Just received my 5711-1A from Steve, and overall, I’m impressed. The quality is fantastic, and shipping was lightning-fast—8 days from China to the UK.
While this is a solid rep, there are some inconsistencies and easy-to-spot tells. I’d rate it a 7/10—good enough to fool some on r/PatekPhilippe, but enthusiasts might raise an eyebrow.
Case – 9/10
Dial – 6/10
Hands – 6/10
Datewheel – 9/10
Mechanism – 8/10
While this is a solid rep, there are some inconsistencies and easy-to-spot tells. I’d rate it a 7/10—good enough to fool some on r/PatekPhilippe, but enthusiasts might raise an eyebrow.
Breakdown:
Case – 9/10- Near perfect, possibly even 10/10.
- Minor note: The shine and polish rounding could be improved in future versions.
- Crystal: Get a gen/AM crystal with a better AR coating
Dial – 6/10- Way too blue—sunburst effect is inconsistent with gen.
- Considering gen dial (pricey) or SW/Buff as replacements—open to recommendations!
Hands – 6/10- Lume is too wide—might be nitpicking (Sherlock Holmes syndrome).
- Easy spot next to a gen and inconsistencies with the sizing.
Datewheel – 9/10- Looks great—no flaws visible without a loupe.
Mechanism – 8/10- 1:1 rep for the most part.
- Free winding wheel has a bridge (correct me if my terminology is off).
- Engravings could be deeper, and parts seem to be brass—might benefit from oiling (currently running at -5s/day).
Final Thoughts:
A perfect base watch for modding. Planning to upgrade the dial, crystal, lume, and possibly custom engrave the case for that extra "douche effect." Excited to dive into this black hole of modifications over the next few months!
