I've decided to try and collect 10 decent Patek Philippe reps, so I can fill a watch box with them. PP is the brand of watch I've always loved and wanted one before I found out how much they cost 
PP reps aren't great for the most part, Nautilus and Aquanaut aside. Either because the complications are too difficult to replicate, or because demand doesn't justify the level of attention from the factories, most reps aren't particularly accurate and many are better considered 'fantasy' versions. I've come to accept that, as the biggest fantasy is that I could afford a Patek Philippe in the first place. So I've decided a missing complication or incorrect detail here or there isn't going to deter me.
I've spent too much money on reps in the last few months, so this collection will be mainly at the lower end of the budget spectrum, but hopefully they will all be decent for the money.
This is what my box should end up like:
- Nautilus 5717 blue dial
- Nautilus 5712 grey dial moonphase
- Aquanaut 5165A
- Grand complication 5970 - white dial
- Grand complication 5970 - black dial
- Grand complication 5004 - Rose gold - white dial
- Grand complication 5004 - white dial
- Celestial 5102
- Skymoon Tourbillon 5002P
- Chronograph 5070 (not ordered yet)
- Calatrava 5119G (not ordered yet)
- Ellipse 3738 (not ordered yet)
Here it is without the Nautilus complication, which has to be sent to Timesshop for repair. Also I'll buy the Chronograph 5070 soon. Got a couple of Breguet as placeholders.
I've listed them in approximate level of expense - Skymoon tourbillon obviously the most expensive. First I'll post pictures and specifications of the gen. Then post the rep (photos of my reps when they arrive), and a brief note on the main flaws.
If you want to know "which is/where can I get the best/most accurate PP rep?" then I suggest you get a Nautilus or Aquanaut from one of the dealers with good quality control, it'll cost about $350 - $400 or so. The thing is that Patek Philippe are known more for their gorgeous and complicated dress watches, so getting a PP sports watch like the Aquanaut or the Nautilus (even though it's quite versatile) will probably leave you wanting more. Sure George Soros wears a n Aquanaut on a rubber strap with a suit, but that doesn't mean you should. I think the most disappointing aspect about PP reps is that there isn't a decent Calatrava rep - it's simple enough to be extremely well repped but the versions currently available are simply not very good, both in accuracy and in finish. Likewise the Ellipse - an extremely simple watch, as worn by Albert Einstein, but you hardly see any reps and those that you do see look rather cheap. Few people will know the full Patek Philippe catalogue (current or past) so the chance of someone calling you out based on a point of accuracy is extraordinarily low, but if the watch looks cheaply made then clearly it's not a gen PP worth $20,000 or so.
As for watches such as the grand complications, one can't expect a movement that a PP master watchmaker has been working on for 1 - 2 years to be replicated by a Chinese factory - even if they could, the relatively low demand wouldn't justify the effort. So there's no choice but to lower standards of accuracy. The question is, are the 21j or Lemania versions available remotely acceptable in terms of quality of finishing etc? I should be in a position to give my opinion on that in a few weeks once my orders have arrived. I suspect that the lemania versions ( http://www.replicamake88.com/products/PP08002-PATEK-PHILIPPE-CHRONO-WORKING-CALENDER-MOONPHASE-HAND-WINDER ) will be the nicest overall, even though it looks more l like the simple cousin of the 5970.
I have ordered all of the watches listed apart from the Calatrava, and Ellipse. The Calatrava and Ellipse should probably be the most well-repped PP reps, they are very simple watches really. Accordingly I would really like a higher standard of rep than is currently available for the price. The Calatrava at Watch Eden is probably the best http://www.watcheden.net/patek-phili...78739-p-1(if anyone finds a better one let me know) but it only just looks like it's worth the $108 it costs. And the Ellipse from Timeshop also doesn't look great for $93. I may purchase those later, but only out of a desire to complete the set, as I don't consider them really worth the money.
