To buy or not to buy?!:-)

Dec 03, 2016,12:40 PM
 

I am due to retire in April next year but today, I tried on a watch that may make me postpone my retirement for another three months (any excuse to keep on working!smile). I have always liked the cushion shaped case of the 5940G, the allure of the Arabic numerals, the slimness of the case housing the attractive 240Q movement and I was quite surprised when Patek decided to discontinue the model after only two years in production (2014-2016). Surely two years in production is far too short for any model so either this watch will be very sought after in future or it will disappear into oblivion . The earlier yellow gold model differs not only due to the metal but it spots a railway minute track whereas the white gold models have lovely dots to indicate the minutes which I personally find more attractive. Most importantly, this watch today has passed the most important test in my opinion - it seems to suit my wrist perfectly. A penny for your thoughts smile

Best wishes,

Sham







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I am also pondering this watch

 
 By: watch-er : December 3rd, 2016-12:49
I had thought it would be large but it fits perfectly. I like the legibility. It is definitely my next purchase. The only negative is the tonneau shaped case is not very popular. Round watches are the norm. Remember the 3970 in this case were terrible sel... 

My current favorite...

 
 By: mdg : December 3rd, 2016-12:58
...in any metal but yellow gold looks better on me. I love it because of its shape and slimness. The only thing that would make it perfect would be a shaped movement to fit the case but that will never happen...buy it!!

Thank you for your encouragement! :-)

 
 By: sham1 : December 3rd, 2016-13:42
I think we like it for the same reasons!

Yes I remember! :-)

 
 By: sham1 : December 3rd, 2016-13:03
Pateks tend to hold their value or appreciate when there are produced in limited numbers, a short time span rather than if they are popular. If you are serious about this watch, you should not wait too long since the last watch is about to leave Geneva fo... 

Can't advise on the watch, but 3 months can be a very long time or short, depending ...

 
 By: cazalea : December 3rd, 2016-13:39
In the case of retiring, I vote for earlier rather than later - I was sitting in the top seat at my company and wish I'd gotten out sooner. Cazalea

I am quite an oddball :-)

 
 By: sham1 : December 3rd, 2016-13:45
as I actually love my job and the company so when I do finally retire, something in me will die too regrettably. I am only in the UK because of the love for the job and I intend to return home to Malaysia shortly after. However, my tiny watch collection w... 

Alas, the company will carry on

 
 By: cazalea : December 3rd, 2016-14:01
We feel a great sense of loss when we leave, although it is not always mutual. I was head of R&D at one firm, and when I left they packed my entire office into boxes and put it in storage. The "new guy" who had worked for me for several years managed ... 

The company will definitely carry on :-)

 
 By: sham1 : December 3rd, 2016-14:06
and will probably perform even better as I have been a dinosaur. I have been with the company for 25 years and it has been my only real job so you can imagine the affinity with the company. I guess the ethos of the company has been largely derived by own ... 

I disagree...

 
 By: marcelo : December 3rd, 2016-15:24
The tonneau shaped case is what makes it stands above the norm.

I think so :-)

 
 By: sham1 : December 3rd, 2016-15:26
and the Arabic numerals do add to its discreet elegance

Aren't these breguet numerals? [nt]

 
 By: Patekphilippecollector : December 4th, 2016-07:40

Absolutely!

 
 By: sham1 : December 4th, 2016-07:55
which are also known as Arabic numerals And as I posted this in the Patek forum, I thought I would refer to the numerals as Arabic rather than Breguet

Why I get it....I thought Arabic numerals were like the 5146

 
 By: Patekphilippecollector : December 4th, 2016-08:20
...  

Let's put it this way:

 
 By: marcelo : December 6th, 2016-13:29
Breguet numerals are arabic. Right?

Yes but

 
 By: watch-er : December 6th, 2016-15:01
not all Arabic numerals are Brequet shaped.

Precisely! [nt]

 
 By: marcelo : December 6th, 2016-15:06

Confused

 
 By: Patekphilippecollector : December 7th, 2016-04:17
Well all numerals are Arabic unless they happen to be Roman or in same cases written in a different language. It\'s based on the Arabic numeral system. Within that you would get different calligraphic fonts I would guess.

