Short answer
A fake Patek Philippe Grand Complications 5271G is a counterfeit copy of reference 5271G-001. Patek Philippe does not license the design to any factory. The genuine 5271G-001 is a platinum, 41 mm perpetual calendar split-seconds chronograph. Counterfeit copies sell for about $200 to $1,500 and run on third-party movements. Selling, importing, or trafficking one in the United States falls under 18 U.S.C. § 2320.
The genuine 5271G-001
- Case: platinum, 41 mm
- Movement: caliber CHR 29-535 PS Q, manual wind
- Complications: split-seconds chronograph plus perpetual calendar with day, date, month, leap year, moon phase, and day/night
- Patek Philippe Seal on the movement
- Price: platinum Grand Complications models list in the low six figures USD. Patek Philippe does not publish prices for discontinued references. Secondary market prices move.
What counterfeit copies get wrong
- Movement. A split-seconds chronograph needs two seconds hands that stop apart and then rejoin on command. Common counterfeit movements, including the Seagull ST19 and modified ETA/Valjoux 7750, cannot do this. Pushers either do nothing or move a hand that snaps back.
- Weight and metal. Platinum has a density of about 21.4 grams per cubic centimeter. Steel is about 7.9. A plated brass or steel case feels light in the hand.
- Hallmarks. Platinum cases carry a PT950 mark. Fake cases carry no mark or a stamped mark with wrong spacing.
- Finishing. The genuine caliber shows Geneva stripes, polished bevels, and black-polished steel parts. Counterfeit finishing is shallow and machine cut.
- Paperwork. Patek Philippe issues an Extract from the Archives that ties a case number and movement number to a production record. Counterfeit sets ship with printed cards, not archive records.
Legal status in the US
18 U.S.C. § 2320 covers trafficking in counterfeit goods and carries up to 10 years imprisonment and a $2 million fine for a first offense by an individual. U.S. Customs and Border Protection seizes and destroys counterfeit watches at import. Personal possession is not the target of the trafficking statute, but a seized shipment is lost property. The number of counterfeit 5271G pieces in circulation is not published by Patek Philippe or by US agencies.
Checks before payment
- Ask for the case number and movement number, then request an Extract from the Archives from Patek Philippe.
- Test the rattrapante pusher. Start the chronograph, stop the split hand, release it, and confirm the two hands rejoin and run together.
- Weigh the watch. A platinum 41 mm case on a strap weighs far more than a steel copy.
- Have a watchmaker open the case and inspect movement finish, jewel count, and caliber stamp. Caliber CHR 29-535 PS Q is hand finished, and the stamp sits on the bridge.
- Compare the number on the case back with the number on the movement and with the archive record. Mismatched numbers point to a build from mixed parts.