- 11/7/16
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Here is the white dial Patek Philippe 5711 Nautilus as gen. Retail is $29,000ish, and re-sale is around $50,000.
On the wrist:
And with its more popular brother, the blue dial:
I had the opportunity to purchase a gen dial, and as luck would have it, PF has made their Nautilus from a gen, so it will accept gen dials as long as you cut the feet (because the movement is different). First off, this review wouldn't be possible without Karlus for offering to send me his PF Nautilus with a JJF dial installed.
While there are quite a few variants of the white dial Nautilus out, I'll primarily focus on the 'big 3' of Nautilus, which are:
Here are the pics, I'll have some commentary as we move through them:
Some notes: The hands have been relumed, and I noticed that actually JJF makes better lumed minute hands than anyone else. I've ordered some hands and will be replacing them.
Major DIAL differences JJF to GEN:
Direct sunlight:
Off angle - pay attention to the hour marker finish on the JJF vs Gen:
Gen off-angle:
JJF Off angle:
Different shady light:
Off-angle - look how the gen dial gets darker and makes the markers pop. It does this at multiple angles and is SO cool.
Comparing SWISS at 6 oclock
Comparing logos - JJF is nowhere near GEN.
Date window on the JJF:
Date window on the GEN:
Comparison:
JJF Dial:
Gen Dial:
Gen on wrist:
JJF on wrist:
Finally, here are some comparisons of all 4 of the main versions out:
Dial comparisons:
Date window comparisons (please note MK v6 has VERY rounded corners of the piano keys at the edge of the date window):
Logo Comparison - MKF is most gen like, though PF is no slouch:
SWISS comparison - MK v6 is best:
Conclusions:
No dial is quite like gen.
JJF:
What's the best build if I don't have a gen dial?
Option 1 - as long as you find a modder who will re-lume a Nautilus:
Option 2 - no re-luming
If you have a gen dial:
Please, again give a major shout out to RWI and Karlus because without them this wouldn't have been possible to go as in-depth.
On the wrist:
And with its more popular brother, the blue dial:
I had the opportunity to purchase a gen dial, and as luck would have it, PF has made their Nautilus from a gen, so it will accept gen dials as long as you cut the feet (because the movement is different). First off, this review wouldn't be possible without Karlus for offering to send me his PF Nautilus with a JJF dial installed.
While there are quite a few variants of the white dial Nautilus out, I'll primarily focus on the 'big 3' of Nautilus, which are:
- JJF - primary comparison here
- MKF v6
- PF
Here are the pics, I'll have some commentary as we move through them:
Some notes: The hands have been relumed, and I noticed that actually JJF makes better lumed minute hands than anyone else. I've ordered some hands and will be replacing them.
Major DIAL differences JJF to GEN:
- Hour marker lume plots are wider on JJF
- The "EV" in GENEVE are not joined like gen
- Gen lume is bluish in shade, creamy white in artificial light, and pure white in sunlight. JJF is always white.
- Date window on gen is flush with dial, JJF's sticks up and is an 'applied' SS box that really takes away from the dial
- Typed print is not well done when looking up close
- At an angle, the gen dial gets darker, the JJF stays white. Gen makes the markers pop.
- The Hour markers stay black at an off angle, JJF reflects light more like a silverish finish
Direct sunlight:
Off angle - pay attention to the hour marker finish on the JJF vs Gen:
Gen off-angle:
JJF Off angle:
Different shady light:
Off-angle - look how the gen dial gets darker and makes the markers pop. It does this at multiple angles and is SO cool.
Comparing SWISS at 6 oclock
Comparing logos - JJF is nowhere near GEN.
Date window on the JJF:
Date window on the GEN:
Comparison:
JJF Dial:
Gen Dial:
Gen on wrist:
JJF on wrist:
Finally, here are some comparisons of all 4 of the main versions out:
Dial comparisons:
Date window comparisons (please note MK v6 has VERY rounded corners of the piano keys at the edge of the date window):
Logo Comparison - MKF is most gen like, though PF is no slouch:
SWISS comparison - MK v6 is best:
Conclusions:
No dial is quite like gen.
JJF:
- Pros: great from straight on, best color lume
- Cons: date window is terribly finished and very high, logo is wrong (EV in geneve), font on SWISS is wrong, bad finishing at off-angles, seconds hand counter-balance top is flat (gen is textured), lume plots too wide
- Pros: Great printing, almost everything is the right size, good angling of date window, best seconds hand
- Cons: Date window is applied, lume is almost like toothpaste consistency and too yellow, printing isn't as good as MKF v6
- Pros: Best looking dial, lowest-sitting date window (but still not gen-like), best print
- Cons: Lume is straight yellow, piano keys are rounded at the edge of the date window
What's the best build if I don't have a gen dial?
Option 1 - as long as you find a modder who will re-lume a Nautilus:
- Buy a PF watch & the DWO from www.datewheel.info
- Re-lume an MKF v6 dial + hands
- Use PF Seconds hand
Option 2 - no re-luming
- Buy a PF watch & the DWO from www.datewheel.info
- Install JJF Dial + Hands
- Use PF Seconds hand
If you have a gen dial:
- PF + DWO from www.datewheel.info
- Gen dial, with feet cut
- JJF hour and minute hands, PF seconds hand
Please, again give a major shout out to RWI and Karlus because without them this wouldn't have been possible to go as in-depth.