I stand corrected! :-)

 
 By: sham1 : December 7th, 2016-04:50
I should have stated Breguet numerals and not Arabic numerals which are more general.

I will add the

 
 By: watch-er : December 6th, 2016-15:06
watch does not have the extra solid case back or the deployant clasp typical supplied on Patek "Grand Complications". Why I really do not know.

Mine is on the way. [nt]

 
 By: watch-er : December 8th, 2016-14:04

Seriously??!!

 
 By: sham1 : December 8th, 2016-14:09
Well done! I will be having discussions with my bosses tomorrow to know if my retirement extension is possible. The watch should come with an extra solid back but not the deployant clasp and to be honest, I prefer the pin buckle. I hope it comes with a Pa... 

Yes

 
 By: Park : December 3rd, 2016-13:39
Sham, In your shoes, I'd postpone retirement three months and buy the watch. A dealer offered me a great price on the yellow gold model and I passed because of the metal and an allegiance to chronographs, but I haven't been able to get this reference out ... 

Thanks Park!

 
 By: sham1 : December 3rd, 2016-13:54
It is my favourite Patek currently(bar the minute repeaters) and I have never owned a perpetual calendar so this might be it. I have tried to like the 3940 or 5140 but somehow the connection was not there! I always compare the attraction and chemistry to ... 

At this level, it's about the feelings, not just the logic

 
 By: Park : December 3rd, 2016-14:27
What a great way to mark 25 years of service! Park

I agree Park :-)

 
 By: sham1 : December 3rd, 2016-14:34
I also have a habit of finding any excuse to reward myself

Buy. You only live once. Live it in style.

 
 By: geross : December 3rd, 2016-14:56
Enjoy the fruits of your hard work. If you do not buy it , you will not have it. Best wishes. Geross.

Well said Geross, thank you!

 
 By: sham1 : December 3rd, 2016-15:19
You make a compelling argument and how can one deny oneself such pleasures

A Perpetual Calendar...

 
 By: Jon17 : December 3rd, 2016-18:16
Is the Quintessential Patek Philippe, i say go for it you will never regret it, this case is really unique i myself prefer the black dial but i can see the white being more versatile. congratulations on the retirement. cheers.

Thanks Jon!

 
 By: sham1 : December 3rd, 2016-23:40
The watch look discreet enough to be a daily wear and thank goodness that I only have three other watches to alternate with (on of which is still embarrassingly sealed! ) I never could decide if the perpetual calendar was the quintessential Patek or if th... 

Both are deserving of that title

 
 By: Jon17 : January 14th, 2017-05:02
one thing is for sure though, a perpetual calendar patek is one for the history books. Wear it well.

Thanks Jon!

 
 By: sham1 : January 14th, 2017-12:11
I definitely will when I collect it one day after completing the indefinite payment scheme!

I see you have a strong connection with this reference

 
 By: Mark in Paris : December 3rd, 2016-18:50
I remember you posted already on the previous little overview I made ( here ). The pros you mentionned, that members mentionned and that I noticed as well were perfectly summed-up: comfort, size, elegance and the unique complication that remains a graal f... 

Hello Mark!

 
 By: sham1 : December 3rd, 2016-23:51
Thank you for your reply and I shall definitely be thinking about it a lot until I decide, which should be within the next 10 days. I think more relevantly, the 'like' has turned into 'love' and we all know what happens when that happens! What I failed to... 

That's a so enjoyable feeling and not that frequent

 
 By: Mark in Paris : December 4th, 2016-14:28
We have many watches we look at but very few (sometimes none) that we really love and really want on the long run. Enjoy that moment! Cheers, Mark

Thanks Mark!

 
 By: sham1 : December 4th, 2016-15:26
I hope the moment lasts for as long as possible because falling out of love with a watch can also happen but hopefully not with the 5940G!

Hi Sham, IMO the decision is much more than whether or not to buy this reference. You should simply...

 
 By: GLau : December 4th, 2016-01:55
not retire and keep working & buying watches ! LOL! BTW, this watch is lovely and very different & elegant.

