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Hello Quattro! Thank you so much for this wonderful and thorough review of the 5396 reference from Patek.
This is a watch I love so much for its case shape and dial design which I feel it somehow follows the spirit of the revered ref. 3448 (which of course is a Perpetual calender) a timepiece I admire so much but regret to say that it is economicaly absolutely out of my reach.
The 5396 had been haunting my soul for years till a unique opportunity was given to me just in the last day of 2019 to buy one brand new at the only local Patek AD which was definitively closing their shop on that day.
The 5396 of my dreams had been the white gold opaline white dial one but when the AD offered it to me he also showed the option of choosing the grey dial with Breguet numerals.
And as I die for Breguet numbers on a nice dial it took a lot of thinking on which one to choose in that day while seated at the AD shop with both watches in front of me and the opportunity of trying both on my wrist.
I finally decided to take the opaline dial a decision I don`t regret so far and I guess I will never regret.
In the following years enjoying my watch I tried some different straps as I find the original black ones are too formal for my personal taste and I like to add a little touch of color madness to my watches as I don`t wear formal clothes anymore in a daily basis. These strap changes added to the enjoyment of my watch.
I have been reading with much interest the opinions and feelings posted by other friends before me and in spite of any critic we can make to the 5396 I still keep loving and enjoying mine so much.
I enclose below a few shots of my watch with much pleasure.
Thank you again for your wonderful post and to all friends for sharing their points of view.
Best cordial regards, Abel
The revered reference 3448 (photograph from Internet)
My 5396:
Patek Philippe ref. 5396 - All variants to date
This Annual Calendar with Moon Phases , introduced in 2006 and powered by calibre 26-330 S QA LU 24H, has a 38.5 x 11.5 mm case. It has been produced, as of now, only in white gold, rose gold and titanium. Best to all of you. A/ WHITE GOLD 1/ Ref. 5396G-0...
I was trying to pick a favorite. Almost impossible.
May pick one or two as least favorite seeming a little busy but even that is hard. Great review This one is wonderful. Thank you ...
Well, for whatever reason, I personally don't warm up to the sector dial:
couldn't say why exactly, but I would say that it feels too 'technical' to me, if that makes sense (I feel the same way with sector dial from other brands). Just my feeling of course. Thanks for the kind words! Best, Emmanuel
Hello Quattro! Thank you so much for this wonderful and thorough review of the 5396 reference from Patek.
This is a watch I love so much for its case shape and dial design which I feel it somehow follows the spirit of the revered ref. 3448 (which of course is a Perpetual calender) a timepiece I admire so much but regret to say that it is economicaly absolutel...
Thank you very much, Abel, for sharing your story and photos.
I can imagine that making a choice between the opaline dial and the grey/Breguet one has required some thought, and I think I would probably have made the same choice as you (because less is more and the simpler the better). It's great that you keep cheri...
Thank you so much for your so kind comments dear Emmanuel.
It is my pleasure to share with you and our friends my thoughts and shots on this watch. Glad to know that you think a similar way than me on the tough decision I was confronted to make about the two dials I was offered. I send you my best cordial regards...
Oh, I knew it wasn't a favorite, but I wasn't expecting such a severe judgement!
I personally really like the case profile and clean, very centered dial layout.
Yes, maybe not the first I'd reach for either,
but I really like the case profile and clean dial layout.
Yes, it looks attractive.
My pic would probably be the regular rose gold white dial with indices (5396R-011). I'm not a white gold guy, but I also like the regular white gold/white dial with indices and the white gold/grey dial with Breguet numerals.
Your research and presentation are tremendous
Some sources give the calibre as 324 or 324 S QA LU 24H - do you know if there was a variety of calibres used? I had seen citations - which I can't find now - for 5396G-010 and 5396R-010 as well - both bracelets. Do you think they could be real references...
As far as calibers are concerned, here's my guess:
cal. 324 S QA LU 24H and cal. 26-330 S QA LU 24H are the same caliber, only the name hase changed. On watchbase (click to see), ref. 5726A & ref. 5726/1A are said to be powered by caliber 324 S QA LU 24H, but on Patek's website , they are said to be p...
I should have remembered the slash and bracelet nuance - so of course someone just failed to record the reference correctly. I've seen that a lot!
Thanks also for the additional info on those calibers - it's so interesting how fluid references and calibres are - for me it's hard to imagine how factories with run with such "flexible" data!
Hi, after having been able to speak with someone ça from PP
in Geneva, it turns out that the 26-330 has stop seconds and other discreet technical improvements which don’t belong to the 324. So I was wrong: there’s more than a change of reference number. I thought I should let you know. Best.
Yes, they look very nice.
I just regret the Tiffany branding on the moon phase (which is regrettably reversed) and the lumed hands: some of the simplicity or cleanness is lost for me. That's why I think I prefer the grey dial version, without the Tiffany branding (5396G-014): cf. ...
The quintessence of the annual calendar from Patek Pilippe,
In my opinion. White gold, white dial! Thanks for sharing
Rose gold white dial with indexes for me : clean and simple.
Thanks for looking ! Best, Emmanuel
Loved the Sector vintage looking dial since the beginning
.....now my favorites are both blue dials (RG with sticks, WG with diamonds)
This model is almost 20 years old
and I think Patek has done a great job renewing the dials and keeping us interested! Have a nice weekend.
I struggle with this reference
If pressed I would go for the sector dials I find the 24hr dial too close to the center pinion and the date to be disproportionately large compared to the other indications.. Also, the ones with breguet numerals is mismatched with the dauphine hands
Thank you for detailing what you dislike.
I think that non of the issues you raise are bothering me, but I will take a closer look with your remarks in mind. Have a nice weekend.
My first Patek
Still a joy to wear. It has some of the ref 3448’s DNA. I love how the opaline dial turns to an elegant shade of grey with the light.. ...
Very nice pic: it works great with the green strap!
I like the very clean and centered layout too. I don’t know what will (or would) be my first Patek (I have non yet), but I find this one attractive, no doubt about that. Thanks for sharing and have a nice weekend.