Perpetual calendar watches are generally complicated to create, which is why they fetch high prices and are typically seen in luxury brand models.
However, with the technological advancements in horology, timepieces featuring perpetual calendars can now be offered at a much affordable price.
About Perpetual Calendar Watches
A perpetual calendar is a calendar that calculates the correct day of the week for any foreseeable date in the future.
In watchmaking, this is a mechanism that allows the watch to display the exact day and/or date regardless of the length of the month or the occurrence of a leap year.
Typically, a watch that doesn’t have a perpetual calendar requires a manual adjustment in case the current month is shorter than the last.
Programming the algorithm for a perpetual calendar is easier to do on a digital watch compared to a mechanical one.
This explains why mechanical watches with a perpetual calendar feature are priced really high.
With the development of integrated circuit boards and digital displays, it’s now easier and more affordable to manufacture perpetual calendar watches.
Add to that the abundance of raw materials and cheaper labor costs and you get cheap perpetual calendar watches available almost everywhere.
The Most Affordable Perpetual Calendar Watches
Here are the cheapest perpetual calendar watches you can find in the market.
Lad Weather Radio Master LAD017
Lad Weather is a brand that produces outdoor accessories and apparel since 2009.
Through the collaboration of manufacturers and designers from Japan and the U.S., they’re able to produce trendy products at a reasonable price.
The 43mm Lad-Weather has a stainless steel case, a stainless steel bezel, a nylon strap, luminous hands, a day-date indicator, a time zone setting, a battery indicator, and a quartz movement.
This is the cheapest perpetual calendar watch you’ll encounter.
Pros:
- Available in 5 different colors
- Multi-functional design
- Accurate timekeeping mechanism
- Water resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Difficult to set up
- Poorly written instruction manual
- Band is held by flimsy pins
Peugeot Vintage
Peugeot has been in the watchmaking industry since 1957, designing affordable fashion watches.
The 40mm Vintage has a 14K gold-plated stainless steel case, a sapphire crystal, a choice of leather or stainless steel bracelet, antique-looking hands, Roman numeral hour markers, and a dial with 2 rotating disks designed for configuring the perpetual calendar.
This cheap perpetual calendar watch has 3 subdials for indicating the day, the date, and the sun-moon cycle.
Pros:
- Looks expensive and worth more than it actually is
- Overall look resembles that of luxury brands
- Water resistant up to 30m
Cons:
- Its small size makes the watch dial look more cluttered
- No lume on hands
- Readings on the date subdial are too small
Seiko Classic SPC133
Seiko has been producing watches since 1881.
Their first perpetual calendar watch was the Quartz Perpetual Calendar model released in 1998.
The 43mm SPC133 has a stainless steel case, a leather strap, a Hardlex crystal, a tachymeter scale on the outer dial, an alarm function, a stopwatch, a 60-second subdial, a date indicator, a day subdial, and a Japanese quartz movement.
Pros:
- Precise timekeeping mechanism
- Multi-functional watch for an affordable price
- Water resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Cluttered watch face
- Hands have no lume
- Complicated to adjust and configure
[Fortuna] Radio-controlled Watch
Fortuna is a lesser-known brand which develops cheap perpetual calendar watches.
They have a 40mm watch that is solar-powered and has a stainless steel case, a 24-hour subdial, a date subdial, Roman numeral hour markers, luminous hands and markers, a world time function, and a quartz movement.
Pros:
- Highly accurate movement
- Automatically adjusts the time by synchronizing with a radio wave station
- Water resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- Weak lume brightness
- 24-hour subdial is hard to read
- Bracelet feels like plastic
Seiko Men’s SPC131P1
The 44mm SPC131P1 has a stainless steel case, a Hardlex crystal, a leather strap, a tachymeter scale on the outer dial, a day subdial, an alarm function, a date indicator, a month indicator, a 60-second subdial, a stopwatch with fly-back function, and a Japanese quartz chronograph movement.
The SPC131P1 is simply one of the most affordable perpetual calendar watches with superb quality and reliability.
Pros:
- Design and style of the leather strap makes the watch look classy
- Perfect perpetual calendar function
- It has the right size to contain all the features
- Water resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- No lume on hands
- Poorly written instruction manual
- Short-lived battery because of the multiple functions offered
- Stiff strap
Timex Intelligent Quartz Fly-Back Chronograph
Timex was founded in 1854 as the Waterbury Clock Company before they reformed into the Timex Corporation.
They’re known to produce budget wristwatches of various types and models.
In 2005, they released a range of affordable perpetual calendar watches below the $100 price range.
