IWC 5035 Annual Calendar Comparison, Teardown and Review

[thermalboyz 0]

IWC 5035 Annual Calendar Comparison, Teardown and Review

 

 

This thread will be a combination of Comparison and reviews of the IWC 5035 Annual Calendar which I found online from the Chinese Forum or website. I start with some REP photoshoot pictures first. Enjoy!!!

 

 

 

 

Case Diameter 44mm

Thickness 14mm

Bezel Stainless steel bezel

Case Material 1:1 replicated solid 316L stainless steel case

Dial Blue dial

Strap Black leather strap, deployant clasp

Crystal Scratch-proof sapphire crystal with AR coating

Caseback Display case back sapphire crystal with all detail engravings as per genuine

Movement New IWC 52850 Movement Clone. Base Movement: Asian 23J automatic movement; Decoration: Platinum plated movement plate and rotor which are made according to the genuine movement

Function Hours, minutes, sub-seconds, power reserve, day, date and month display; Annual Calendar display

Water Resistance >50 Meters

 

 

Credit to Noobwatch, Sandu Watch

 

 

Finally, I got this revolutionary replica handy now, and have a chance to do closer look on this piece: IWC Portuguese IW503502. Revolutionary? why? because the calendar really working on this version. Date, Day, and Month are working on this YL factory made. YL factory well known as the maker of the cheaper version of IWC Portuguese 5007 series. Unfortunately ZF leading the way on that version with some correction. YL factory claimed that this movement and detail decoration is better compared to their previous 5007 series.

 

First time on my hand, I really impressed with the build, very solid. And when I look at the caseback, there are clearly improves from the previous Portuguese 5007 movement series, you will see by keep reading this topic.

 

 

There are 2 major perfections on this model, from my point of view:

 

Real power reserve, even only approx 48 hours (genuine is 7 days), but this is quite excellent with the power reserve indicator pointing on the right reserve left.

 

Real working calendar. This is the first time after all for this model. However, please do not expect that it will be the real annual calendar. You need to accept the fact that:

 

The date will always end on 31

The month will always move after 31.

 

 

There is no setting position to set the month manually, you need to turn the date wheel to get to the current month. Only date and day that have an independent crown manual setting. (you can see on video)

 

Well, let's take a look how good this replica is, away from the features.

 

 

HOW THE CALENDAR WORKS?

This is the most interesting parts on this replica since YL made a good breakthrough this year by making this perfect model working well. I provide you with the video how to set the day, date, and month on this model

 

 

WATCH FACE

 

 

You won’t probably find easy to spot the difference on the dial. I think YL made this part properly with a good detail. The only noticeable difference is the font size of Month, Day, and Date. To make it more clear, I provide another picture as below:

 

 

The font on replica is too short

The font on replica is too thick

 

The date position is not centre (maybe other units have better position on this, I need to make sure)

 

I don't think font style is the issue on this, only the size has some flaws as explain on above points.

 

 

DIAL DETAILS

 

 

Except for the date, month and day font. I can see perfection on other dial parts, such as:

 

The blue sunburst effect is very nice. I don’t think the dial colour is off as some guys told me. It is just nice

 

The subdial line is very neat. You won’t probably able to see that line if you are not looking at it closely. Bottom line, those subdial details is perfect.

 

Hour marker is nicely replicated, I didn’t see major flaws on that part

 

No issue on logo’s font and size, all good from what I can see

 

Overall on the dial parts, YL is very detail on this part, except the date, month, and day font size.

 

 

 

CASE DETAILS

 

 

I like the way YL doing brushing on the outer side case, even some people said it needs to be softer, but I love this. The brushed and polished combination on the case and lug are very nice.

 

I don’t think crystal and thickness have a major issue on this, since YL use A23j manual wind movement, it won’t be too thick compare to 7750 movements.

 

Crown is very detail, there is no sharp feeling when u start to turn it. Crown engraving is nicely done!

 

Only 1 single minor flaws on the crown thickness, it shouldn’t be that thick, need to be a little bit thinner. But I don’t think that is something that you should complain.

 

 

MOVEMENT COMPARE

 

 

Movement of this model on genuine is Calibre 52850 IWC annual calendar 7 days power reserves. YL still use A23J manual wind to replica this calibre. I can see some correction compare to the movement made by YL on Portuguese 5007 series before, but:

 

Black gear is quite annoying to see, it should be there on the replica. But YL uses gold gear instead of black.

 

It should be SWISS MADE instead of SWISS TECH. Exactly the same mistakes as 5007 series made by YL.