When I get the watches I'll review them. It may take a while as my wife is having a baby on Friday 17 June, so I'll have other priorities for a while.
1. Nautilus 5717 (blue dial)
Gen:
Notable specs: movement - 21,600 vph
Case Diameter: 34.8 mm
Case Thickness: 8.5 mm
Caseback: Sapphire Crystal display back
Rep:
Wrist shot:
As you can tell, my $68 Timesshop version doesn't have the right blue colour - it's more of a dark blue than the aqua blue of the gen. It does change depending on the light though. The sweep of the 21J is accurate to gen though
The MBK from Narikaa is regarded by many as the best rep, although it has it's downsides (e.g. closed case-back). See this thread for some analysis: http://www.replica-watches-guide.com/forum/index.php?&showtopic=8834
2. Nautilus moonphase - 5712 (gray dial - ordered but broke so have to send back)
Gen (blue dial)
Rep:
3. Aquanaut 5167
Gen:
Rep:
Here's a good review of a higher quality version rephttp://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php/my-brief-aquanaut-review-69637
6. 5970 Grand complications silver dial
Gen - a bargain at $170,000 or so.
Notable specs: 18,000 vph movement, 40mm diameter. Dial is silver with white gold hands and applied hour markers. The hands and hour markers are painted a graphite color
[/quote]
Rep:
Perfection would be if the watch below could have sex with this one, keeping the beautiful movement visible through the caseback, while having the more accurate dial of this one. That's why I bought this one, so they can make watch-love and combine to become a pretty decent rep.
Alternative option (not ordered):
Rep:
This is a fantasy version really, but the movement is beautiful so it makes it a fantasy worth having IMO. EDIT - I decided not to get this one in the end, as there are more accurate PP chronos, i.e. this 5070 http://www.asian7750.com/cn/product_...7&P_id=375&ti=
5970 Grand complications - black dial 21j This one keeps warlock time. The one Charlie Sheen lost/had stolen from an adult actress acquaintance.
Here's the rep. The size is accurate - only 40mm unlike most 21j reps of this watch, which are 45mm. The chrono won't work because it's 21J, but subdials do. It's not a proper moonphase, is a day and night indicator with a 24 hour dial with it.
The photos really don't do it justice, this is my new favourite dress watch. A nice size, 40mm and quite thin, it looks really good from a foot away (normal viewing distance).
engraving on buckle on reverse side, which is accurate for PP buckles, I've now swapped it for the Calatrava cross clasp.
Patek Philippe 5004G
This is rose gold but there are some grand complications gens made in rose gold so its not too unrealistic. Also it's 43mm, compared to 37mm for the gen, but should be a wearable size for me (just) and they're some of the better grand complication reps I've seen available.
Gen:
Rep:
Patek Philippe 5004P
gen:
Rep
5. Celestial 5102 G
This beauty is a mere $200,000 USD.
Gen:
Rep:
6. Skymoon Tourbillon 5002P
This is the big-daddy, priced at auction at appx. $1.2 million USD. That makes the chance of owning one rather absurd, but I couldn't resist. The gold reps are a bit more accurate (correct color hands) but I prefer stainless steel since it won't fade/get worn off. Also the color of the gold tends not to be so great.
Gen:
Notable specs: manual wind 21,600vph)
Case Diameter: 42.8 mm
Case Thickness: 16.25 mm
Rep:
Inaccuracies (from MM in this thread http://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php/inaccurate-patek-sky-moon-reps-57984
Calatrava (not ordered yet)
Gen:
http://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/...pe-collection-work-78409?p=766862#post-766862
Notable specs: 28,800 vph movement, case diameter 36mm
Wuggy's thread has a good comparison with Watch Eden's version, which is overall better than TS's, but also $40 more expensive. http://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php/patek-5119g-rep-not-ready-77809
5. Ellipse 3738 (may order from Timeshop, but at $93 for a quartz rep it's not great value)
Gen:
Rep:
Pretty underwhelming really:
PP reps aren't great for the most part, Nautilus and Aquanaut aside. Either because the complications are too difficult to replicate, or because demand doesn't justify the level of attention from the factories, most reps aren't particularly accurate and many are better considered 'fantasy' versions. I've come to accept that, as the biggest fantasy is that I could afford a Patek Philippe in the first place. So I've decided a missing complication or incorrect detail here or there isn't going to deter me.
