As 2015 quickly drawing to a close in a few hours' time, I reflected on the acquisitions I made during the year...and soon came to realize that it was a prominent year of Patek, for me.

Rather inexplicably, I found this year's offering attractive and soon pulled the trigger on the 5270R, 5270G (blue dial), 5170G (white dial), 5905P (black dial), as they surfaced one by one. Then on Christmas eve, my dealer posed a question (was he Santa Claus in disguise?) - Would I be interested in the 5524G, the controversial and much-talked-about Calatrava Pilot watch? I have to confess that I was not initially drawn when I saw the pictures, but it started to grow on me after Patek;s exhibition in Hong Kong and I had a chance to put it on my wrist. After an anxious wait of a few days, viola...just in time for the New Year celebrations, perfect!

First impressions - I love the rich, textured-blue dial and the Superluminova-filled Arabic hour markers housed in white gold. Quite foolishly, I forgot to show the skeleton hand (depicting time for home town) in this picture. Note the date display at 6 o'clock at three-day intervals.

It features a 324 S C Fus movement, identical to the one used in 5164A (Aquanaut travel time)

The strap is made of vintage brown calf skin, with contrasting stitches. It is accompanied by a white gold buckle

At 42 mm in diameter (and 11 mm in thickness), the watch is very comfortable and feels rather substantial on the wrist

I have a nice problem -  my box for Pateks is now full and I will have to put this one someplace else....or should I part with one of them?

Allow me to take this opportunity to wish everyone a prosperous and healthy year in 2016!

Sam

finishing the year off with a 5524 type of bang!

Glad to hear that collectors tend to like this "controversial" reference than not.

On the watch box capacity issue , easy fix is to get another so that in 2016 you may continue your strong collection efforts!

Cheers and happy new year,

Gordon

Not sure my wife will concur :P

All the best

Sam

My collection pales compared to yours

Cheers

Sam

No message body

Yes, the family is getting bigger, and so is the house...

Cheers

Sam

Congrats! 5970P next?

and some of the 175th anniversary pieces...

Cheers

Sam

......I am delighted to hear that at least one other person is awaiting 175th pieces - I have still heard nothing and so many have now been delivered it seems that I am losing hope!!

You finished your acquisitions in 2015 splendidly. This message has been edited by geross on 2015-12-31 02:50:34

It was one heck of a year, including other brands like de Bethune as well...
Best
Sam

Super Patek collection.....It seems like you are a bracelet lover.I tend towards that these days as well the only problem is that most of the year is summer here!!

Enjoy your lovely collection and a new box is the easier solution but definitely not the most economic

Best,
Ahmed

Perhaps I should expand the Patek into Lange territory

Sam

Lange's !

Out of 15 of us, mine was the only Patek ! :-(

BTW, your name was mentioned by horogasm. Let's aim for a GTG in Hong Kong when he comes next time.

Also, Fernando and I will try to have Hong Kong GTGs that can exceed 15 PuristS. Are you in?

Cheers

Gordon

With Lange rolling out more and more LE, there maybe more people wearing Pateks soon

Horogasm was instrumental in help arranging my visit to the Lange manufacture three years ago. Would love to catch up with him.

Sure, I am in for a HK GTG. I think Alec organized one when Ming was here...

Hope to see you soon.

Sam

how Lange treated you badly and how they are rolling out more and more LE pieces to increase prices. He is a what a great PuristS should be!

Irrespectively , now that I have relocated to HK, we must have a friendly competition with the Singaporeans.

Happy 2016!

Cheers

Gordon

......you are now permanently in HK?? Coffee soon?

coffee soon !

Hope the move is going smoothly!

My AD showed me a 5524 three days ago as well but I am patiently waiting for my 5131R, 5235 & 5370!
Wish everyone a great year and add many pieces to your collections!!
Keith

How do one decide what to wear with choices like that? I for sure would struggle…. especially with a 5524G addition! This message has been edited by keks on 2015-12-31 04:34:37

Honestly, I couldn't decide whether I pick the clothes first and then the watch to match them or vice versa. Any way, some are evidently dressy pieces while others are casual/sporty ones so it isn't too hard.

Cheers

Sam

This 5524's buckle is really nice looking: clean and discreet and makes it original.

I talked about the movement and the different practical and secured features the watch brings: www.watchprosite.com /

And I made a little review of the 5524G here if you missed it where I think it is a very Pilot-"inspired" watch (and certainly not a Pilot watch) as it remains casual and sportier but with the touch of luxury and nice finishing no other Pilot watch brings: www.watchprosite.com /


Your collection is a very fine selection I would have made myself (except one but this is only about personal tastes).

BTW, are you happy also with wearing your 5905P? Is it comfortable and not too heavy? Are there some drawbacks you may wish to share from an owner experience?


Huge congratulations for your choices and thank you for sharing regularly your wonderful pieces.

Have a nice end of year holiday Sam.

Cheers, Mark


This message has been edited by Mark in Paris on 2015-12-31 07:17:15

Gosh....I don't know how come I missed your excellent review of the 5524G and the interesting yet diverse comments from our community. I understand market reactions are a bit mixed but my moles at Patek are telling me that many customers are eagerly awaiting the model to hit the market. I guess some initial nays are turning into yeses, like me....

Let me make a guess about which piece you would 'throw out the window' - the Aquanaut?

Regarding the 5905P, it is a very easy piece to wear and pair up with clothes. It is similar yet different to the 5960P in so many ways and at this point, I am not sure which one I really prefer

Some time ago, I passed on the 5990 but I imagine I might be a bigger Nautilus fan if I had bigger (and hairier) wrists

HNY and best wishes for 2016. We just crossed midnight. There are fireworks over here as I write.

Sam.

... more and more positive from what I read here and there (and it is not the only example in Patek's history). This being said, this is not the kind of watch everyone will like and I think this is a good thing. I like getting a watch I love and which remains one not everyone likes. It feels as if it was made for me

And yes, you guessed right, but I may say that with such a box the fight is tough.

I like the case and bezel work of the Aquanaut but I prefer a different dial and strap choice. I'll be very curious to see how this watch would look like with a nice leather strap... It would be so different from what we are used to seeing.

However, this is only a personal taste, I know that many Patek collectors and fans love this watch.

Thank you for the 5905P feedback Sam: I love the dial layout with its 2 outer rings and how they work with the markers and the Quantieme windows.

I have a 5110 in mind, the 5131R too but must say that the 5960 attracts me more and more (and didn't like it 3 years ago). That's why I also have a little look at the 5905. Tastes evolve!

Have a nice week-end Sam.

Cheers, Mark

I will be happy to exit this hobby with any Patek PCC. 

I am indeed waiting for the Worldtime Moon as I write. I will happily settle for the 5131R if it comes my way.....

Happy NY, Sam.

Wishing you good health and all the best for 2016!

Alfred