Patek Philippe

how everyone first heard about Patek Philippe and how long did you wait and what was the first Patek you acquired. 

For me, I first heard of Patek Philippe at age 12 in 1962 when my father was describing one of his best friends, who was a very successful realtor in the DC area.  My father mentioned that this friend only bought the best...Patek Philippe watch, Leica camera, etc. Something I never forgot.

It took me 19 years to get in the saddle with my first one, a 3450 in yellow gold.

Got the Leica too. My father's friend was certainly on the right track.

I first heard of Patek Philippe when I was around 12, in 1973, as a family friend had a gold Ellipse which I admired because it was so thin and simple.  I bought my first PP, a 3802/200 Calatrava in 1989.

Was wandering through the Wynn Casino, when I saw the 6000G in the window (the black face), and I knew I had to have it.  I bought my 6000 in 2009, and lived happily ever after (still lusting after bigger and badder Pateks, of course)!  ;-)

I am looking to buy my first and likely only Patek...I like all of the following watches, and now looking for best choice when it comes to uniqueness and ollectability.  Please share thoughts and why on the following...all seem to be in my price range and are preowned and or discontinued:

5196P - rare with breguet numbers, older classic look without date; mechanical and thin; would like to know more about why this one is the way to go, if so

5035G - nice look with all the informative dials

6000G - black dial and seems to be best deal for the $$

5055G - discontunued but not hard to find, nice moonphase addition

5054G - nice officer's case, which I hear they are making fewer of? nice moonphase addition

From your list, I'd pick the 5196P... A superb and refined dial, in a very elegant case.

A winner, in my opinion.

Best,

Nicolas

I first heard of Patek watch in 1989 in my first job at Union Bank of Switzerland at the age of 21.

It took me 21 more years to buy the first one, a 4937R for my wife. Now eyeing 5960P blue dial newly released this year.

I have been a Leica user since 1994.

Quality and craftsmanship of both are simply amazing.

So, as you, very soon in my Life...

PP sounded to me like Bentley, or R.ROYCE...

Something aristocratic, which had to come with the Castle and the Car...

But I never paid too much attention to this brand, since the moment I saw the World Time, the Ref 5110, which came almost 10 years ago.

So, I waited 4 years to be able to get MY WT.

Which was done in November 2004, on the 2d of November 2004, to be very precise.

There are a few watches I'm able to remember when EXACTLY, I got them.

Not that the date is linked to a special event, but only because it was the day I got it.

It was a 5110P, and it is still with me, and I'm still madly in love with it.

Then I added 2 other PPs, sold one to recently  afford another one, and I'm happy with my small PP family.

If I had to keep only one PP, it will be this one, without any doubt.

Best, and thanks for this nostalgic and beautiful thread!

Nicolas

 

which PP did you sell ? your WT had inspired me previously.

To get the 5070.

I loved it, but I much more love the 5070.

Now the question is to know if I will get a Nautilus, and if yes, which one...

I think that if I go for another Naughty Lus, I would fall for the Chrono, the 5980.

It is the Extrem Expression of the Nautilus, to me.

I mean it enhances its sporty " allure ", while the 5712 is a kind of contradiction: A Moonphase in a sporty watch...

So, if I add a Nautilus, I would opt for a Chrono...Or a Vintage one.

What I don't like on the 5711 is the too large luminova indexes.

Put it in the light, and you'll see the greenish indexes spotting / glowing on the dial.

Just my opinion, and some explanations on why I let go the 5712.

Best,

Nicolas

the annual calendar?
(I know you prefer the perpetual one... but the Nautilus one would be interesting)



cheers

I'm not very fan of such a complication in such a sporty watch.

Best,

Nicolas

"What I don't like on the 5711 is the too large luminova indexes."

This is one of the things I like best compared to a Royal Oak for example, much more legible day & night.

.... WT ** whew**.  Recall you have both  5110p and 5130g ?
I too had been considering the 5712 SS for quite sometime but didn't pull the trigger.
Agree that the chrono 5980 looks more balance and appealing. Let us know once you acquired it.

Cheers my friend !

We can't really be sure that we'll keep watches for Life, but this 5110P is one of those I will never let go.

To me, it is the quintessence of Patek.

Best, and thanks for your nice words.

Nicolas

even over the 5070?

interesting....



cheers

The 5110P over the 5070, even if I like a lot the 5070.

Best,

Nicolas

sentimental reasons?

or do you like this complication so much?



cheers

Is a Reference, with a nice mouvement, adaptated to the watch, providing a complication which sings very loud to me.

And I don't forget that it was my first PP.

So yes, sentimental and horological reasons.

Best,

Nicolas

till 2008 when a traded the 5110P with my AD for the 5130P. I kept the dream going by wishing for the 5131, such a strong dream that I sold my 5130P along with a special Patek winder box to make room ( reality to help me be able to afford the 5131) for my dream watch. Alas, I am still dreaming. I am soon going to reach the conclusion that the 5131 will just have to remain a life long dream.

I first heard of Patek through the casual comment of an early girlfriend who, for reasons I still can't comprehend, thought she should spend a few years of her life with me. She was far beyond me in every way imaginable: she was three years older - 21 vs. 18 initially; she had a class I could see but hardly truly appreciate; she was worldly and I was not;  unmatched beauty; brilliant mind; truly, I was her Quasimodo. At some point in time she mentioned Patek Philippe, which I would have spelled incorrectly, as being the standard for the watch to be worn by a true gentleman. Frankly, I'm not sure I even had a watch at that time. After about five years she moved on and I never again thought of her comment. During my early years in my medical practice, I wore a Swatch, telling anyone who asked that the only watch that did what mine did, telling time correctly no matter what activity I involved myself in, was a Rolex. I went on to say that, IM not so HO, Rolex was a watch worn by older men who needed jewelry to do what their fading looks could no longer do. After a few years I bought my first Rolex. After a few more years, my wonderful wife made a present to me of a more dressy Rolex. Both were on my wrist for any event I participated in, some quite active. I still have both. After a few more years, at age 50+, my wife decided that I had grown up enough to appreciate a real dress watch. We were in Austria, where I was giving a professional presentation. I suppose that I was a bit impressed with myself, and thought it might be okay to dress me up a bit. I saw several Pateks in a shop  in Vienna and was truly smitten with a RG 5010. I still wasn't mature enough for a Calatrava; that came later. Anyway, my wife presented me with the 5010, and the magic was reignited. I will always love this watch as something much more than the art it is. As much as this story began with a very special lady, there was an even more special lady, who goes beyond thought and dream and makes things happen.

Rolex person and had never heard of Patek, VC, AP and many of the other well known manufactures.

I knew a girl like that once, too.  What she taught me had nothing to do with watches, however.

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