The 43mm Quartz Fly-Back Chronograph has a stainless steel case and bezel, a mineral crystal, a calfskin leather strap, a fly-back chronograph subdial, a 2nd time zone subdial, an Indiglo night-light function, a date indicator, a tachymeter scale on the outer dial, luminescent hands, and a Japanese quartz movement.
It’s easily one of the most beautiful and affordable perpetual calendar watches in the market.
Pros:
- Distinctive subdial look that resembles a car’s dashboard
- Bright backlight function
- Fly-back function is very convenient
- Great timekeeping mechanism
- Water resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Band is too thin for the size of the watch
- Leather strap gets easily soaked in sweat, causing color stains
- Color contrast between the hands and the dial isn’t that great, making it hard to read the time
Citizen Eco-Drive Chronograph BL5470-06A
Citizen was founded in 1918 and is known for producing electronic equipment aside from watches and watch parts.
One of their milestone products with a perpetual calendar function is their Perpetual Chrono A-T model.
The 44mm Chronograph BL5470-06A has a stainless steel case, a mineral crystal, an alligator leather strap, a stationary bezel with Arabic numeral minute markers, Arabic numeral hour markers, a date window, an alarm function, luminous hands and markers, two chronograph subdials displaying 24-hour and 1/10th-second scales, and a calibre E820 quartz movement.
Considering this is also a solar-powered timepiece, the BL5470-06A is simply one of the cheapest perpetual calendar watches out there.
Pros:
- Looks great for casual wear
- Good price point for a perpetual watch with solar-power capacity
- Water resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Hands are difficult to see
- Band is a bit stiff
- Printed manual isn’t helpful in setting up the watch
Citizen Men’s Eco-Drive Chronograph BL5403-03X
The 48mm Chronograph BL5403-03X is a solar-powered timepiece that has a stainless steel case, a brown leather strap, a mineral crystal, a slide rule on the other dial, a date indicator, a 12-hour subdial, a 24-hour subdial, 1/20-second subdial, an alarm function, luminous hands and markers, and a Japanese quartz movement.
Pros:
- Versatile timepiece that’s a sure conversation starter
- It’s loaded with functions
- Water resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Watch face looks too busy
- Strap looks and feels like plastic
- Leather band is too short
Orient Sports Automatic EU0700DW
Orient is a Japanese brand that’s a subsidiary of Seiko Epson.
Since the 1950s, they’ve been manufacturing different types of mechanical watches with quartz, solar, and radio-controlled models.
The 44mm Sports EU0700DW has a stainless steel case and bezel, a leather strap, a mineral crystal, a date-day-month indicator, a rotating slide rule scale on the outer dial, luminous hands, and a Japanese automatic self-winding movement.
Pros:
- Multi-year calendar looks unique and is very functional
- Good lume brightness
- Water resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Dial looks cluttered
- Lume doesn’t last long
- The day indicator can be hard to read
Prince GERA Men’s 18K Gold Watch
Prince GERA is a watch company established in Guangzhou, China.
Their watch designs are German-inspired and, combined with inexpensive production cost, they’re able to develop cheap perpetual calendar watches.
The 42mm watch from Prince GERA has a stainless steel case covered in 18k gold, a calfskin leather strap, a synthetic sapphire crystal, day and month subdials, a date indicator, a night and day subdial, luminous hands, an exhibition case back, and a Japanese self-winding automatic movement.
Its distinctive look is highlighted by a smaller center dial which tells the hours and the minutes, while a larger dial features a smoothly moving seconds hand.
Pros:
- Elegant-looking timepiece that looks more expensive than it really is
- Distinct design that can’t be seen in any other brand
- Clasp has a great locking mechanism
- Water resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- Date window is hard to read
- Lume isn’t that strong
- The hour and minute hands are too small to read in an instant
Tissot Men’s T0636371603700
Tissot is a Swiss watchmaker established in 1853.
In 1983, they became a subsidiary of the Swiss Swatch Group.
The 42mm T0636371603700 has a stainless steel case and bezel, a faux leather strap, a synthetic sapphire crystal, a 60-second subdial at the 6 o’clock position, a day subdial, a month subdial, a date indicator situated at the lower half portion of the watch, and an ETA caliber G15.561 Swiss quartz movement.
Pros:
- Very legible, thanks to the unique shape and positioning of the perpetual calendar function
- Its gorgeous, classic look is best partnered with formal and business wear
- Sleek and comfortable to wear
- Water resistant up to 30m
Cons:
- Cheap strap
- A bit complicated to set up
- No lume on hands
Citizen Men’s Eco-Drive Chronograph BL8140-55E
The 42mm Chronograph BL8140-55E is a solar-powered timepiece with a stainless steel case, an anti-reflective synthetic sapphire crystal, a month indicator, a 24-hour subdial, a day subdial, an alarm, a dual time function, luminous hands, and a Japanese quartz movement.
