Searching for a "replica Audemars Piguet perpetual calendar 3399" usually means you want the look of the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar without the price of one. The short answer: 3399 is not an Audemars Piguet reference number, and no watch sold under a shorthand code like that contains a true perpetual calendar movement. The closest honest match is a pre-owned genuine Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar, and the best legal compromise is a calendar watch from a maker that designs its own case. I compared the options on five criteria: whether the calendar tracks leap years without correction, legality of buying and shipping into the United States, access to service and spare parts, materials and finishing that survive daily wear, and resale value.
What the code 3399 actually refers to
Codes such as 3399 show up in replica listings as factory tags, batch labels, or plain seller shorthand. They are not registered references, and two sellers can attach the same code to two different watches. Genuine Audemars Piguet references follow a different pattern and are published by the brand, for example the modern 41 mm Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar references in the 26574 family. When a listing leads with a code instead of a reference, treat every line of its specification sheet as unverified.
- Ask which reference the watch copies, not which "version" or "batch" it is.
- Check whether the listing claims a perpetual calendar, an annual calendar, or a simple date and month display.
- Watch for blurring between "Swiss movement" and "Swiss made," which are different claims with different meanings.
Option 1: A pre-owned genuine Audemars Piguet perpetual calendar
This is the only option that delivers the object people are actually searching for. A genuine Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar carries a movement built with a leap-year cam, so it advances from February 28 to March 1 correctly in leap years, and it stays accurate for decades with normal service.
Pros
- Real perpetual calendar mechanics, not a decorative day and month window.
- Documented reference and serial number, which matters for insurance and resale.
- Factory service, spare parts, and tested water resistance.
- Case bevels, brushing, and dial finishing that hold up under a loupe.
- Value that has historically held far better than any counterfeit.
Cons
- High entry price, plus servicing costs every several years.
- Limited supply on the secondary market, and condition varies widely.
- Requires insurance and secure storage.
Use case: buy this if the calendar complication itself is the point and you plan to keep the watch long term.
Option 2: A legal calendar watch from a maker that designs its own case
Annual calendars, complete calendars with moonphase, and calendar-equipped chronographs from Swiss and independent makers give you a working complication and a legitimate warranty. The look will not be a Royal Oak, and that is the trade you make for a watch you can service, insure, and sell later.
Pros
- Legal to buy, ship, and resell.
- Manufacturer warranty and available parts.
- Working annual calendar function, usually at a fraction of the Royal Oak price.
- No risk of seizure at the border.
Cons
- Different design language, so it will not satisfy someone set on the octagonal Royal Oak case.
- Weaker resale than a genuine Audemars Piguet.
- Fewer choices in steel at lower price points.
Use case: buy this if you want a real complication, a real warranty, and a clear conscience at a mid-range budget.
Option 3: The replica sold under a code like 3399
These listings usually pair a steel case and a decorated rotor with a generic movement. The complication is where the story falls apart: a genuine perpetual calendar mechanism is among the most demanding to build, and a low-cost module cannot replicate it. Many replicas labeled "perpetual" are annual calendars at best, some need manual correction after short months, and quartz versions exist in the same listings.
Pros
- Low purchase price relative to a genuine watch.
- Useful for judging whether the size and weight suit your wrist before you commit to something real.
Cons
- Trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime in the United States under 18 U.S.C. 2320, and shipments are subject to seizure and destruction by Customs and Border Protection.
- No true perpetual calendar function, no leap-year cam, and no serviceable parts.
- Plating wears through, gaskets are unverified, and stated water resistance means little without testing.
- No warranty, no manufacturer service, and effectively no resale market.
- Seller codes shift between batches, so the watch you receive may not match the photos or the reviews.
Use case: there is no use case I can recommend here, because the legal exposure and the guaranteed loss of value outweigh the visual similarity.
What to check on any calendar watch you consider
- Confirm the complication type in writing: perpetual, annual, or simple calendar.
- Ask whether the calendar needs correction at the end of February and which years it handles.
- Verify the reference against the maker's own published information, not a seller page.
- Confirm service options and parts availability before you pay.
- For any cross-border purchase, understand that counterfeit goods can be seized and you may lose the money.
Bottom line
Code 3399 tells you nothing about what is inside the watch. If the appeal is the perpetual calendar complication, the honest path is a pre-owned genuine Audemars Piguet or a legal calendar watch from another maker. If the appeal is the octagonal look at a low price, the counterfeit route carries federal legal risk, a fake complication, no service path, and no resale value, which is a poor trade even before the watch arrives.