dr.kol
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My Basel report - Patek Philippe
This time I let the pictures talk. In the discussions afterwards, I will tell more about my impressions. However, it is important that each and every Purist can form his/her opinion and thus, I am mostly posting this time just non-edited pictures.
I think that the winner for general public was 5230G:
For me 5131P has a very special meaning. The dial is so well made that I can, with a bit imagination, see my home in northern Lapland as well as my property in the Norwegian border in the Northeast part of Finnish Lapland.
I also had to change my mind: this watch is great with bracelet.
I hope this will be my next watch.
Most of us were waiting for the new 5170P. I can confirm that the dial is simply stunning. Some people do not like the diamond indexes. Decide your self.
I never thought that I would love an Aquanaut made of gold. I was wrong. The new 5168G is stunning and in a couple of weeks I will handle also the new Advanced Research. It's clear that in the future, every now and then, I will wear a WG Aquanaut with blue dial.
I have often expressed my love towards 5960/1A. The black dial might be even better than the white one.
The dial of 5960G is really stunning. This is a new version between the steel one and the platinum version. The white gold is priced £ 10,700 above the steel version.
A very nice candidate for the first Patek is Calatrava 6006G. It is two mm larger than the earlier version and now it feels just right.
The new version of the annual calendar is available with gold indexes as well as diamond indexes. Can you spot the difference?
The skeleton watch 5180 is now available in rose gold. Artistic and stunning.
There were also a couple of fantastic watches for ladies. Mr. Thierry Stern advised my wife: "Don't let your husband decide but choose yourself". I am afraid to hear what kind of order I will get.
These were not all the new models. I will revert to the new collection in the middle of April.
In case you are not totally bored with the pictures, still some "bonus photos":
Thank you for watching.
I must also thank Mr. Ed Butland, Director of London Salon and Mr. Jerome Pernici, Commercial Director of Patek Philippe, who spent over an hour with us discussing deeply about the new collection.
In brief: 2017 collection is a winner. The new watches can't make everybody happy but for sure there is something great for most of us. Additionally, most of the old models are still there.
Best, Kari
More posts:
My Basel report - Patek Philippe
This time I let the pictures talk. In the discussions afterwards, I will tell more about my impressions. However, it is important that each and every Purist can form his/her opinion and thus, I am mostly posting this time just non-edited pictures. I think...
Thank you for the fantastic report!
These are great photos and they will be very useful for those who can't see themin the real. There are indeed several watches I'm eager to see, more than I expected. I imagine that it took quite a lot of time to picture them so thanks again Kari. Best, Ma...
Thank you for your fine work
To photograph all those watches and upload to this site in one post is incredible. Technology is your expertise. Great watches too.
Thanks for the many and great shots Kari.
The 5131P dial/material combo is the one that attracts me. All the very best, Alex
Words can't describe the beauty of 5131P.
It's a watch for the "Northern Boys". Best, Kari
Thank you Kari for the lovely taken photos!
Is it just me or did you take more photos of the 5170P than any other watch?! I love it too and am thinking very hard about it So what watches did you order? Let me guess - the 5170P, 5131Pfor yourself and the 7130G for your wife
I try to speak my wife to go for the perpetual.
For me first 5131P, then 5370P, then a WG Aquanaut, then... Best, Kari
You are a man of Great Taste.
Technically the watch is simply great and the dial is stunning. It's a very elegant watch and feels great on the wrist. Best, Kari
Thanks, Kari.
I will get my first PP (5712/1A-001) within the next 2-3 months. I'm still more into sporty timepieces, but the 5170P could become my first timepiece on a leather strap. Thanks again for so many great pictures. Best, Volker
Fantastic report just like Imran's
thanks Kari. Lots of appeal with the new collection. I found it to be a major success for PP. Personal favorites are the two 5960 and 5170P.
Thanks a lot.
Which 5960 you like more. For me both are appealing. I have the P & A... should I go for G? Best, Kari
5960G for me because of the pushers and strap
I think you should go for the Acier. But there is no wrong answer here which is the beauty of this PP 2017 collection. -Joe
I have not decided yet.
