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jag32 · 3 August 2019, 02:12 PM

I have a 5035J Annual Calendar... it is yellow gold with a WHITE dial and brown strap. I love it, but recently saw some photos of a 5035J in yellow gold with a BLACK dial and black strap and just love it. For about $1,000 at HSWA I can swap my dial from white to black and then replace the brown strap with a black one. What do you guys think of the black dial black strap vs the white dial brown strap that I have right now?

What I have now:

After the dial swap:

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nyc2la · 3 August 2019, 02:29 PM

Black dial looks amazing!

Ichiran · 3 August 2019, 02:41 PM

You have my blessings. Do it.

TJMike · 3 August 2019, 05:03 PM

In a heartbeat. The black dial with yellow gold is the perfect combination.

Passionata · 3 August 2019, 06:23 PM

The black is better

MCMartiny · 3 August 2019, 06:24 PM

I would do it. The black dial looks amazing!

Are they letting you keep the current dial, so you can change back in case you regret?

Hamish · 3 August 2019, 08:15 PM

I wouldn’t spend the money

AK797 · 3 August 2019, 09:26 PM

Looks pretty cool... reminds me of Scarface's office tho...

Mbbgysam · 3 August 2019, 09:27 PM

That black dial looks great. It’s worth the swap if you’ll get more enjoyment and wear out of it.

Fat_ninja · 3 August 2019, 09:32 PM

The black dial looks great

nan7yo · 3 August 2019, 10:56 PM

Good idea~ Change to black and keep the white!

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Humble michael · 3 August 2019, 11:56 PM

Yep change is fun and black is beautiful, do it ( but keep white dial).

Lgear080 · 4 August 2019, 02:17 AM

Amazing swap

Calatrava r · 4 August 2019, 02:18 AM

I did not know Stern will swap out dials. Good to know.

Calatrava r · 4 August 2019, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nan7yo

Good idea~ Change to black and keep the white!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

They may be like Rolex and want to keep the white dial to avoid parts floating around which can be put on counterfeit watches.

jag32 · 4 August 2019, 06:42 AM

I'm going to do this at the next service

B01fan · 4 August 2019, 10:04 AM

The black dial looks great. The only thing that would give me pause is that the watch was “born” with a white dial, and so the dial wouldn’t match the papers.

jag32 · 4 August 2019, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B01fan

The black dial looks great. The only thing that would give me pause is that the watch was “born” with a white dial, and so the dial wouldn’t match the papers.

That's ok, I don't plan to sell anything so it makes no difference to me.

mps354 · 4 August 2019, 05:54 PM

That black dial looks great!

SL BRABUS · 5 August 2019, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nan7yo

Good idea~ Change to black and keep the white!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

Originally Posted by james272

Yep change is fun and black is beautiful, do it ( but keep white dial).

This.......^^^.....

topcat30093 · 5 August 2019, 04:42 AM

Having a black dial was my favourite combination.
Sadly, as I got older noticed that having the black dial made the viewing of the gold coloured hands on a 5205 at times very difficult to read in certain light.
But with the light coloured dial, I had no such problem.

Looking at your two pieces, for me without a doubt, it would be the cream coloured dial

MadSpaniard · 5 August 2019, 11:43 PM

The black dial certainly looks good. But...in my mind, factory-original is always better than after-market, even if the after-market dial-swap is done by HSWA.

I owned the 5035R-001 with champagne dial for 15+ years, as other have remarked, the champagne dial is easier to read and arguably more classic than the black. But, the black looks very good as well - a different style and statement, but very good looking, no doubt about that.

However, by switching the dial, you will no longer have an original Patek reference, but rather a tweaked version of one. Have you considered selling/trading your 5035J and getting the factory-original reference you really want with a black dial? Of course that may be more costly, but you'll end up with "the real thing".

Call me crazy, but I'm something of a purist when it comes to Patek. Changing straps is one thing, that totally makes sense of course, but changing integral components and defining characteristics of the model/reference itself is quite another, at least in my mind.

