Patek 5711/1A Review

[dddrees]

I've only owned this watch for a couple of hours, however I'll do my best to tell you a bit about this watch. I'm not real good at taking pictures so if you need you can take a look at more pictures of this watch here:

http://www.patek.com/contents/defaul...11_1A_010.html

This is the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1A which was initially designed by Gerald Genta as the Nautilus 3700 and released to the public in 1976. He's the same gentleman who designed the Audemars Piguet's Royal Oak in 1970. He also designed watches for other companies to include IWC as well.

At the time when Gerald Genta designed the Royal Oak and Nautilus both Ap and Patek Phillipe did not manufacture a Stainless Steel sports watch and in fact most people questioned why a Stainless Steel spoorts watch would cost so much. In fact this is why to this day the Nautilus remains from what I understand as a watch which is sought out but made in fairly low quantities.

There are currently 17 different models of the Nautilus that Patek now manufactures.

The specifics of the 5711 are the following:

Mechanical self-winding movement with date
Caliber 324 S C
Sweep seconds hand
Black-blue dial, gold applied hour markers with luminescent coating
Screw-down crown
Sapphire-crystal case back
Water resistant to 120 m
Stainless steel
Case diameter (10-4 o’clock): 40 mm

When comparing the case this watch to the Royal Oak you can tell that the same designer created both watches.

From the short time I have owned the watch I can tell you that there is a huge difference between the way this watch wears and any other stainless steel sports watch that I have ever worn. It's much more lighter when compared to others, and it has a smaller wrist presence than most. Although it is made of all stainless steel and it is a 40 mm diameter it wears flatter due to the case being thinner and it also feels like one is wearing something more like a dress watch which is rather delecate and elegant.

You can tell the finish of the case and the bracelet is something someone did with alot of attention to detail. I have not seen anything like this previously. The bezel is finished one way where the sides of the case are finished another. The bracelet is also polished with PCLs down the center and a different look on the sides. Watchout scratches here we come, however with the small profile I doubt that I will notice them that much.

The Nautilus has ears on both sides of the case which is unique and different but it gives the watch it's sense of balance as the left side looks like the right side. The right side protects the crown and connects the top of the case. The left side I believe is where hinge on the top of the case connects to the bottom of the case.

The clasp on the Nautilus is rather small and stamped rather than machined. It uses a butterfly clasp and this seems a bit stiff. The bracelet overall is very light but I rather enjoy wearing the watch instead of the watch wearing on me. the bracelet has a nice taper which is hard to describe but it appears to be curved and not straight until the underneath where it stops tapering altogether which is kind of a neat effect.

The blue dial is said to change shade depending on lighting and angle. I've noticed that it kind of shimmers and reflects a nice light as it hits the face of the dial and the lines that run vertically across the face of the dial. I think it looks simply amazing. Supposedly this is something Patek mastered long before other companies.

The hands are just the right thickness and length and are easily recognized when glancing down at the watch. They work real well with the stick hour markers and the double marker for 12 looks pretty neat. The 5711/1A has a second hand where the older 3700 did not. This is supposedly a detractor for some as they prefer a cleaner dial. But not for me as I much rather prefer a second hand. Overall I really like how the dial looks in combination with squarish oval like bezel.

The watch has a saphire case back which allows you to see the inner workings of a masterfully finished movement. The wonderfull gold rotor with the Patek symbol is the first thing that you will notice. It's generous size window which lets you see quite a bit if you move the rotor this way and the other tosee behind it. I'm a bit old with eyes which are not as good anymore, but it's not hard to tell the movement looks pretty nice in there.

This may not be the typical Patek, but this one works for me. I've had a couple of watches on straps, but I always come back to the stainless steel watches. The Nautilus I'm sure will go with most anything from a suit to jeans and even shorts.

Finally for me with any luxury watch the history of the manufacture, their reputation, the quality, and the design is all a part of the experience for me. I haven't been a WIS for that long, but shortly after becoming one I knew a Patek Phillipe was something I aspired to experience ownership. Until today I could only experience looking at them in magazines and watch stores. So when I wear this watch I have to work hard not to smile. I don't like working that hard so I'll just keep smiling instead.

Cheers,

Dan

[perpetualman88]

Great Review Dan thanks so much for indulging my request buddy !!!!

[masterserg]

Fantastic read. Someday ...

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by perpetualman88

Great Review Dan thanks so much for indulging my request buddy !!!!

My pleasure David, I actually had a lot of fun doing it. Thanks for kind of pushing me to do it. I just hope it made for a good read.

Cheers,

Dan

Originally Posted by masterserg

Fantastic read. Someday ...

That's what I kept saying,I just got tired of saying it. So finally I just went ahead and did it.

Thanks,

Dan

[Andrés G]

Makes me want one even more...

[cruvon]

Awesome review Dan and great to read your first impressions, to have one of these is surely the epitome of any collection..btw you are tempting us to get onto this slippery slope but guess everyone needs to have a PP atleast once;)

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by cruvon

Awesome review Dan and great to read your first impressions, to have one of these is surely the epitome of any collection..btw you are tempting us to get onto this slippery slope;)

Thanks San.