I will not give away my black dial platinum nor white dial steel. But no hurry; need to get 5131P first. Best Kari
Thank you for sharing your photos with all of us here Kari
The 5230G is stunning imo! And the WG Aquanaut looks really good with the blue dial. How does it wear with 42mm? I'm now torn between this and the 5167R
When 5230P will be introduced,
I am the first one in the list. I at leat think so because my name should be there already. It's a fantastic reference! I do not like oversized watches but somehow I find 5168 more balanced that 5167. The new one is simply perfect. Best, Kari
Not sure how Patek does it
Just when you start doubting, they come up with these desirable beauties. Everyone is bound to have a different taste and they sure satisfy most. For me 5078, 5320 and 5168 are the most desirable although admittedly I would be very happy with any of the o...
I will discuss 5078 & 5178 after hearing the same in April.
For sure 5320 & 5168 are great references. I just try to avoid gold and choose platinum whenever it is possible. Best, Kari
Thank you! Great post!
Wonderful pictures! What a year for Patek, so many winners this year!
Great year for Patek - expensive for the clients.
I can't now think much else than that I "need" 5131P. Best, Kari
But unfortunately not mine.
This arctic theme is something I love. In addition to that, the watch is simply perfect. Best, Kari
It's a great reference.
I would say that with platinum case it could overshadow my 5550P. Best, Kari
What a fantastic report.
Many thanks for taking the time and effort to do this, as it really is great for those of us who could not attend in person! I will add that I was initially underwhelmed by PP's offering this year; however your photos have changed that impression. The 596...
Relativity! :D
Which 5960 variants do you own again? If I'm not mistaken though, the '1A' is the one you wear the most?
Thank you Kari!
Thank you Kari for showing us all these photos and for taking the time to upload all of these photos! And for providing your insightful comments!
Most of comments are yet to come.
And in April I have an opportunity to play with the minute repeaters and have a close look at the Advanced Research. That's an interesting watch. Patek is promising accuracy between minus 1 to plus two seconds per day. Quite incredible. Best, Kari
Kari, a huge thank you for taking the time (a lot I am sure) to present this incredibly beautiful photographic essay!
in particular, for me the 5131 1/P images, show with far greater resolution and color how enchanting the dial is. The image on Patek's website falls far short of the standard you have set. Best, patekova
My photos, mostly taken by my wife,
were taken with a semi-pocket camera in poor lightning. We spent in the meeting room full two hours and took a bit over 400 pictures. That means a photo every 21 seconds for two hours. There was no time to play with the photographs but to try to give my (...
After the mandatory purchases,
the black dial 5160/1A is leading the dream list of non-mandatory purchases. It is such a wonderful watch for every day's wearing. Perhaps white dial for sunny days, black for cloudy. Or vice versa. Best, Kari
They are very different.
The dial of the black is like watching to the depths of an ocean. It's so deep. At the same time the white is very playful. Indeed, a matter of taste and two very different watches when looking at the dial. Best, Kari
Thank you for these
great pictures... sadly I do not care for the great majority of the new releases...
There are always the old releases.
The new collection does not reduced the value of the old collection. As an example 5370P is today as great as it was on the day of release. Furthermore, many of us love the vintage ones. Best, Kari
Amazing photos, thanks for sharing!
The 5131P makes complete sense for you to have... even my home country is on the map so would love to say I will try to get one. Unfortunately priced a bit over my pain threshold even if an allocation was possible... star of the show for me is 5170P. Can ...
Yes, Sweden fits to the map of 5131P.
But can you see your home in the map? When watching the map carefully, I am sure I can see mine: 250 km north from the Arctic Circle, in the eastern part of Lapland. If I imagine the dial in the dark, I am sure that Aurora Borealis will appear and start t...
The 6006 could be even nicer if...
...the date font was thinner than that used for the hours. They are too similar in weight and compete with each other. The date should be subordinate to the hour and provide some contrast. Maybe they will change the dial at some point. The 5230G is fantas...
Every fan of Patek is also a self-made designer.
