A fake Patek Philippe perpetual calendar 5320G is a replica of the white gold, 40mm perpetual calendar Patek Philippe introduced in 2017. The better builds copy the case profile, the cream lacquer dial and the on-wrist heft closely enough to pass at arm's length. None of them replicate the caliber 324 S Q inside, and none will survive five minutes on a watchmaker's bench with the caseback off. If you are buying for the look and you already accept that the mechanism is largely cosmetic, the sections below cover what separates a decent build from an expensive paperweight.
The genuine watch sets the bar
The ref. 5320G-001 arrived in 2017 as a vintage-flavored take on Patek's perpetual calendar line. White gold case, 40mm across and roughly 11.13mm thick, cream lacquer dial, applied gold Arabic numerals and syringe hands borrowed from a 1950s reference. Caliber 324 S Q, about 45 hours of power reserve, and a full perpetual calendar: day, date, month, moon phase, leap year and a day/night indication. Sapphire caseback, so the movement is meant to be inspected from both sides.
That last detail matters. Patek builds this watch to look good face up and face down, which is exactly where replicas come apart.
What the good fakes get right
Case-making is the strongest part of the replica trade, and the 5320G benefits from it.
- Case geometry: 40mm diameter, correct lug curve, stepped bezel, and a side profile that matches factory photos closely.
- Dial: the cream tone is close, the printed signature is legible under magnification, and the applied numerals sit proud of the surface the way they should.
- Weight: white gold is dense, so the better makers use tungsten alloys or a plated heavy base to land in the right neighborhood. A hollow-feeling case is a steel tell.
- Strap and buckle: alligator-grain leather with the Calatrava cross on the clasp.
On a wrist at conversation distance, that combination reads correctly to almost everyone who is not holding a loupe.
Where they fall down
- Movement. No replica uses a 324 S Q. Most run a 2824 or 7750 base with a calendar module bolted on. The architecture is wrong, and so is the finishing. Geneva stripes, anglage and perlage are approximations, and the Gyromax-style balance is decoration.
- The perpetual part. A true perpetual calendar knows February and the four-year leap cycle. Plenty of replicas track day, date and month but need manual correction at the end of short months.
- Moon phase. Some use a 24-hour disc with a moon painted on it. Even the ones with a real moon disc often run the wrong gear ratio, so it drifts away from the actual lunar cycle.
- Leap year indicator. Frequently a printed detail or a hand that follows the month instead of the four-year cycle.
- Proportions. Half a millimeter to a millimeter and a half off in thickness is common, and you feel it under a shirt cuff.
- Caseback engraving. Hallmarks, serials and the Geneva Seal should be crisp and correctly placed. They usually are not.
How to check one before you pay
- Measure the case. 40mm across, roughly 11mm thick. Ask for photos next to calipers or a ruler.
- Weigh it. A white gold perpetual calendar on leather has real presence. Compare with a steel watch of similar size.
- Test the calendar properly. Set it to February 28 of a leap year, wind past midnight, and see whether it jumps to the 29th and then to March 1. If you have to correct it by hand, it is not perpetual.
- Watch the moon phase across a week. A correct disc creeps. A 24-hour fake moon hops every single day.
- Use a loupe on the dial. Look at the edge of the printed signature, the lacquer depth and the polish on the applied numerals.
- Work the crown and turn the rotor. Winding should feel smooth and the rotor should not rattle.
- Ask what the case is made of and which movement base is inside. A seller who answers in detail beats one who repeats "1:1 super clone" and nothing else.
Price bands, honestly
Under about $300 you are usually looking at a steel case, a basic automatic or quartz movement, and a calendar that is often painted rather than driven. From roughly $400 to $900 sits the sweet spot: tungsten or plated cases, a 2824-based movement, and occasionally a working calendar module. Above $1,000 the money goes toward finishing and customization rather than function. Nothing in any band holds resale value, and none of it appreciates.
Owning one without headaches
Treat any water resistance claim as marketing. Keep the watch away from swimming, showers and steam. Servicing is the other trap: many local watchmakers will refuse the job outright, and the ones who accept it will charge more than the watch cost because parts availability is close to zero. Store it in a dry case and reset it gently rather than forcing the crown.
One hard line: never represent it as genuine. Selling a counterfeit as an authentic Patek is fraud in the United States and across the EU, and the buyer's recourse is criminal rather than civil.
Bottom line
A replica 5320G can deliver the silhouette, the dial and most of the wrist presence for a fraction of a six-figure price. It cannot deliver the movement, the perpetual calendar logic or the finishing. Buy it as a visual stand-in, test the calendar before money changes hands, and you will avoid the two most common disappointments: a moon phase that lies and a calendar that quits every February.