 

 

MOVEMENT DETAILS

 

 

Besides those differences, I think YL also make some perfection on how the decoration was done, and how the movement finished. It is quite detailed and well builds as you can see on below pictures:

 

This movement has all the same function of the genuine, including the way, are synchronised with the genuine: PR display, month, week; compared to the movement of 5001/5007 with additional week and month functions. But we do not know these two additional Day / Year functions took three years for development, it started the same time research and development with the 7 days (5001/5007) but late release for another 2 years, you can imagine the difficulty of movement development + research time it took. Other main important factor also related to the cost and watch technology. YL factory Portuguese annual calendar series IW503502 movement thickness and size matches the genuine, compared to the 7 days movement with slightly thicker than the genuine, it is because the movement manufacturers have made some improvements, the automatic chains made to the real version, professionally called DD template; therefore the manufacturer of the 7 days movement wants a better effect on the deck, therefore make it thicker, and the rear three-dimensional effect is not so strong! This new piece from YL factory represents a simple design and neat dial, suitable for any occasion to wear, equipped with a new movement, this watch can be described as a new milestone in the history of IWC REP.

 

 

 

All engravings on the rotor are neat. The movement textures also very detail from what I can see. Gold engraves are nicely done, except the “Swiss Tech” flaw, and the gold gear that should be black as genuine it is.

 

 

STRAP & BUCKLE

 

 

Nothing to complain. As always replica using crocodile embossed, but I think still quite nice and acceptable as a strap. The curvy lug is there as genuine. The buckle? very details, no complain!

Edited July 13, 2017 by thermalboyz

[thermalboyz 0]

TEAR DOWN + Reviews

 

Introduction:

 

 

While everyone is still in the Portuguese and Pilot series, in the REP world many have long been tempted to keep the old mind, eager to see a high value of the new model to replace the Portuguese 5001/5007 and the Portuguese 3714. After YL Factory 3 years of movement research and development, continue to overcome difficulties, manage to produce this high-value watch. Today to showcase the 2017 YL factory latest masterpiece Portugal Calendar series model IW503502 and detailed evaluation. This 5035 has a fully functional calendar, can be described as a re-engraved Portuguese series watch, the following is the pictures after the complete dismantling of the watch.

 

 

Night blue dial, calendar display design simple and neat, with three independent semi-circular windows, respectively, display the month, date and week, between 11 Index to 1 Index. Small three-pin design, 3 o'clock power reserve slot display, 9 o'clock set a small second and Arabic numerals. The layout is clean and the reading date is easy.

 

 

Case thickness is more moderate, in the 44mm large dial does not seem too thin and not too thick, side of the brushed case has always been the style of Portuguese series, YL factory drawing is very delicate, personal also like drawing Of the dial, even if the daily use of minor scratches encountered, drawing lines can also be a good cover out. The curved edge is more comfortable to wear, the same for the skinny wrist.

 

 

Mysterious midnight blue dial, very attractive, from the overall colour point of view compared to a version of YL (before YL there is a fake version - not fully working calendar). You can see that YL also upgraded the colour, not much difference compared to the Gen. The dial also has (Sunburst) radiation pattern effect, the overall simple and generous in general is very beautiful for any occasion.

 

 

Month, date and week can be used, the previous version only date is fully functional.

 

 

Power Reserved from sub-dial with different tone effect, same as the Gen, excellent work, and not reflective.

 

 

 

Willow-shaped needle and Arabic numerals are silver-plated, the edge of the Arabic numerals have a smooth chamfer, the font position and space accuracy is very good, did not find the problem of crooked or any misaligned.

 

 

Watch crystal is the same with the Gen sapphire glass which is slightly arched shape (referred to as the lid crystal) cost slightly more expensive than the 5001/5007 crystal, also coated with a light blue film.

 

 

Back cover details, same with Sapphire crystal, numbering lettering is also based on genuine 1 to 1 copy.

 

 

Stainless steel gear crown, crown top engraved brand English Logo "IWC", which is the Portuguese series crown shape.

 

Edited July 13, 2017 by thermalboyz

[thermalboyz 0]

The original movement for the IWC Cal.52850 automatic movement, equipped with double barrel, on full wind can supply 7 days power reserve, and YL for the new independent research and development of the true calendar movement, the Power reserve measured for 4 days, although there are differences in kinetic energy (depends on how you wear the watch), but this movement can be said to be a breakthrough in the rep world, of course, there is no way to make the appearance of the movement function same as the genuine Cal.52850, but the overall layout It seems that the rank/standard is still quite high (High-end REP), a simple understanding is that this movement is from the Portuguese 7 days (5001/5007) movement with additional month and week display, to achieve the same function and genuine.