I used to be upset with many references because they were not according to my taste. Then I realised it: Thierry Stern is not coming to me and giving his demands about my next ships; not even demanding to stay on tanker segment or demanding moving to bulk...
Just an opinion...
...but an informed one. I am (was, now retired) a university-trained graphic designer who worked for 30 years in the tech industry as a designer/art director/ creative director. That includes both print, packaging, advertising, and digital app design (UI/...
Not "just" an opinion
There are people who have better trained eyes and "antennas" for design than others. And then there are people who are "fanboys" and applaud whatever a manufacturer puts to the market. Fonts of recent PPs have been discussed and criticized often enough, i...
It is not very fruitful to discuss matters of taste.
I like, as an example, the dial of 3940 much more than the one of 5140. However, Patek has the right to produce what they want and we have the option to buy or not to buy. There are enough watches around to please everybody. I have heard several times peo...
I think...
...a forum should allow some debate about style and design (not taste, which is your or mine taste, which I am not criticizing). Otherwise we could move this whole thing to Instagram and limit comments to "great watch" - "no YOUR watch is even greater". M...
I am not in a position to say what can be discussed and what can't be discussed.
I think it is very normal to say "I do not like it" but to say "it is badly designed" is already a matter of taste. Not an objective statement. Best, Kari
Noone said "badly designed"
Mdg just pointed out some minor flaws in the dial's font.
That's the center of their discussion
It is a matter of taste and not an objective issue. What is an aesthetical standard at one time may change at another time. Hence, what was true at one time (proportions, what kind of patterns match together and which one don't etc...) can be inaccurate l...
The problem is there
I don't believe there is such thing as absolute ideal design. There is just a standard design at one time. And the history is full of examples of designs that were great back then but are now outdated. It is one thing to find something we don't like, it i...
#super #letsnothavedifferentopinions
Will share a pic of my mocca latte and cupcake soon #starbucks
It is not a problem of having a different opinion, that's what we encourage sharing
But there is a big difference between talking about our tastes, the way we see things, and expressing as if we have the truth and good taste hence all that doesn't satisfy us is bad taste. You should understand how people having another opinion may feel w...
Well
I do understand the politically correct concept of a "safe space" but: What if people saying this watch is really nice and is good taste - isn't that not that nice reading for people who actually don't like it??
The difference is that people who say it is nice don't say that people who think otherwise are people without tastes.
It is one thing to say "I don't like it, I prefer the other kind". It is another to say something like "it's very ugly and of very bad taste". Especially since most of the elements we talk about are subjective (I explained it in my previous answers), like...
Thanks for such a great report, now my take is...
Amazing photos. Love the 5131P and the bracelet. The black dial 5960A is a game changer for me as I was not a fan of the white dial. 5170P looks fantastic. Now for the 5230G, I like it but I think that it is trying a bit too hard to look vintage. So great...
Thanks for your comments.
I mostly agree. But about 5230G my thought are that Patek said: "Let's give them an exceptionally readable perpetual". Best, Kari
Thank you, a real treat!
its no small feat taking all these pictures , organizing and posting. Very much appreciated Sincerely H. P.s. My next watch looks even better in your pics than the ones I have seen thus far.
Thanks you very much for this exceptional report. The photos are very impressive...
... and the watches receive aesthetic justice through them. So much better than what I saw from other sources so far. Excellent! And the 5320 is to die for! Cheers Henrik
A stellar Basel showing for Patek
Up and down the line-up are potential classics. All the grand comps. 5320 maybe just the right combo of a modern and vintage-feel perpetual. And look at the detail in the casework of this reference. 5178 with cathedral gongs, cream enamel dial, and Bregue...
Thank you for the fantastic pictures, Kari!
I, as many, have enjoyed them a lot. Regarding the 5320: albeit looking very traditional the fact that the case is stamped out of one piece and also that the movement contains silicon parts makes this reference a totally modern watch. Also the size. Howev...
Thank you! Your kind words mean a lot.
I totally agree with what you said about the perpetual. I do not know if I will get 5131P but I try. Best Kari
While underwhelming for me personally, there are a few gems in here.