I've spent too much money on reps in the last few months, so this collection will be mainly at the lower end of the budget spectrum, but hopefully they will all be decent for the money.
This is what my box should end up like:
- Nautilus 5717 blue dial
- Nautilus 5712 grey dial moonphase
- Aquanaut 5165A
- Grand complication 5970 - white dial
- Grand complication 5970 - black dial
- Grand complication 5004 - Rose gold - white dial
- Grand complication 5004 - white dial
- Celestial 5102
- Skymoon Tourbillon 5002P
- Chronograph 5070 (not ordered yet)
- Calatrava 5119G (not ordered yet)
- Ellipse 3738 (not ordered yet)
Here it is without the Nautilus complication, which has to be sent to Timesshop for repair. Also I'll buy the Chronograph 5070 soon. Got a couple of Breguet as placeholders.
I've listed them in approximate level of expense - Skymoon tourbillon obviously the most expensive. First I'll post pictures and specifications of the gen. Then post the rep (photos of my reps when they arrive), and a brief note on the main flaws.
If you want to know "which is/where can I get the best/most accurate PP rep?" then I suggest you get a Nautilus or Aquanaut from one of the dealers with good quality control, it'll cost about $350 - $400 or so. The thing is that Patek Philippe are known more for their gorgeous and complicated dress watches, so getting a PP sports watch like the Aquanaut or the Nautilus (even though it's quite versatile) will probably leave you wanting more. Sure George Soros wears a n Aquanaut on a rubber strap with a suit, but that doesn't mean you should. I think the most disappointing aspect about PP reps is that there isn't a decent Calatrava rep - it's simple enough to be extremely well repped but the versions currently available are simply not very good, both in accuracy and in finish. Likewise the Ellipse - an extremely simple watch, as worn by Albert Einstein, but you hardly see any reps and those that you do see look rather cheap. Few people will know the full Patek Philippe catalogue (current or past) so the chance of someone calling you out based on a point of accuracy is extraordinarily low, but if the watch looks cheaply made then clearly it's not a gen PP worth $20,000 or so.
As for watches such as the grand complications, one can't expect a movement that a PP master watchmaker has been working on for 1 - 2 years to be replicated by a Chinese factory - even if they could, the relatively low demand wouldn't justify the effort. So there's no choice but to lower standards of accuracy. The question is, are the 21j or Lemania versions available remotely acceptable in terms of quality of finishing etc? I should be in a position to give my opinion on that in a few weeks once my orders have arrived. I suspect that the lemania versions ( http://www.replicamake88.com/products/PP08002-PATEK-PHILIPPE-CHRONO-WORKING-CALENDER-MOONPHASE-HAND-WINDER ) will be the nicest overall, even though it looks more l like the simple cousin of the 5970.
I have ordered all of the watches listed apart from the Calatrava, and Ellipse. The Calatrava and Ellipse should probably be the most well-repped PP reps, they are very simple watches really. Accordingly I would really like a higher standard of rep than is currently available for the price. The Calatrava at Watch Eden is probably the best http://www.watcheden.net/patek-phili...78739-p-1(if anyone finds a better one let me know) but it only just looks like it's worth the $108 it costs. And the Ellipse from Timeshop also doesn't look great for $93. I may purchase those later, but only out of a desire to complete the set, as I don't consider them really worth the money.
When I get the watches I'll review them. It may take a while as my wife is having a baby on Friday 17 June, so I'll have other priorities for a while.
