There is something intrinsically ornate about yearly calendars such as the Patek Philippe 5396. While a QP (quantième perpetuel, French for perpetual calendar) is possibly the greatest date complication, the yearly calendar could be executed in a more aesthetically pure fashion, unencumbered by the need to show that pesky year index. There is an undeniable appeal to an annual calendar, an X factor that seems well-suited into a dressy watch with a old-school appeal. Maybe the yearly calendar has less to prove than a QP, with enough chill to just let February be itself… And talking of chill, after yesterday’s Nautilus 40th Anniversary releases, that have caused quite a stir, let us now indulge in the tranquil elegance of this quintessentially Patek apparel watch, the mention 5396.
Annual calendars come in many shapes and sizes, in the stealthy and modern MIH Watch (reviewed ) to old-world examples from IWC, A. Lange & Söhne, and of course, Patek Philippe moonphase skeleton replica watches. Even in Patek, they provide something of a disperse, from the more young 5960 (hands ) to the completely sporty Nautilus 5726 and this classic Patek Philippe 5396, which is fresh for 2016 in both white (5396G-014) and rose gold (5396R-012).
All these”wrong-only-once-a-year” annual calendars are a fantastic illustration of exactly how well this complication matches a watch of minimal modernity. The Patek Philippe 5396 steps 38.5mm wide on a matte black alligator strap for the white gold or a brown alligator for the rose gold version. Water resistant to 30m and fitted together with solid crystals front and back, the Patek Philippe moonphase rose gold replica watches 5396 feels very special. Like a Patek should, I suppose.
Powered by Patek’s 324 S QA LU 24H/303 motion, the Patek Philippe moonphase calendar fake watches 5396 offers hours, minutes, seconds, a numeric date, moon phase, day, month, and also a 24-hour display enclosing the moon phase. This automatic calibre employs 34 stones, ticks at 4Hz and supplies a max autonomy of 45 hours.
Having a beautiful charcoal grey sunburst dial to the white gold plus a shining silver opaline dial for the rose gold, the Patek Philippe moonphase vintage replica watch 5396 is tightly packed but provides a welcome dial symmetry, its many screens arranged along the vertical center of the dial. Surrounded with a subtle minute track along with a truly beautiful usage of employed Breguet numerals, the Patek Philippe 5396 draws a line through Patek’s unmatched lineage, nodding to previous models such as the 565 and 5370 Split-Seconds.
On wrist, the Patek Philippe moonphase tourbillon clone 5396 stays low and, as a result of its reserved case sizing, I found it to be rather comfy. In my eyes, at the white gold, this is a really beautiful dress watch with a classic appeal and just enough complication to catch the attention and entice the enthusiast.
