dr.kol
11333
Differences between 3712 and 5712
Apr 09, 2012,14:57 PM
Back to the topic... I could not find the material I got from Patek in Geneva. The enclosed pictures I took from a relatively new book Collecting Nautilus and Modern Patek Philippe Wristwatches" by Osvaldo & Patrizzi. I can recommend the book to the interested ones even it's costing as much as the service of a Calatrava.
Anyhow, I have many times emphasized that 3712 is having a case made of two parts. This is the original design of Mr. Gerald Genta. Here is the drawing of the case. It looks very simple but it is not cheap to produce.
In the case of 5712 there are much more parts. It is cheaper to construct and it is much closer to the traditional case construction than Genta's original design. The construction looks as follows:
Next the watches side-by-side. The older model 3712 is on the left and 5712 on the right. If you watch the picture carefully, you will start to see the differences:
The main differences listed:
3712 5712
Crown Push-down Screw-down
Case width 42 mm 43 mm
Case thickness 8.37 mm 8.52 mm
Case at 3 and 9 o'clock straight shaped
Direction of the date numbers same as reading direction partly upside down
7 o'clock marker present missing
6 o'clock marker rectangular rounded off
hands heavier slimmer
center links of bracelet more rounded more square
I had an opportunity to compare my 3712 with a new 5712 and the feeling of the bracelet of 3712 was more sophisticated and comfortable. But that is just a matter of taste.
The two watches share the same movement and they look very similar. But thanks to the case construction, for me they are two different watches.
Best, Kari