Pros:
- Accurately keeps time
- Utilitarian but classy
- Water resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Instruction manual is very hard to follow
- Too small for its features
- No power reserve indicator
Luxury Perpetual Calendar Watches
Since being ‘affordable’ is a relative term, we’ve also listed the best-in-class perpetual calendar watches for those with a bigger budget.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Eight Days Reference Q1618420
Jaeger-LeCoultre, or more commonly known as JLC, is a Swiss luxury watch manufacturer established in 1833.
They’re known to produce some of the most sophisticated watches and they’re one of the first to create a perpetual calendar watch.
The 40mm Master Eight Days has a stainless steel case, a scratch-resistant crystal, a see-through case back, an alligator leather strap, a power reserve indicator, a moonphase subdial, a day subdial, a date subdial, a month subdial, a year aperture, a day/night indicator, and a JLC 876-440 hand-wind movement.
Pros:
- Ultra-thin profile makes it comfortable to wear
- Exquisite look with sharp attention to details
- High-quality strap
- Extensive power reserve of up to 192 hours
- Water resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- No lume on hands
- Time can be hard to read on certain angles
- Poor color contrast between the dial and the hands
Glashütte Original Senator Perpetual Calendar
Glashütte Original is a German luxury watchmaker founded in 1994 and is a subsidiary of The Swatch Group.
They use their own movements in the watches they create.
The 42mm Senator has a stainless steel case, a silver matte dial, Roman numeral hour markers, blue-colored hands, an alligator leather strap (or a stainless steel bracelet), a leap year indicator, a moonphase subdial, an exhibition case back, and a Calibre 100-02 automatic movement.
Its perpetual calendar mechanism is displayed in the multiple windows featuring the current day, date, and month of the year.
Pros:
- Legible watch dial
- Calendar indicators have large fonts
- Packed with features without cluttering the watch face
- Power reserve up to 55 hours
- Water resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- No lume on hands
- A bit thicker than other watches
- It’s a bit heavier than your average watch
Ulysse Nardin GMT Perpetual Reference 322-66
Ulysse Nardin is a Swiss watchmaker established in 1846.
They’re known for creating accurate marine chronometers which has won them hundreds of certifications, awards, and medals from different organizations and competitions.
The 42mm GMT Perpetual has an 18kt rose gold case, an alligator leather strap, an anti-reflective sapphire crystal, an exhibition case back, skeletonized hands with lume, luminous hour markers, windows for the day, date, year, and month, a 60-second subdial, a GMT hand, and a Calibre UN-32 self-winding automatic movement.
It is rare in the sense that only a few watches like this allow you to adjust the perpetual calendar forward and backward.
Pros:
- Good lume brightness
- Oversized skeleton hands with contrasting colors make it easier to read the time
- Extra GMT hand is a great added function
- Elegant look with a touch of modern artistry
- Power reserve of up to 48 hours
- Water resistant up to 30m
Cons:
- It’s thick and a bit bulky
- Some color variants might make it hard to read the calendar info
- Crown guards are a bit large
IWC Schaffhausen Portugieser Perpetual Calendar IW503301
The International Watch Company is a Swiss luxury watchmaker founded in 1868.
They later became part of the Swiss Richemont Group in 2000.
The 44mm Portugieser IW503301 has an 18ct white gold case, an alligator leather strap, an arched anti-reflective sapphire crystal, a power reserve indicator, Roman numeral hour markers, a moonphase subdial, a 60-second subdial, perpetual calendar subdials with a year window, an exhibition case back, and a Calibre 52610 self-winding movement.
It’s available in 2 color variants.
Pros:
- Hacking seconds allowed
- Classy design that spells elegance and luxury
- Very legible watch face despite displaying a lot of complications
- Extensive power reserve of up to 168 hours
- Water resistant up to 30m
Cons:
- No lume on hands
- It’s thicker than your typical watch
- It’s quite big on the wrist
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Reference 25820ST.OO.0944ST.05
Audemars Piguet has been producing luxury timepieces since 1875.
Their Royal Oak model is their flagship product which is easily recognizable by the octagon-shaped bezel.
The 39mm Royal Oak 25820ST.OO.0944ST.05 has a stainless steel case, a sapphire crystal, an exhibition case back, luminous hands, subdials telling the day, date, month, and year, a moonphase subdial, a leap year indicator, and a calibre 2120 self-winding movement.
Pros:
- Very durable case and scratch-resistant sapphire
- Great lume brightness
- Legible watch face despite the presence of multiple subdials
- Power reserve of up to 40 hours
Cons:
- Water resistant up to 20m only
- Subdial readings can be hard to see
- It’s a bit heavier than other watches
A. Lange & Sohne Langematik Perpetual
A.
