Ask me about the perfect classic and simple watch and I’ll tell you that it is the Calatrava model. I think you already know about my big passion for Patek Philippe watches. All my friends, family members, and workmates do. That is because I can’t stop talking about this iconic brand and its limitlessly phenomenal timepieces. This review is about the Calatrava line in particular. I’m so happy to have this model again in our store after a break of about half a year.
Truly speaking, the love for this watch is almost identical to the one for the IWC Portugieser 7 Days Power reserve. Still, the delicate lines of the refined Calatrava are somewhat closer to my spirit. Many of the Calatrava watches are to my liking actually. The 5227G and the 5296G, along with the 6007A give all that a “classic” watch lover can ever want from a classic dress watch. These remain always trendy, no matter what revolutionary innovations other brands might bring to the table.
When speaking about the replica industry
I always say that it’s a huge mistake to buy medium-quality Patek Philippe and IWC imitations. These must only be of high quality if you really want to feel the majesty of the brand. In the same context, I must say that I never found a medium-quality replica that I liked. Medium quality is acceptable for any other brands, except for IWC and Patek Philippe. Low or medium-quality Patek imitations never come with a beautiful finish and a reliable mechanism, so don’t even try to convince me otherwise.
And we at the AAAReplica store have the big advantage of having the best Patek Philippe Calatrava imitations. I’m not trying to convince you about that, I’m just ascertaining facts. You see?, I’m extremely pedantic when it comes to Philippe’s imitations and I hardly accept errors in them. And from all Philippe imitations I’ve reviewed, the ones that our manufacturers make are the closest to the genuine.
Calatrava 5296R Rose Gold Replica Watch
The proportions of this imitation include 38 mm case width and 9 mm thickness. While the diameter is identical to the genuine sample, the thickness is slightly more prominent. The case and the lugs come with an accurate and uniform polish. The crown looks exactly like the authentic model, featuring the delicate brand logo on it. Pedantic watch lovers like me will observe that each lug comes with specific engraving, different from each other and suggesting different messages.
The basic model we received from our manufacturers came with a black leather strap. However, it is possible to request a brown version, if it is critical for you. Traditionally, I tend to couple rose gold cases with brown leather straps. I find the combination more harmonious. Naturally, I came to leave the black straps for the stainless steel cases, making a tradition out of it.
Dial specifications
I must say that this high-quality imitation comes with highly accurate lines on the dial. As you know, the genuine model features plenty of lines on the dial and I was afraid that the manufacturers would make a mess in the imitation. To my surprise, all the lines follow strictly the length, form, and width of the genuine model, excluding any single “sense” of a cluttered dial.
To add a drop of “classic” to the watch, manufacturers have opted for a blue font for the leaf-shaped hour, minute, and second hands. In addition, the date aperture at 3 o’clock shows black digits on a white background. This color combination makes the dial highly readable and intuitive. I might even prefer this model over the 5227G with a clean dial. Comparing the two models, the 5296R looks more delicate and exquisite, and by no means “heavier”.
Just like the genuine model, the imitation features the brand name and the “Geneva” inscription right above the center of the dial. You can compare this imitation with ones from other dealers to see that other models come with a placement error in these inscriptions and between them. On ours, the “Patek Philippe” inscription comes in larger font size than the “Geneva” inscription below. In contrast, inferior quality replicas have the same font size for both inscriptions, which makes them visibly different from the genuine models.
Final notes
I’ve already written my feedback to the manufacturers. On the whole, I’m pretty satisfied with the aesthetic look of this imitation. And I can’t wait for the brown leather strap to see how it looks with this rose gold case. They promised to send them to us soon. I have only one pretense to this black leather strap model. Here’s what’s bugging me: I think it doesn’t have enough holes for a large wrist and a customer with a large wrist would have to make the hole by himself.
I think that customers don’t have a problem with adding one more ole, but I told you I like it all to be as perfect as possible. So, I hope to see an adjusted leather strap in the next iteration. As for the rest, this Calatrava imitation deserves to be in the watch collection of those who love simplicity, accuracy, and refinement- all in one.