Patek Philippe

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.