1. Nautilus 5717 (blue dial)
Gen:
Notable specs: movement - 21,600 vph
Case Diameter: 34.8 mm
Case Thickness: 8.5 mm
Caseback: Sapphire Crystal display back
Rep:
Wrist shot:
As you can tell, my $68 Timesshop version doesn't have the right blue colour - it's more of a dark blue than the aqua blue of the gen. It does change depending on the light though. The sweep of the 21J is accurate to gen though
The MBK from Narikaa is regarded by many as the best rep, although it has it's downsides (e.g. closed case-back). See this thread for some analysis: http://www.replica-watches-guide.com/forum/index.php?&showtopic=8834
2. Nautilus moonphase - 5712 (gray dial - ordered but broke so have to send back)
Gen (blue dial)
Rep:
3. Aquanaut 5167
Gen:
Rep:
Here's a good review of a higher quality version rephttp://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php/my-brief-aquanaut-review-69637
6. 5970 Grand complications silver dial
Gen - a bargain at $170,000 or so.
Notable specs: 18,000 vph movement, 40mm diameter. Dial is silver with white gold hands and applied hour markers. The hands and hour markers are painted a graphite color
[/quote]
Rep:
Perfection would be if the watch below could have sex with this one, keeping the beautiful movement visible through the caseback, while having the more accurate dial of this one. That's why I bought this one, so they can make watch-love and combine to become a pretty decent rep.
Alternative option (not ordered):
Rep:
This is a fantasy version really, but the movement is beautiful so it makes it a fantasy worth having IMO. EDIT - I decided not to get this one in the end, as there are more accurate PP chronos, i.e. this 5070 http://www.asian7750.com/cn/product_...7&P_id=375&ti=
5970 Grand complications - black dial 21j This one keeps warlock time. The one Charlie Sheen lost/had stolen from an adult actress acquaintance.
Here's the rep. The size is accurate - only 40mm unlike most 21j reps of this watch, which are 45mm. The chrono won't work because it's 21J, but subdials do. It's not a proper moonphase, is a day and night indicator with a 24 hour dial with it.
The photos really don't do it justice, this is my new favourite dress watch. A nice size, 40mm and quite thin, it looks really good from a foot away (normal viewing distance).
engraving on buckle on reverse side, which is accurate for PP buckles, I've now swapped it for the Calatrava cross clasp.
Patek Philippe 5004G
This is rose gold but there are some grand complications gens made in rose gold so its not too unrealistic. Also it's 43mm, compared to 37mm for the gen, but should be a wearable size for me (just) and they're some of the better grand complication reps I've seen available.
Gen:
Rep:
Patek Philippe 5004P
gen:
Rep
5. Celestial 5102 G
This beauty is a mere $200,000 USD.
Gen:
Rep:
6. Skymoon Tourbillon 5002P
This is the big-daddy, priced at auction at appx. $1.2 million USD. That makes the chance of owning one rather absurd, but I couldn't resist. The gold reps are a bit more accurate (correct color hands) but I prefer stainless steel since it won't fade/get worn off. Also the color of the gold tends not to be so great.
Gen:
Notable specs: manual wind 21,600vph)
Case Diameter: 42.8 mm
Case Thickness: 16.25 mm
Rep:
Inaccuracies (from MM in this thread http://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php/inaccurate-patek-sky-moon-reps-57984
Calatrava (not ordered yet)
Gen:
http://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/...pe-collection-work-78409?p=766862#post-766862
Notable specs: 28,800 vph movement, case diameter 36mm
Wuggy's thread has a good comparison with Watch Eden's version, which is overall better than TS's, but also $40 more expensive. http://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php/patek-5119g-rep-not-ready-77809
5. Ellipse 3738 (may order from Timeshop, but at $93 for a quartz rep it's not great value)
Gen:
Rep:
Pretty underwhelming really:
