dr.kol
11333
I finally got my new Patek and now I'm happy!
Just before SIHH I ordered my dream watch; Patek Philippe Ref. 5712/1A.
The story why I dreamed about this watch is a long one but still I am telling it: I ordered the new Patek Ref. 3712/1A on the first day of Baselworld 2005. I waited for the watch and finally in May 2006 I was told that the watch never came and I was offered as compensation Ref. 3710/1A with full price. I took it.
Later I heard by accident that "my" watch actually came to the AD but they sold it (perhaps with a premium) to a close friend. That left me a little bit upset and I must admit that I did not cry when the same AD lost later their right to sell Patek.
Anyhow, this watch stayed as my dream but I was happy to replace my dream with the new Ref. 5712/1A.
Some four weeks ago I heard that my 5712 had arrived. But at the same time I heard that there would still be around a brand new 3712/1A! So I started to check if there were any differences between the two references. I indeed hoped that there would be basically NO difference as the asking price of the older, original , reference.
I used naturally Watchprosite as my main source of information. The initial idea was that these two watches are the same as our Moderator said in one post. But then I started to find small differences and the issue did not look that easy anymore.
The main differences of these two references as I found them are as follows:
1. The older reference is having a Monocoque case structure. In other words the case is made of TWO parts while the new reference 5712 is having a case made of THREE parts. It might be that both case structures are as good or even that the new case is better but the older reference is having a case structure as designed by Gerald Genta.
2. The new case is having rounded shoulders and this makes the case 1 mm wider than the old reference was.
3. The older reference is 0.2 mm thinner than the case of the new reference.
4. The old 3712 did not have a screw-down crown while the new does. Anyhow, the water resistance of both watches are the same. Furthermore, the crown of 3712 seems to be a little bit smaller than the crown of 5712.
5. The dials are nearly identical. Some watches of the older reference are having just three red dots on the power reserve indicator - those are said to be the very first watches produced. I also noticed another small difference: the old reference is having a small index mark at 7 o'clock while the new one does not have that. It appears that the date window of the new reference is perhaps a bit bigger or that the numbers are bigger.
But then came the major question: IS IT SENSIBLE TO house.
PAY TENS OF PERCENT MORE FROM THE OLDER REFERENCE THAN FOR THE NEW ONE?
I do not consider myself a collector, so from this perspective the answer is clear NO. At the same time I had been dreaming about 3712 for 6 years and over three months...
This week I went to see 3712 and it was just like promised. At the same time I understood that this watch had been staying in a safe for 5 years and 10 months and the movement must be totally dry. So hefty price difference plus service. I calculated that with the price difference I could build one more bedroom in my new house.
So I did what every sensible watch nut would have done: i BOUGHT REFERENCE 3712/1A!
Why: I love both watches equally but the lder reference was my DREAM and getting this watch made my DREAM COME TRUE. As simple as that.
Photos never tell the whole story but I am trying to explain why I love Nautilus refs. 3712 and 5712.
The dial can look dark blue:
I finally got my new Patek and now I'm happy!
Congratulations!
