Replicas of coveted Patek Philippe models, such as the Nautilus ref. 5711, are getting better by the year. Our watchmaker reveals key inaccuracies to watch out for.
The Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 is a highly coveted luxury watch that has been replicated by fake watch manufacturers for decades – with increased accuracy. During an authentication process conducted by our in-house watchmaker, Peter Glomb, which included the dial, crystal, case thickness, weight, and movement inspection, we discovered some inaccuracies you should be mindful of:
The Dial
The dial on the fake 5711 is a decent replica, but, upon closer inspection, it becomes evident that the batons and minute markers are slightly bigger than they’re supposed to be, which indicates that the manufacturer didn't pay attention to detail and may not have been professionally trained. Additionally, the hands on the fake watch have visible marks on them, further proving that it was not assembled by a skilled technician.
Weight and Thickness
While the crystal on the fake 5711 is well-made, it's let down by the gasket which was not properly pinched, which leads to its increased thickness. Another notable difference between the areal and fake 5711 is their weight: the replica is about one gram lighter – due to major differences in the components and materials used in the fake's movement. The bracelet on the fake watch is also well-made but lacks important updates seen in authentic versions.
The Movement
However, perhaps the most significant flaw of this fake Nautilus lies in its movement. We were surprised to see a free-sprung balance, which was a first for us. And, while the purpose of the free-sprung balance in a watch is to keep it as accurate as possible, the fake 5711 fails to achieve such precision as evidenced by our timing performance, which yielded a Delta of about 200 (while the genuine 5711 one was at 5.5).
This fake 5711 movement was also marked as cal. 26-330, which is a newer version of the caliber that’s used in the authentic version. Despite this, the manufacturer of the replica didn’t bother to add the characteristic features of 26-330. Moving on, a look at the movement through the microscope makes it clear that the screws that keep the movement in place have small dents and marks, which suggests that, there were meant not from robust carbon steel (which is what the movement components of steel watches should be made from) but a cheaper alloy.
In conclusion, while many may be tempted by cheaper imitations of this prestigious watch, it is important to be aware of its flaws and lack of durability. The recent discovery of a fake 5711 Nautilus serves as a reminder to always purchase from reputable sources to ensure you are getting an authentic piece of luxury craftsmanship.
