Short answer
"Millenary 3" is not an Audemars Piguet reference number. AP reference codes mix digits and letters. The phrase appears in marketplace listings and search results. It points to counterfeit Millenary watches, an oval-case AP line that started in 1995. A genuine Millenary lists from about $20,000 to more than $100,000. Copies sell for $150 to $600. No copy carries an AP movement.
What the Millenary line is
Audemars Piguet launched the Millenary in 1995. The case is oval, not round. The dial sits off-center. Roman numerals are applied in relief, not printed. AP released the Millenary 4101 around 2010. That reference uses the in-house caliber 4101, a selfwinding movement with the balance wheel visible on the dial side. Case size is about 47 mm by 42 mm. AP lists each current reference and its caliber on the brand site.
Where copies fail
- Movement. Genuine Millenary watches use in-house AP calibers. Copies use outsourced automatic movements or quartz modules.
- Crystal. AP uses sapphire. Cheap copies use mineral glass or acrylic, which scratches.
- Dial. Applied metal numerals on genuine pieces. Painted or glued numerals on copies. Print edges look soft under a loupe.
- Case metal. Steel, gold, or platinum on genuine pieces. Plated brass on many copies, and the plating wears at the lugs.
- Caseback. Serial number, reference number, and hallmarks sit in deep, sharp engraving. Copies show shallow laser marks.
- Strap and clasp. Signed clasp, hand-stitched alligator on genuine pieces. Copies use stamped clasps and embossed leather.
Legal status in the US
18 U.S.C. § 2320 covers trafficking in counterfeit goods. A first offense carries up to 10 years in prison and a $2,000,000 fine for an individual. 19 U.S.C. § 1526 bars import of goods that carry a counterfeit mark. US Customs and Border Protection seizes those shipments and destroys the goods. US law targets sellers and importers. A personal import still risks seizure and a letter from CBP.
Checks before paying
- Ask for the AP reference number. Compare it with the catalog on the brand site.
- Ask for photos of the caseback and of the movement through the display back.
- Ask for a service invoice from an AP service center or an authorized watchmaker.
- Compare the price with market listings. A Millenary at $400 is not genuine.
- Have a watchmaker who handles AP watches open the case before you pay.
What is not known
No public record confirms a model named "Millenary 3". AP does not use that name. Brand service centers do not service counterfeit watches, so a fake cannot be repaired by AP. Treat "Millenary 3" as a seller label, not a catalog reference.