Lange & Sohne was founded in 1845 in Germany.
They’re one of the highly-regarded watchmakers in the industry for their complicated timepieces featuring split-second chronographs and perpetual calendars.
The 38.5mm Langematik has a platinum case, an alligator strap, a tang buckle clasp, a day-date subdial, a month subdial, a 60-second subdial, a day/night indicator, a moonphase subdial, a leap year indicator, Roman numeral hour markers, luminous hands, an oversized date window, an exhibition case back, and a L922.1 SAX-O-MAT movement.
The Honeygold variant is limited to only 100 pieces and will be released this May 2019.
Pros:
- Stunning design and see-through case back adds to the sophisticated feel of the watch
- Impressive functions fitted in one wristwatch
- Power reserve of up to 46 hours
- Water resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- It’s thicker than your typical watch
- Readings on the subdial can be hard to determine
- It’s a bit heavy to wear
Breguet Classique Perpetual Calendar Ref. 5327BB/1E/9V6
Breguet is a luxury watch manufacturer based in France and was established in 1775.
They’re one of the oldest watchmakers today and has made a name for pioneering the development of technologies like the tourbillon, the self-winding movement, and the perpetual calendar.
The 39mm reference 5327BB/1E/9V6 has an 18kt white gold case, an alligator leather strap, an exhibition case back, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, a guilloche-style engraved silver dial, subdials for the day, date, and month, a leap year indicator, a moonphase subdial, a power reserve indicator, Roman numeral hour markers, luminous hands, and an automatic self-winding movement.
Pros:
- The watch has many complications but they don’t hinder the legibility of the watch face
- It looks elegant and sophisticated
- Power reserve of up to 46 hours
- Water resistant up to 30m
Cons:
- Hands are too thin
- Lume is a bit small
- Mighty expensive for a perpetual calendar watch
Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Reference 43175/000R-9687
Vacheron Constantin is a Swiss watchmaker that started in 1755 and continues to operate today without any interruption.
Their patrons include royalties, presidents, and celebrities from all around the globe.
The 41mm Patrimony has a polished 18ct gold case, an alligator leather strap, an exhibition case back, a sapphire crystal, rose gold index hour markers, rose gold hands, a moonphase subdial, a date subdial, a month subdial, a day subdial, a leap year indicator, and a Calibre 1120 QP automatic movement.
Pros:
- Legible watch face
- Elegant look with excellent attention to detail
- Available in two color variants
- Power reserve of up to 40 hours
- Water resistant up to 30m
Cons:
- Very expensive for its features
- No lume on hands
- A bit heavier than your typical casual watch
H.Moser & Cie. Endeavour Perpetual Calendar Reference 1341-0300
H.
Moser & Cie.
Was founded in 1828 but was sold after its founder died without an heir to take over the family business.
It re-emerged in 2012 after it was acquired by the MELB Holding Group.
The 40.8mm Endeavour has a platinum case, a sapphire crystal, an alligator leather strap with a deployment clasp, a large date aperture, a month indicator, a 60-second subdial, and a calibre HMC 341 movement.
Pros:
- Clean, minimalist, and highly legible watch face
- Large date aperture makes you quickly read the date in a glance
- Flawless craftsmanship as seen on every tiny detail on the watch
- Power reserve of up to 7 days
- Water resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- No lume on hands
- No automatic movement that’s typically expected of watches in this price range
- Limited design models
Patek Philippe Grand Complication Ref. 5140G
Patek Philippe was established in 1839 in Switzerland and is the most respected luxury brand in terms of creating complicated timepieces.
Their prestigious name and expertise in watchmaking earned them seven of the top ten spots of the most expensive watches ever created in history.
The 37mm Grand Complication 5140G has a 18k white gold case, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, an alligator leather strap, subdials for the day, month, and date, a night/day indicator, a moonphase subdial, a 24-hour subdial, a leap year indicator, an exhibition case back, a signature deployant buckle, and a calibre 240 Q automatic movement.
Pros:
- Ultra-thin profile makes it comfortable to wear
- Power reserve of up to 48 hours
- Water resistant up to 30m
Cons:
- Thin lume application
- No seconds hand
- Some subdial readings can be hard to discern
Conclusion
A perpetual calendar helps keep you updated with the current date, regardless if it’s a leap year or if the months are longer/shorter.
The mechanism automatically adjusts the date displayed without the need for manual interference.
Watches with this feature are best used by professionals who heavily rely on the info their watch provides and have little time tinkering for adjustments.
Our list contains both luxury timepieces and affordable perpetual calendar watches to suit any budget range.
Take a look at it again and you’ll surely find something you’ll fall in love with.
