dmedly
13
Out with the old...
Hello,
I've been a reader of this site for a few years now but have never posted, after my latest purchase I thought I would finally take the plunge and share with some like minded people who are more appreciative of my obsession. My family and friends really don't understand my enthusiasm for horology and are at a loss as to why I would spend so much on something that "just tells the time."
As a youngster I always wanted the latest Casio, through my drunken teen years it was a durable Swatch and then finally at the age of 25 I took the plunge and bought a Omega Constellation. Then once in my early thirties I changed jobs and decided to treat myself to a new watch, I wanted to buy another Omega but the more expensive models just seemed to have diamonds on which wasn't my cup of tea. Whilst trawling the internet to find my next horological masterpiece I came across a name I had never heard of but once I started reading and learning about this company the more I realised that the best, most popular brands don't necessarily make the best products.
I'm sure you've guessed by now that the name of the company I'm talking about is Patek Philippe, I went through their watch list on the internet... some I liked, some I didn't and most I couldn't afford, but there was always one that tickled my fancy and it turned out to be their cheapest complication too, but still a bit too expensive for me. Fortunately one day whilst walking through a shopping centre in London a new jewellers and Patek AD had opened, I looked in the window and spotted the watch I had been dreaming of and went in to see it in the flesh. After a while the salesman approached me and asked if I wanted to take a closer look. I told him it was a bit rich for me but he insisted and then told me that as the shop was new and that they want to get punters through the door I could get 20% off the rrp, which really got me thinking...after a bit more haggling I was able to get nearly 30% off the rrp and was the proud owner of my first Patek Philippe!
The "controversial" but much loved PP5085.
Battered & bruised!
But I believe a watch should be worn...
...and this was worn everyday!
Now I know this is not everyones favourite piece, but I loved it and wore it with pride, knowing that most people didn't know what it was because it didn't have Rolex, Tag or Omega stamped on it made it all the more special (to me). My work involves me dealing with the public everyday and only on two occasions in the nine years did anyone comment on it, one was the manager of Marcus and the other was a man picking up his watch from Watch Club.
Unfortunately this year I started to fall out of love with it, I have quite a large wrist (8 inch) and started to think that the 37mm size was a tad small for my wrist and the bracelet could be a bit tight in the summer when hot, not because I've put on a few kilos in the past few years!!! I contemplated keeping it and buying a few other brands so I could pick and choose a different watch every other day and I liked the idea of having a collection. i looked at a JLC Master Compressor Memovox - I liked the idea of the alarm, and also the JLS Tribute to Polaris. I looked at a Panerai PAM00048 and also a Hublot Big Bang Tantalum, but yet again there was another watch that caught my eye, well two...but the A. Lange & Sohne Langematik Anniversary is pretty rare! As you may have noticed I seem to like watches with a dark dial and after having watches with bracelets for the past 15 years I decided I wanted a strap this time around.
For six months I couldn't make my mind up what to do, did I really want to have four watches all with black/grey dials? Then one day I noticed the bracelet on my PP5085 was a bit loose around the lugs so I popped into the Patek Philippe boutique and asked them if they could check it and tighten whatever had come loose, unfortunately it was bad news and I was told that I probably needed a new bracelet as it had just worn away at the lugs (fat wrist!). So with the cost of a new bracelet, service and spit & polish I felt it was time to move on...
May I introduce you to my PP5726 (CHUFFED!)
...and yes, this will be worn everyday too!
I have to say 'I love It!" I know some would prefer to have a bracelet, but for me this is the best looking watch on Patek's list apart from the new regulator, or maybe the chronograph versions, but I have know need for a stopwatch and moonphase & date are more important to me.
Now I know I've got a bit carried away and taken up far too much of your time but I would like to point out that I am not rich, I just work hard and appreciate the finer things in life. I saved up for years for my first watch and have saved up for years for this one, maybe in another 8-9 years time I will sell up again and move on to the next big thing. but I have one question...
I'm considering fitting a PP5712R brown alligator strap to this watch, with beige/cream stitching...brown shoes - brown strap, black shoes- black strap, your thoughts?
Thank you for your time.
dmedly
ps. Apologises for the poor quality pictures, first time for everything! 
