There has been some unfortunate news recently: APS Factory has been raided, making many Audemars Piguet models unavailable. Personally, I was quite fond of APS Factory. All of its models adopted integrated‑movement versions, and it recently released integrated‑movement IWC pieces as well. It was a capable manufacturer with reasonably‑priced products, unlike other factories that kept raising prices once they gained some reputation. Now we have to turn to alternatives such as VS Factory’s AP watches. They deliver solid craftsmanship and reliable movement quality, though they come at a higher price point compared with APS Factory. Let’s take a look at the factory introduction.

VS 2026 New Release: AP 15510 (V2 Movement: Dandong Cal.4302 Base Movement with special upgrades by the VS engineering team) It uniquely fixes common market defects of the Cal.4302, including short power reserve and random stopping. More reliable! No random stopping! No date‑jamming issues!

1. VS developed this watch based on a genuine 15510 reference. The eight small holes on the rotor bearing are steel‑colored, unlike competing versions built off the 15500 whose holes are rose‑gold toned.
2. The VS rotor uses a 7‑ball ceramic bearing identical to the genuine piece. It runs quietly, provides smooth and efficient winding, and reduces repair‑prone failures. Other market copies use steel‑ball bearings, which are noisy, inefficient and prone to malfunction.
3. VS’s Grande Tapisserie dial reaches 90 % similarity to the original. It is currently the best‑in‑market rendition of the signature dial pattern. The truncated‑pyramid grid texture and fine concentric radial light effect match the genuine watch.
4. VS implements genuine‑style floating end‑links with roughly 15‑20‑degree downward articulation. Recessed axle holes sit at the junction between end‑links and lugs for perfect wrist conformity. Competitor models use rigid fixed end‑links that fit poorly on the wrist.

Both 15500 and 15510 are available. The latter is an anniversary edition; there are no major functional differences. Buy according to personal preference.