Horological Meandering

Let's start with these two titans, both belonging to the mind-blowing collection of @ryochan5711:

• Roger Dubuis Sympathie 34 Biretrograde Perpetual Calendar Chronograph in palladium

Now, let's replace the 5004G (white gold) with the 5004P (platinum).



The following photo of the palladium Sympathie 34 belongs to our fellow-member toowoundup, who posted it in 2021: check here (his last visit here, unfortunately, dates back to 2022).




credit: credit: @ryochan5711 (1-3, 5-6 & 8), @masaharu.me (4) & toowoundup (7)

I definitely love the Roger Dubuis a lot even though it’s not really my style.

100% comfortable wearing it (I would love/need to try one on to see how it feels on the wrist), but I really like the design.
Best, Emmanuel

The RD has such a unique design and layout. But the Patek PCC dna is royalty to me.

I’d love to see both in person because I know how photos are unfaithful to reality most of the time.
Best, Emmanuel

I get that people marvel at the craftsmanship of extensive complications but for me it's just stuff I don't need and makes a dial seem just messy.

But, for reasons I can't explain the biretrograde complication and Sympathy case appeal to me: I find it a nice and elegant way of going "wild"... 🤷🏽‍♂️🤪
The 5004 is another story: nothing wild, here, just an addition of high-end complications in a classical style.
Best, Emmanuel

I don't get any thrill out of a watchmaker "showing off" to see how complicated he can make a watch. I get it. It's amazing. I just don't care. I already know what month it is. I already know what day of the week it is. At one time the date was handy but not really any more.
As I said I'm probably the outlier here.

Grand complications are like a well performed orchestra symphony, Time only is a solo, or a string quartet at most. Both are wonderful when well performed: music, Musicians, instruments, a concert hall acoustics. Just a different sense of a sound, and a harmony, perhaps.

Thanks for the reply. Have a great day. I'm crawling back into my cave.

but I agree with Blansky that it depends on what song they're playing!
Cheers, Emmanuel

I see perpetual calendars and even more perpetual calendar chronographs as joyful exuberance, not as an attempt to “show off”, but I see your point and, like you, I don't have highly complicated watches.

The 5004G is indeed very appealing.
Best, Emmanuel

The 5004 pusher looks cartoonish to me, and not in an endearing way.

but I’m really glad you like the RD! 😊
Best, Emmanuel

hen you buy a Patek Philippe 5004, you are buying the impeccable pinnacle of the entire traditional Swiss watchmaking industry.