Ha! :-)

 
 By: sham1 : December 4th, 2016-02:00
You read my mind well Gordon but as much as I love watches , particularly Pateks,, I have been away from my parents for 35 years and life is too short so I would like to spend more time with them. I agree with your comments on the watch which will actuall... 

Ha! I knew you would come back with the above reason. Hence, my comment was simply about...

 
 By: GLau : December 4th, 2016-06:48
not retiring and did not mention about continue working in London. Now Sham, whether working in Malaysia generate the same financial benefits would be another discussion. LOL !

No rest for the wicked huh?! :-)

 
 By: sham1 : December 4th, 2016-06:56
Actually I did try working in Malaysia in the 90s for a couple of years but could not adapt to the working culture so I returned to the UK. And working in Malaysia will allow me to buy Tag Heuers but probably not Pateks Working in Singapore will but I thi... 

Hi Sham, you should work in Singapore and live in KL to strike a balance between ...

 
 By: GLau : December 7th, 2016-05:13
family and watch collection ! OMG, you are retiring so young at 53 ! Congrats to a very successful career!!

It did cross my mind actually!

 
 By: sham1 : December 7th, 2016-05:26
as the company I work for has a subsidiary in Singapore but I think I am done with work (I know, I know, a real lazy bugger ) and will spend my tie with my parents and feeding the poor and reading to the blind. More self satisfaction in that I believe Not... 

Thanks Edward for the encouragement! :-)

 
 By: sham1 : December 4th, 2016-13:04
I am likely to go for it

funny: I also have the feeling to get a Patek pp calendar watch for pension :-)

 
 By: COUNT DE MONET : December 4th, 2016-11:25
The thinking is: then I would enjoy the pp calendar to the most. If you are happy with the deal that is being offered to you: enjoy the small step to go ahead in buying it. Great piece! Best Moritz

Thank you Moritz!

 
 By: sham1 : December 4th, 2016-13:07
The deal to buy the watch is highly unusual but it only makes me appreciate the dealer and the watch more! It is one thing my being passionate about the watch but it is quite another when the dealer bends over backwards to help me to acquire it. There is ... 

Go for it!

 
 By: MTR : December 4th, 2016-12:53
I feel that you would regret it if you would not follow your heart. I know what I\'m talking about. I had to make an equal decision some weeks ago. And I\'m very happy that I have listened to my feelings and finally made the "right" decision. Best, Thomas... 

Thomas, you are absolutely right!

 
 By: sham1 : December 4th, 2016-13:09
Some watches just suit us better than others and the 5940G seems to scream, 'I am all yours if you want me!'

To buy or not - definitely to buy!

 
 By: patekova : December 4th, 2016-15:34
The 5940G is not the most popular watch. Isn't it nice to have something different? It is not round like virtually every other Patek. It has an alluring shape that many collectors reject summarily for that fact. To me, another plus. AND YOU LOVE THE WATCH... 

Thank you for the encourgament!

 
 By: sham1 : December 4th, 2016-23:47
I hope I buy it too. Will know by the end of this week if my proposed retirement can be extended for another 2 to 3 months. I have tried very hard to like the 3940 and 5140 but somehow they did not 'sing' to me when I tried them on. The 5940G just felt th... 

Aesthetically..

 
 By: yming : December 4th, 2016-16:46
I find the 5940g very attractive.. The dial color and minute pearls are really classy, it sports a perfect size as a classical perpetual calendar.. Although the case shape is abit of an odd ball, you have to see it in on the wrist to really appreciate it ... 

Thank you very much for the analysis!

 
 By: sham1 : December 4th, 2016-23:53
It is always great when someone manages to point out factors that I may not have considered like the calendar push buttons and the numbers not being squeezed. I always think the ultimate watch test is how it fits the wrist and fortunately (and I honestly ... 

Go for it

 
 By: Mr. M : December 5th, 2016-12:27
Great way to celebrate your retirement and a very nice choice. Hope you do it no matter what. I took a deep deep breath and bought my favorite 5140G a couple of months back, meaning I will probably have to postpone a lot more things than just retirement I... 