I personally would go first for the 5320G. But the price is insane. The 5170P is killer, but the diamond indices are not my style. Now, the 5960. The black dial I like much better than the original white. But the 5960G, with the grained blue dial is my to...
I am happy you enjoyed.
I find the QP okay priced taking into account what it is. Best Kari
It is not that I am saying it is overvalued.
I just think, that for this much money, there are a number of other very interesting propositions out there. And I do not need another QP, so that influences my opinion. It is a very nice watch, though.
Watches are expensive
and luckily there are many around in all price ranges. Best Kari
Naturally it is relative.
I find watches expensive. My 5070P was costing just the same as my Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS very well equipped. But still I bought the watch. Best Kari
Thank you Kari, one big question remains
5070p or 5170p. ??? Lol But thanks again for this fantastic post
Let's put it this way:
I would not give away my 5070P. But it is the London Edition. For sure the movement of 5170 is superior. But 5070P has something which is nearly impossible to beat. Best Kari
Great report, Kari.
How would you rate this two watch collection: 59601/a black dial and 5170P?
Congratulations Kari for these wonderful photos
and 1st part. I wait to read your following comments and your 2d part with MRs. I have 3 questions: - 5131P dial is performed by different enamellers. Did you see the 2 or 3 variations dials which will be delivered (with different color intensity) accordi...
Answers:
Sorry, I can't get question 1. I asked Patek about the scale of 5170P and they promised to study the matter. No, I did not take lime shots. The room in the boot was well lighted and I could not ask the hosts to turn the lights off. They would have thought...
appreciated and like your humor.
Thank you Kari. I hope Patek will reconsider the scale printing for 5170P in the final production and not for a new reference i.e. 5170P-011. Regarding lume, maybe another Purists could get a better environment to make this lume shot. I will try myself en...
We discussed about the dial of 5131P with the management of Patek.
Both my wife and I understood that the dials are already made. Perhaps we misunderstood. Anyhow, I believe that the production run of 5131P will be very short and limited. I feel that the dial of the P version is somehow much "deeper" than the dials of J,...
Then, I will be very Happy to hear SOON that you could get your beloved 5131P.
A great addition in your collection with lot of personal significations. Best, patrickh
Let's see. I told that I would like to get one but either I'll get the allocation or not.
Thierry Stern is the only one who knows... Best, Kari
try to cross left ones on right ones, it is easier ...LOL
All the Best in any case. Patrickh
kari, thanks so much for all the detailed pics and info.
I wish I could see these pieces IRL Honestly the dial of the 5131P looks absolutely amazing but I would love to see it before plunking a few shekels on the counter - OK maybe more than a few The 5170P looks intriguing but unless someone can convince me th...
Diamonds on dial is a very personal matter.
Some like, others don't. I will not get a watch with diamonds on dial and those were the other reason why I refused the anniversary Nautilus. But others might love the diamonds and nothing wrong with that. Best Kari
Totally agree....
.....just guessing which side of the line Julian will go. For me, it is simple...if there are diamonds on the dial, I won't go there. Cultural. Upbringing. etc etc....no right or wrong, but just different.
In Finland & Estonia diamonds are for ladies. Period.
Just like you said; it is cultural. Best Kari
The 5170P
will most likely be worn by a lot of women due to the diamond dial. Given its size it can be a ladies or gent's watch easily.
I will have, also in the future, a wife with a wrist too small of 5170P.
But seriously: 5170P is not a feminine watch. Best, Kari
Your wife deserves our admiration
These photos are definitely impressive, much better than those ones you can find on professional websites. I like the new collection, even though i'm going to focus more on what i can't accept from a watchmaker of this level. Before any fan might fell off...
Nautilus is close to 26k (white dial)
5167 is 40 mm and cheaper (16-18K), thus for many customers aquanaut is a worthy substitute. In the italian forum i used to write many fans are praising aquanaut day by day, but for me is just a nice watch, but definitely overpriced and overvalued. There ...
It's again a matter of taste.
