Patek calls it a "Shantung" effect. I guess they are referring to the Chinese brush effect in lacquered Chinese furniture. The olive green of the 5711 is similar to the shade of the blue in the previous 5711A ... I say similar in that it has a bit of a "dirty" or should I say "muddy" hue (for want of a better word to describe it). Like the previous 5711A reference with the blue dial, it is a chameleon and looks different in different light and angles. I have to admit that I am not a fan of the blue in the original 5711A. I think the blue of the 5740G and 5711P is much nicer ... but this is a personal preference. Having said all this I think the olive green actually looks nicer than the original blue of the 5711A in my eyes, and importantly my wife thinks so too, especially with baguette diamonds!