A replica Audemars Piguet Perpetual Calendar 3399 is a counterfeit copy of the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar, most often modeled on ref. 26574ST in steel. The "3399" tag is a seller or batch code, not an Audemars Piguet reference number, since real AP references read like 26574ST.OO.1220ST.01. Buyers judge these watches on three points: case thickness, dial printing, and whether the calendar subdials advance on their own.
What the replica Audemars Piguet Perpetual Calendar 3399 copies
The watch behind the listing is the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar, a 41mm model with an octagonal bezel and a Grande Tapisserie dial. Audemars Piguet builds it around caliber 5134, a self-winding movement with 374 parts, 38 jewels, and a 40-hour power reserve. It beats at 4 Hz, which is 28,800 vibrations per hour.
The genuine watch shows day, date, month, leap year, moon phase, and week number. The week number subdial at 12 o'clock is the clearest signature of this reference. Most counterfeit versions keep the layout and drop the function.
What does "3399" mean on the listing?
Replica sellers use four-digit codes to mark factories and batches. The 3399 code appears on listings that promise a set case thickness, a decorated movement, and a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating. No Audemars Piguet document lists 3399, so treat the number as shorthand for one production run rather than an official model.
Does the replica have a working perpetual calendar?
No. A perpetual calendar is a mechanical program that tracks 28, 30, and 31-day months plus leap years, and it needs extra gears, cams, and a program wheel. Almost every fake AP perpetual calendar uses a plain automatic movement with a decorative plate or a simple calendar module behind it.
You can test this in two minutes with the crown.
- Set the watch to February 28 in a non-leap year.
- Wind the hands forward past midnight.
- A true perpetual calendar jumps to March 1. A fake shows February 29, 30, or 31.
You can also check the leap year subdial. On a working perpetual calendar it points to the current position in the four-year cycle. On a fake it sits still or moves with the month.
Specs to compare before you buy
Measurements expose most fakes faster than photos do, because photos hide depth.
- Case size: 41mm across, matching the genuine 26574.
- Thickness: the genuine watch sits under 10mm. Many replicas run 11mm or more because their movement stack is taller.
- Movement: caliber 5134, 4 Hz, 40-hour reserve, 38 jewels. Fakes often use a base caliber with a fake rotor and engraved bridges.
- Dial: Grande Tapisserie grid with sharp squares and a clean sunburst under the pattern.
- Crystal: sapphire with a raised edge, not a flat mineral glass disc.
How to inspect a replica AP perpetual calendar
Case and bezel
The eight bezel screws should sit flush in their countersinks and stay put when you press them. Screws that turn with a fingernail are glued in place. Check the caseback too: the genuine 26574 has a sapphire display back with a gold rotor and crisp engraving.
Dial and subdials
Use a 10x loupe. Lettering on the genuine dial has sharp edges and even spacing, while fakes show fuzzy outlines and heavy ink. The moon phase disc on a good example has a detailed moon and stars, not a flat printed circle.
Bracelet and clasp
The Royal Oak bracelet tapers from 24mm at the lugs to about 18mm at the clasp. Links should move with light friction, and the polished chamfers should run straight. Run your thumb along the edges, since sharp burrs mean low-grade finishing.
Movement and timekeeping
A timegrapher shows rate and beat error. A clone with a decorated base movement can still keep good time, so accuracy alone proves nothing. Look for the calendar correctors on the case side, and check whether they click and change the right subdial.
What does the replica Audemars Piguet Perpetual Calendar 3399 cost?
Listings fall into price bands based on movement and finishing.
- Entry tier, $200 to $500: plated cases, printed dials, no working calendar.
- Mid tier, $600 to $900: closer case shape, sapphire crystal, decorated automatic movement.
- Top tier, $1,000 and up: closest case profile and dial detail, still no true perpetual calendar in most cases.
A genuine Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar in steel sells for six figures on the secondary market, so a working perpetual calendar in a $700 replica is not realistic. Any seller who promises one should be asked for a video of the watch rolling from February into March.
Legal and practical risk
Counterfeit watches infringe trademarks, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection can seize shipments of fake goods. Reselling one is a bigger legal problem than buying one. Repair is the other issue: most watchmakers decline to service counterfeit movements, and spare parts are not available, so a broken replica often becomes scrap.
FAQ
Is the 3399 replica waterproof?
Assume it is not. Most fakes have thin gaskets and poor case sealing, so keep them away from showers, pools, and salt water even if a listing claims 50m or 100m.
Can the replica pass as genuine to a jeweler?
No. Case thickness, movement finish, and dial printing give it away under a loupe or on a bench. Appraisers and service centers handle Royal Oaks often and know the model.
Are the photos in listings of the actual watch?
Often they are not. Ask for a timestamped photo and a short video, including the caseback and the crown in action, before you send money.