Many say that Porsche 911 is a better car with less price than Ferrari California T. What is the objective truth? I guess nobody can define it. If one wants to get Ferrari, it is for sure the right choise. Same with Patek. I love AP 15202 but MY experienc...
Interesting to discuss
I see from of your posts that the price and worth of watches is a very important matter for you. The problem is that in such Luxury field, their are elements aside of the factual ones. The thing is that a watch is not only technical features but also the ...
Let's talk of the new aquanaut
What is really new? The 42.2 mm case. Did you check the ratio case/caliber? A photo sometimes speaks better than hundreds of words But i'm not surprised, there is a Calatrava with the same ratio (but fortunately solid caseback) I'm not interested at all i...
True, the movement is a bit small compared with the case.
However, that is very common with most brands when the case sizes have been growing. It would be wonderful to get a big amount of new movements every year. But who would pay the bill in the end? The buyers of those watches. I do not see problems using 324...
In fact it is a new version of the 5167 Aquanaut
not presented as a new model. However, there are sometimes details that make a version more attracting than others too. I'm sure people will love the color and material combination. Here, it is a size that will please a quite significant part of the clien...
One interesting note about 5168:
I do not like bigger watches. However, I found 5168 better balanced and proportional than 5167. So that one is somewhere on my growing shopping list. Best, Kari
Brilliant write-up and pictures Kari
I cannot lose the image of the 5320G in my mind and have ordered it....will probably get it by year-end. Best Sam
5230g is a winner its all there the data you need.
Date moon phase day , what more. And its very legible. The ladies perpetual and world time are really nice especially with diamonds. The enamel platinum world time is also a winner. For me. Thanks for the pictures Kari. Cheers , enjoy Basell.
I love the new 5230.
It is very readable, three dimensional and a bit vintage type in a refreshing way. Luckily it is not a re-edition (read copy) of some old reference. Best Kari
6006
Thank you Kari for this fantastic report! The 6006 is a strong candidate for becoming my first Patek. I had considered the 6000 in the past, but found it too small. Do you know when it becomes available? Best, Matthias
Many thanks Kari for an excellent post with..,
lovely photos, especially the 5131P ! Hope you get the "icy" enamel soon! Cheers, Gordon
Thank you, Kari, for the lovely shots. And thank you even more for the positive resume!
I had to read so many negative and grumpy comments on the new models that I really got into kind of a bad mood. Imho the new models that you have featured with your photos are logical enhancements of the PP collection. Most of them get my total admiration...
We can't love all the new references
but if we do not, it does not mean that there would be something wrong with the watch. Patek has tens of thousands clients. That means tens of thousands different tastes. They are obviously trying to please as many tastes within their own criterias as pos...
Thanks for the great report and photo's
The 5131P is to die for, but even if I could have the funds out of my reach. Already on the list for the 5131R at different AD but will never be able to receive one I guess The 5170P however is within my reach and already ordered! I think that once seen i...
Many many thanks Kari.
I think the 5230 is the (surprising) star, but there is so much to digest here and I look forward to discovering the pieces one by one. Thank you Kari for your erudition, and all for your comments. The debates are as fascinating as the watches!
Wow Kari, what a photo bomb
I think we missed each other by a day or two. (My trip report is in the Basel World/SIHH section). Too bad. That world time on Platinum is incredible. Beyond my reach in more ways than one, but incredible. I\'ll just have to be content with my 5110P. Sigh...
I did not look at the windows, just the watches inside.
Yes, it was quite a job to pick up +100 photos from +400 I had. My intention was just to show how the watches really look like in artificial lightning. Naturally I wanted to take 5131P and take some pictures in natural light outside. However, the gorillas...
Regarding 5170p diamonds on dial
I have been thinking about some of the comments dismissing the 5170p due to the diamond indexes on the dial. While I fully understand the reaction of some of my fellow enthusiasts I ask you to look beyond the gemstones. This watch is imho a work of art be...
I totally agree!
The baguette diamonds on the watch are so subtle that I showed it to a top jewellery designer who did not even notice the diamonds! This is because the blue dial is mesmerising and changes colour depending on the light. Many of us have a psychological bar...
I confirm what you say.
