Patek Philippe

Just some thoughts from an individual who owns a 5712/1A (bracelet version on steel, rather than leather strap version)...

This individual has owned the watch since 2010 or 2011.  He can't remember the exact year he got it. 

1.  While the individual has a several different watches, this is his primary watch.  It is worn regularly and almost daily. 

2.  He complains the watch is difficult to clean due to issues with the pushers being not waterproof.  The 5712 is the only Nautilus model that is not waterproof.  All other Nautilus models have 100M to 120M water resistance (watches with 100M can be called "waterproof" if tested under specific ISO standards).  He rinses the watch monthly under warm tap water but covers the pushers with his fingers to minimize the chance of water ingress. 

3.  He complains the power reserve on the micro rotor 240 movement isn't perfect.  Sometimes the watch won't wind despite an active day walking a few miles all over NYC, Paris, or London; and yet on occasion the watch will build a full power reserve after a sedate day at a desk.  After several hours of an active day, the watch will not generate a substantial wind.  Keep in mind the 240 caliber only winds in one direction, thus making it less efficient in winding. 

4.  The owner complains that the watch time cannot be turned backwards past midnight because that would screw up the moonphase and the date.  He's based in the USA so after traveling to Asia or Europe, when he returns to the USA he lets the movement wind down and he resets the watch. 

5.  The watch had a fault early on in its life...  The screwed bracelet had a screw that was stuck.  When he purchased the watch, the watch had to go back to Henri Stern Watch Agency (Patek Philippe Service in NYC) for the bracelet to get the stuck screw removed.  He definitely prefers the screwed bracelet over the hammered-pin bracelet. 

6.  The watch also developed a power reserve fault in the first year of its life.  It went back to Henri Stern Watch Agency (HSWA) for around 6 months.  The problem seemed to be mostly fixed.  The owner doesn't exactly remember what HSWA did to the watch, if anything. 

7.  He is very careful with the watch, often wears long sleeves to protect it.  He notes certain clothes have rougher fibers and he avoids those clothes when wearing the 5712.  The user has very few scratches and the watch is in great condition, especially for a piece that is regularly worn.  The user is very careful and covers the watch in crowded environments, along metal surfaces, in elevators, exercises caution when sitting in metal armchairs, and in airplanes.  He wears his other watches for higher risk scenarios.  He uses a metal Macbook Pro laptop and he is very careful not to contact his watch/bracelet into the metal computer keyboard.  

8.  Overall he is very happy with the 5712.  He was very certain he wanted the 5712 over the 5711 when he acquired the watch.  Specifically citing he wanted the 240 caliber.  Now, he would go for either the 5711 or 5712.  He is annoyed by the water resistance issue of the 5712 and this is one of the main reasons why he now likes the 5711 more.  Despite having owned the watch since 2010/2011 he has not needed to service the watch, but you may recall in Bullet 6 the watch went back to HSWA for 6 months. 

9.  Most of his other timepieces are thicker than the 5712.  He really appreciates the thin design of the 5712.  He states, it's his most versatile watch because it can be worn casually and in more formal settings.  I remind him that James Bond wears a Rolex Submariner (Bond sports a Rolex Submariner in the early movies and in Ian Flemings' books, although he wears an Omega in the movies) with a wet suit and a Tuxedo.  He smiles, stating he hopes nobody ever discovers his secret!  

Hope this helps! 

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