraved later?
• Or does this raise a red flag regarding the authenticity or origin of the caseback?

Thanks in advance for your help — happy to share more pictures if needed.

Best regards,

I don’t know this reference well enough to be able to answer your question, but hopefully, some other member(s) will know better.
Best, Emmanuel

It is the whole case with the bezel, glass, hands, dial and movement removed, the inside of the case under the movement, let him send a pic of the caseback which should have two rows, the watch number and the serial number starting with a Letter "D" or "F" etc.

Some Examples







Source: Google Images

Take it to a watchmaker and open the case back. Get a photo of the movement and the inside of the caseback. And if it were me, confirm with AP who the owner is/was if you/they can.

Hi everyone,

Thanks again for your replies — your feedback has been very helpful.

To follow up:

• I’ve now received a photo of the actual caseback (external side), and I can confirm that it is engraved with both the reference and serial number, as expected.
• I’m also sharing a picture of the movement.

That said, I still have a small doubt regarding the inner case (under the movement).

I had previously seen a 14790ST with a serial number engraved directly on the inner case, which is not the case here.

Also, the perlage finish looks a bit less refined than what I’ve seen on other examples.

I’d love to get your thoughts on whether this is within normal variation, or if it should be a red flag.

Thanks again for your support,

Centror, an Audemars Piguet subsidiary, was making the cases at the time and for other brands such as Lange and stamped them like this:



Pic Credit: CR