So, I’ve been on this whole watch-buying journey lately, right? I was tossing up between a few different ones, like the AP Royal Oak Chrono, but my heart finally settled on the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5712R. Yeah, that one.
I already own a Nautilus 5711R on a strap for about 4 years, and I recently got my hands on a 5712 1/a about a year ago. Honestly, if I had to choose, I’d pick the 5712. It just sits better on my wrist, you know? More comfortable.
Speaking of getting my hands on one, I just scored my first Patek 5712, and it’s got the new clasp. Man, I’m beyond thrilled to finally join the club. This thing’s got the 240 caliber with the micro-rotor, a power reserve indicator (which is like 45 to 48 hours), a moon phase thing, the date, and a small seconds hand. It’s a beauty.
Now, I heard the PPF 5712 is supposed to be pretty good, but when I got it, the clasp didn’t exactly scream “luxury,” you know? But hey, I’ve made peace with it.
Starting to Look for a Watch
This 5712 is 40mm, which is similar to its predecessor. It’s a good size. And let me tell you, the movement on this PPF 5712 Nautilus, they say it’s a true clone, and I gotta say, it’s a joy to look at. I contacted many people to find out about this watch * they all told me it was very difficult to get one, that there was a 7 year waiting list.
Efforts to Acquire the Watch
- I started digging around, trying to find this 5712. I emailed a bunch of sellers, but most of them just gave me the runaround. It was frustrating. They said I had no chance without an extensive purchase history.
- Then I found out they’d actually discontinued the 5712R and 5712G in leather, and only kept the 5712/1A with the bracelet. And they’d also discontinued a bunch of other Nautilus models.
- Apparently, there’s like a 7-year waiting list for the 5712 at official dealers, and there were even rumors it was gonna be discontinued altogether.
Finally Getting the Watch
But guess what? I managed to snag one. Yep, after all that searching and emailing, I finally got my hands on a 5712. It’s got the same slim profile as the 5711, but with all those extra features like the power reserve display. It’s a dream come true, really. It wasn’t easy, but it was definitely worth it in the *, this is my watch buying experience.
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