 

 

The parts of the clasp are the areas where seem to have the least flaws, whether it is the details of the drawing, and the handling of the edges and corners, or the restoration of the whole structure is perfect.

 

Edited July 13, 2017 by thermalboyz

[thermalboyz 0]

reserved 1

[thermalboyz 0]

reserved 2

[GenTLe 1,523]

They did all good but WHY THE FUCK they misspelled completely the "International Watch Co." and put that incredibly stupid "Internation Watch Br."???

That's so dumb...

[Nikosaldente 632]

They did all good but WHY THE FUCK they misspelled completely the "International Watch Co." and put that incredibly stupid "Internation Watch Br."???

That's so dumb...

Exactly.....

[hwlexus 0]

Got to be patience. Am sure manufacturer will fix the word correctly to enable more sales.

[The astromaster 0]

Looks great. Never liked IWC before. Only complaint is the engravings are dirty.

[NF1965 32]

Good review thanks

[YellingYellowLlama 0]

Is anyone aware of the possibility which had been circulated a few months ago, that ZF is making a new version adopting the fully functional calendar (as seen in the YL version) but correcting the spelling mistakes? 

[Undinist 21]

I can see the 'Internation Watch Br.' mistake, but where  is the other spelling mistake?

[Beano2004 2]

On 13/07/2017 at 13:13, GenTLe said:

They did all good but WHY THE FUCK they misspelled completely the "International Watch Co." and put that incredibly stupid "Internation Watch Br."???

That's so dumb...

They did that so they can have never versions come out with those things corrected.

 

 

[Kyle_d 0]

This is such a beautiful watch!! Has there been any updated versions since this review? 

[Kyle_d 0]

Just had a look on intime04 and the best edition says International Watch Co.... I WANT!

$428 though.. ouch

Edited February 18, 2019 by Kyle_d

[GingerApple 7,315]

My (similar) one says hi!

If it's good enough for Mercedes F1, it's good enough for me.

 

[simon 0]

On 18/02/2019 at 09:40, Kyle_d said:

Just had a look on intime04 and the best edition says International Watch Co.... I WANT!

$428 though.. ouch

Is Intime04.co a trusted dealer? He is mot listed here.

[Kyle_d 0]

He's one of the main ones as fat as I'm aware and he's on on RWI

[simon 0]

On 19/02/2019 at 21:04, Kyle_d said:

He's one of the main ones as fat as I'm aware and he's on on RWI

The movement looks like the one of the original. The bigger black gear, no miss-spellings. Are you shure he is not showing pics from the original?

 

Who ordered with them?

https://www.intime04.co/iwc/5913-portuguese-real-pr-real-annual-calendar-iw503502-zf-1-1-best-edition-blue-dial-on-black-leather-strap-a52850.html

 

 

This is the link

[Undinist 21]

Is it likely that YL might be able to make other reps with functional day and date?  I don't really care about the month.  But the day and date combo are a holy grail for me. 

[simon 0]

Nobody responded to my question yet.

Is the link I mentioned a link to the genuine watch or is it a new version with all the bugs of the former YL version corrected?

 

https://www.intime04.co/iwc/5913-portuguese-real-pr-real-annual-calendar-iw503502-zf-1-1-best-edition-blue-dial-on-black-leather-strap-a52850.html

 

 

Bigger black weel / movement

Swiss Made instead of Swiss Tech

International watch instead of Internation watch

Hope to hear from you soon

 

Edited March 14, 2019 by simon

[Gumbo 4]

Thanks OP for taking the effort to post this. Absolutely fascinating!

[Undinist 21]

Still loving this review!

Has the breakthrough with the calendar on this model been exploited with any other watches?  This seems to be the only good quality triple date rep.  I realise that the month doesn't advance automatically, but it's still awesome. I was looking at the gen today in a very posh branch of Watchfinder in the City of London, and I was thinking, why have I still not bought this rep? The gen was a gold one - it was used, and the £25k  price tag was very provoking...

 

[Tagyourit 2]

The month does advance automatically. It just always advances after 31 days. So on the shorter months you have at adjust it by a day.

[bakerjin 0]

I love this review!  I've been looking into the genuine version of this watch for a while and it's amazing how close to gen this replica is. 

One thing, so the gen is an automatic but this replica is manual wind?  I know from the review you have to set the calendar manually when it is off on months that are not 31 days, but I'm a bit confused by the wording as to whether the replica also requires manual winding for charging.