Can you keep a secret? Good


See it's all part of the master plan. A few of us who own Pateks are conspiring to get a larger portion of the forum to purchase Pateks. This is not the goal as much it is a conspiracy to get more people to join us in our quest to create another subforum on TRF for Pateks.

So you see this has to be kept rather hush hush now as not to let any of the mods know what we are up to in the meantime.


Shhhhhhhhhhhh.....................................


Cheers,

Dan

[DD GT3 RD]

one of my favs. thanks

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by DD GT3 RD

one of my favs. thanks

Thank you.

[DAVIDSW]

Very enjoyable read

It looks stunning on the wrist

Regards
DavidSW

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by DAVIDSW

Very enjoyable read

It looks stunning on the wrist

Regards
DavidSW

Thank you sir, and thank you for the watch, and thank you for such a smooth transaction.

[aboen]

Yup...wanting one even more now.
Thanks so much for the review.

[johnbeth]

Huge congrats and a great article to read. Congrats!

[dalip]

Nice write up Dan.

[Puffy]

great work Dan, i hope I was one of those who helped enable you

i'm looking for another patek!!

think Rolex is addictive, try Patek.... oh dear!!

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by aboen

Yup...wanting one even more now.
Thanks so much for the review.

Your welcome.

Originally Posted by johnbeth

Huge congrats and a great article to read. Congrats!

Thanks John, I told you it was all your fault.

Originally Posted by dalip

Nice write up Dan.

Thank you Dalip.

Originally Posted by Puffy

great work Dan, i hope I was one of those who helped enable you

i'm looking for another patek!!

think Rolex is addictive, try Patek.... oh dear!!

Oh yes, yes you were one of them that's for sure Anders.

By the way my wife would like to speak with you. How may I tell her she might need to contact you?


Beware everybody, because it's Lions and Tigers, and Pateks Oh My.

[johnbeth]

Originally Posted by dddrees

Thanks John, I told you it was all your fault.

[belk7]

Beautiful watch, Dan and an excellent write up.

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by belk7

Beautiful watch, Dan and an excellent write up.

Thanks Chris.

[Cru Jones]

excellent read, thanks for the effort......some day i will try one on. i'm a huge fan of the genta designs.

as you get to know it over the coming weeks and months, i'd love to read a follow-up of your impressions and thoughts.

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by Cru Jones

excellent read, thanks for the effort......some day i will try one on. i'm a huge fan of the genta designs.

as you get to know it over the coming weeks and months, i'd love to read a follow-up of your impressions and thoughts.

Thanks Cru.

I'm a gigantic Patek fan, however for some reason I actually fell in love with the Royal Oak first in large part I think because they are more common here and I was seeing them more often. I think it's also because when I think about a Patek I think about it being formal or a complicated movements. So the Nautilus and Aquanaut somehow didn't even come to mind as being a Patek. However once I looked at it a bit more it seemed the Nautilus was a much better fit for me given my greater appreciation for what Patek Phillipe means to me and my desire to own a Patek. The other factor was that I found I actually enjoy wearing an all steel watch and bracelet more than something on a leather strap.

Since the review was only after one day, it might actually be interesting to see if I notice or feel anything different later on. It sure is worth considering, and you are correct.

Hey if I forget to conduct a follow-up please give me a shout, and I will definitely give it a shot.

Cheers,

Dan

[psv]

That is the definition of sport luxury, and the 324 is such a beautiful movement. Many congrats. I refuse to try one of these on, knowing full well where it would lead...

Many congrats Dan! There is nothing like the first Patek! :-)

[eric23]

Great review Dan!

[mdtddd2007]

Thanks for sharing....luv mine too...and congrats on yours!

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by psv

That is the definition of sport luxury, and the 324 is such a beautiful movement. Many congrats. I refuse to try one of these on, knowing full well where it would lead...

Many congrats Dan! There is nothing like the first Patek! :-)

Yep,once you go there it's hard to accept anything but the best.


Thanks Patrick.

Originally Posted by eric23

Great review Dan!

Thanks Eric, good luck with your decision.

Originally Posted by mdtddd2007

Thanks for sharing....luv mine too...and congrats on yours!

Ooh Cool, I've found a fellow owner.


Cheers,

Dan

[Mosco]

Dan,

huge congrats man - that watch is a stunner... Nice and clean, a timeless classic. Thanks for the write-up!

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by Mosco

Dan,

huge congrats man - that watch is a stunner... Nice and clean, a timeless classic. Thanks for the write-up!

Thank you and your 5712 looks awesome Greg.

[Tony-GB]

Dan, thanks for the superb write up.

The 5711 & 5711R are two of my favourite watches ever. I very nearly bought a 5711R before I tumbled down the WIS rabbit hole.

If possible would you be able to do periodical updates?

My only criticism of your thread is MORE PICS!!

[TSW]

Great write-up Dan

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by Tony-GB

Dan, thanks for the superb write up.

The 5711 & 5711R are two of my favourite watches ever. I very nearly bought a 5711R before I tumbled down the WIS rabbit hole.

If possible would you be able to do periodical updates?

My only criticism of your thread is MORE PICS!!

Thanks Tony.

I'll do my best.

Originally Posted by TSW

Great write-up Dan

Thanks Thomas.

I almost got my AP, unfortunately I got a bit side tracked. Maybe I'll have to work a bit harder and get onboard later.