Okay, so I’ve been eyeing this Patek Philippe Grand Complications 5320G-011 for a while now. I mean, who wouldn’t? It’s a freakin’ perpetual calendar with a vintage vibe, and you know I’m all about that classic look. I finally decided to pull the trigger and hunt one down.
First things first, I started hitting up the official Patek Philippe website. I used their store locator to find authorized retailers near me, not wanting to get scammed with a fake one. They had a list of specialty stores and showrooms. I wrote down all the stores in the area.
Then, I started calling these places, asking about the 5320G-011. Most of them didn’t have it in stock, which, you know, wasn’t surprising. It’s a pretty rare piece. One boutique told me they could order it, but the waitlist was crazy long. Another place gave me a heads-up that they get them in occasionally, so I added myself to their notification list, just in case.
After a few weeks of calling and visiting stores, I felt like I got the hang of it. One time I walked into this fancy boutique, and the salesperson was super helpful. They showed me some other Grand Complications models, which were amazing, but not what I was after.
I also started digging deeper online. Not to buy, just to learn more. I read that the design is inspired by some Patek models from the 40s and 50s. It’s got this rose gold-colored opaline dial and it’s encased in a 40mm white gold case. They debuted this model in 2017, but it’s got this mid-century look. Pretty cool, right?
Then came the tough part – the wait. I mean, I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but patience is not exactly my strong suit. I kept checking in with the stores, hoping to get lucky. I even started looking at pre-owned options, but I was cautious because I wanted everything to be legit. No papers, no watch.
Finally, after what felt like forever, I got the call! One of the boutiques I’d been talking to got a 5320G-011 in stock. You can imagine how fast I drove over there. Seeing it in person was something else. It was even more beautiful than in the pictures. I inspected it, tried it on, and, well, I couldn’t resist. I bought it!
So, yeah, that’s the story of how I got my hands on this beauty. It was a bit of a journey, but totally worth it. Now, I’m wearing a piece of watchmaking history, and it feels pretty damn good.
- Step 1: Used the Patek Philippe store locator.
- Step 2: Called and visited authorized retailers.
- Step 3: Joined notification lists.
- Step 4: Researched the watch’s history and design.
- Step 5: Waited patiently (or not so patiently).
- Step 6: Got the call and bought the watch!
My takeaway?
Getting a rare watch like this takes time and effort. But if you’re persistent and do your homework, you can make it happen. And trust me, the feeling of finally owning your dream watch is incredible.
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