When 5170P is on the wrist, it is nearly impossible to understand that there are diamonds on the dial. The photos are emphasising the same and I am sure if somebody takes a look at your wrist when wearing 5170P, nobody can understand that there are diamon...
I agree - 5170P is a Masterpiece
I understand people who say "yes" to diamonds as well as the ones saying "no". I like Ferrari. However, I would not buy a yellow one while for others yellow is the preferred color. I want my cars black while for some a black Ferrari is stupidity. The cars...
Absolutely agree. It is a masterpiece!
I am contemplating a call to my AD at this point... even though I have already made one order request from the 2017 PP new releases already!!!
I have requested for 5131P but that's not the end.
Before continuing, there's a Grand Complication in between - perhaps two. Now I need to generate some cash! Best Kari
Hope to get lucky....
and be allocated a 5650G! My AD has promised to try hard but not sure of allocations unfortunately so trying to be realistic in my expectations!!!
Around 400 AD and 500 watches. It should be realistic.
I can handle 5650 only in April. I love my 5450 & 5550 meaning 5650 could also be nice to have. Best Kari
Thanks for sharing some optimism!
I have not yet handled this but have handled 5164A and 5164R a few times. Like the size, complication and feel of this reference. However the steel in black was a bit flat in color to me and the R does not feel right to me. But a blue dial white metal (wo...
I spoke with the commercial director of Patek about the opening.
First he was joking that they employed the former President of Zenith to their design team. I understood that it was not an easy thing for Patek to open the dial. They worked for a month to make the opening right. However, Patek made some clever new inven...
Great input H. I totally agree
and you emphasized the role of subjectivity very well. Best, Mark
thank you
Great pics! I don\'t find any mandatory purchase in this year collection, but Patek is finally make some good corrections on 5170 and 5960.
Outstanding photo report
A very sincere thank you for sharing and bringing these watches to life. IMO the 5320 is quite interesting and the 5170P was almost perfect. Thanks again,
Happy that you enjoyed. I think 5320 is really great and I wait for P.
The other one, 5131P, is what it is and nothing will change that. However, it is more than good enough for me but I'm not too picky. LOL. Kari
Thank you
Kari, Thank you for the many photos, the commentary, the personal opinions, and your nice answers to the many responses. It is most kind of you to share your access, experience, and enthusiasm so generously. I imagine there are others with equal access wh...
A steel 5960 is unbeatable as a daily watch.
I am just sitting onboard a ship from Helsinki to Tallinn, wearing a business suit in business class and on my wrist is again 5960A. I love it! I think 5170P will make any collection even nicer. Best Kari
Blue today
On camera for TV documentary later today, so blue shirt required; blue 5960P optional. Park ...
Kari, how do you feel the similarities
between 5320G indexes and those from Aquanaut line? I just put the 2 photos closed and was surprised by this aspect. Maybe they are different? Cheers, Patrickh
Can't really say.
The style is the same but I do not believe that the color of Superluminova is just the same. Best Kari
Great photos!
Thanks for sharing. It helps give a much clearer picture of what these watches look like for those of us that were not at Basel. It seems like Patek did a very nice job this year with the 5320, 5170 and aquanaut topping my list.
Excellent report Kari....
The 5320G is the firm winner for me. Even if they had to fill out the back of the case to get the smaller 324 movement comfortably accommodated.
Definately warming to this reference
The 5327 is my favourite but I really wanted a PC with Windows versus sub dials and very clean (like the FPJ QP). We are getting their. The dial reminds me of the 5327 and I bet the lume is fantastic. Looking forward to comparing this to the 5327. Looking...
I think that all in all, the new QP is fantastic.
I planned to get another one to pair my 5550P but now I know that if the dial colour of the coming platinum version is nice, I will get 5320P. Best, Kari
5131P is a Winner
Thanks for a wonderful collection of pictures from the 2017 collection! All of the watches look great, ... but the 5131P is extraordinary! The combination of the Platinum case and the snow of the northern view is perfect!
I fully agree.
For somebody like me spending a good part of the year in Arctic, 5131P is something very special. Best, Kari