Well done on your 5140G!

 
 By: sham1 : December 5th, 2016-12:44
I think the size of your watch is actually better and seems more balanced than its replacement but I am sure some would prefer the newer watch We watch enthusiasts tend to prioritise our watch purchases over most other things! Well, at least I do Thank yo... 

Nice collection

 
 By: Mr. M : December 6th, 2016-05:22
And the even more unattainable 5959P next to the 5078.. Since you have 7200 London edition, I guess the 5959 must be your taste too a little sad PP discontinued the platinum version og this reference.

OMG Mike!!!

 
 By: sham1 : December 6th, 2016-06:33
In my lounge, I have framed up a limited edition print of the movement of the 5959 and I agree that the platinum version (with the white dial) was sublime. I have tried that watch on twice but could not bring myself to sell my home and rent instead! At 33... 

sorry!

 
 By: sham1 : December 6th, 2016-06:37
You may not be 'Mike'!

No worries:-)

 
 By: Mr. M : December 6th, 2016-10:45
Where on earth (or heaven) can you try a 5959? I used to prefer the white dial too, but lean towards black now if I should pick one today. It is the ultimate Patek in my opinion along with the 5078P (white enemal). However, I struggle with the 5959R with ... 

:-)

 
 By: sham1 : December 6th, 2016-11:03
I was fortunate enough to visit the Patek factory last year and at the end of the visit, we were all asked to sit in the boardroom. Minutes later the entire Patek collection was brought out for us to try on and play with and I had the opportunity to have ... 

More Encouragement

 
 By: Magoo : December 5th, 2016-18:48
Hi Sham1 - Only you can make the judgment regarding the timing of your retirement, but I can\'t imagine that you would regret this decision if you decide to go for it. And what a wonderful way to commemorate your retirement! I own the 5940G and find that ... 

Hi Mike!

 
 By: sham1 : December 5th, 2016-23:40
Wow! You own the watch?! As an owner, are there any short comings that I should be aware of? I actually love the cushion shaped case and adore watches from the 20s and 30s in small cushion shape cases. Regrettably, most cushion shape cases these days are ... 

It is personal, of course, but I have found no shortcomings

 
 By: Magoo : December 6th, 2016-19:40
Aside from the size of the cushion case, it is very thin and very comfortable to wear. I had a crush on the 5940g for some time, and just could not seem to shake it. I finally gave in, and have not looked back. True romance. One of my favorite pieces.

I always subscribe to true romance! :-)

 
 By: sham1 : December 7th, 2016-01:20
Glad to hear that the relationship is still strong! I have had a long crush too on this piece and was somewhat shocked when Patek decided to discontinue production after two years. My last chance I think

my 5 cents......

 
 By: Baron - Mr Red : December 6th, 2016-10:52
...my pet-hate amongst collectors is when someone explains to me that one of my watches is "too small" or "too big" of "a bad balance" bla bla bla. Often, someone will tell me that my taste in a watch is "wrong". It is in the wrong metal....bla bla bla. N... 

Thank you for you wise rationale!

 
 By: sham1 : December 6th, 2016-11:07
I agree with you totally that we all have quite varying taste in watches. For example, I have tried very hard to like a Rolex or even a Nautilus but I tend to favour dress watches. Just my taste I guess and my comfort zone. Saying that I do wish that one ... 

+1 Joe, these are subjective matters

 
 By: Mark in Paris : December 6th, 2016-13:48
depending on our past experiences and aren't absolute standards. We all express/share our pelasure and what pleases us in this passion of ours, this can be done considering that some tastes are not valued higher than others I enjoyed reading your comment.... 

Buy Buy Buy.........

 
 By: Miles_151 : January 19th, 2017-00:24
As I have always said and said here recently let your eyes and heart do the decision making. If it sings to you. Buy it. It looks good on your wrist as well. Good luck. Miles.

Time waits for no body

 
 By: Le_Quoc_Hung : January 19th, 2017-01:13
The longer you wait, the less of time you could enjoy it.

So true! :-)

 
 By: sham1 : January 19th, 2017-04:15
Now where did I put that credit card of mine?!