3 August 2019, 02:12 PM	#1
jag32 Banned Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: DC Watch: PP/AP/BP/UN Posts: 1,015	Annual Calendar dial swap to BLACK dial, pics and thoughts I have a 5035J Annual Calendar... it is yellow gold with a WHITE dial and brown strap. I love it, but recently saw some photos of a 5035J in yellow gold with a BLACK dial and black strap and just love it. For about $1,000 at HSWA I can swap my dial from white to black and then replace the brown strap with a black one. What do you guys think of the black dial black strap vs the white dial brown strap that I have right now? What I have now: After the dial swap: Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

3 August 2019, 02:29 PM	#2
nyc2la "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Real Name: Stephen Location: Beach Watch: 16660 Posts: 9,182	Black dial looks amazing! __________________ "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." --- RWE

3 August 2019, 06:23 PM	#5
Passionata "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: N/A Watch: the girls Posts: 7,095	The black is better __________________ Best George "Also remember that feet don't get fat and a watch will always speak volumes." Robert Johnston --------------------- newhttps://youtu.be/EljAF-uddhE new http://youtu.be/ZmpLoO1Q8eQ IG @passionata1

5 August 2019, 04:42 AM	#21
topcat30093 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Real Name: Tony Location: England Posts: 5,425	Having a black dial was my favourite combination. Sadly, as I got older noticed that having the black dial made the viewing of the gold coloured hands on a 5205 at times very difficult to read in certain light. But with the light coloured dial, I had no such problem. Looking at your two pieces, for me without a doubt, it would be the cream coloured dial __________________

3 August 2019, 02:41 PM	#3
Ichiran 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Real Name: Michael Location: Dotonbori Watch: Mostly blue dials Posts: 7,660	You have my blessings. Do it.

3 August 2019, 05:03 PM	#4
TJMike Banned Join Date: Jan 2018 Posts: 428	In a heartbeat. The black dial with yellow gold is the perfect combination.

3 August 2019, 06:24 PM	#6
MCMartiny "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Somewhere in time Watch: Lange & Patek Posts: 612	I would do it. The black dial looks amazing! Are they letting you keep the current dial, so you can change back in case you regret?

3 August 2019, 08:15 PM	#7
Hamish "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Earth Watch: 5575 Posts: 1,674	I wouldn’t spend the money

3 August 2019, 09:26 PM	#8
AK797 Banned Join Date: Feb 2010 Real Name: Neil Location: UK Watch: ing ships roll in Posts: 59,278	Looks pretty cool... reminds me of Scarface's office tho...

3 August 2019, 09:27 PM	#9
Mbbgysam 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: USA Posts: 1,027	That black dial looks great. It’s worth the swap if you’ll get more enjoyment and wear out of it.

3 August 2019, 09:32 PM	#10
Fat_ninja Banned Join Date: May 2018 Real Name: Jonathan Location: USA Watch: P-01 Posts: 11,772	The black dial looks great

3 August 2019, 10:56 PM	#11
nan7yo "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: APAC Posts: 1,033	Good idea~ Change to black and keep the white! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

3 August 2019, 11:56 PM	#12
Humble michael "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Real Name: James Cline Location: san antonio Watch: 5711 white , 5990, Posts: 1,218	Yep change is fun and black is beautiful, do it ( but keep white dial).

4 August 2019, 02:17 AM	#13
Lgear080 Banned Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: NYC Posts: 3,506	Amazing swap

4 August 2019, 02:18 AM	#14
Calatrava r 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: United States Watch: Rolex and Patek Posts: 10,653	I did not know Stern will swap out dials. Good to know.

4 August 2019, 06:42 AM	#16
jag32 Banned Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: DC Watch: PP/AP/BP/UN Posts: 1,015	I'm going to do this at the next service

4 August 2019, 10:04 AM	#17
B01fan "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: World traveler Posts: 95	The black dial looks great. The only thing that would give me pause is that the watch was “born” with a white dial, and so the dial wouldn’t match the papers.

4 August 2019, 05:54 PM	#19
mps354 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Real Name: Mike Location: CT Posts: 8,977	That black dial looks great!

5 August 2019, 11:43 PM	#22
MadSpaniard "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2018 Location: Atlanta Posts: 343	The black dial certainly looks good. But...in my mind, factory-original is always better than after-market, even if the after-market dial-swap is done by HSWA. I owned the 5035R-001 with champagne dial for 15+ years, as other have remarked, the champagne dial is easier to read and arguably more classic than the black. But, the black looks very good as well - a different style and statement, but very good looking, no doubt about that. However, by switching the dial, you will no longer have an original Patek reference, but rather a tweaked version of one. Have you considered selling/trading your 5035J and getting the factory-original reference you really want with a black dial? Of course that may be more costly, but you'll end up with "the real thing". Call me crazy, but I'm something of a purist when it comes to Patek. Changing straps is one thing, that totally makes sense of course, but changing integral components and defining characteristics of the model/reference itself is quite another, at least in my mind.

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