JohnFM
1273
Great post but tough to answer your question
Certainly by today's standards, the 5196 is a dress watch. But it's also a beautiful, understated, timeless piece that works with more casual clothing. If you love it and it's a reflection of your taste and aesthetic, then you're going to love it, be comfortable wearing it, and have no regrets. It's really that simple -- buy what you love and wear it because it's the watch that has the X factor for you.
All of that said, if most of your clothing is casual and you want your watch to reflect a sporty, rugged, or adventurous look, then a 5513 or other sports watch will be a better choice. The 5196, in contrast, is refined, subtle, elegant, and, quite likely, gold, which will draw attention simply because it's not stainless steel or 'plastic'.
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Opinions on the versatility of the 5196?
I’ve been collecting for a fairly long time, and as I get older (I’m 37) I find myself being less interested in sports and dive watches. I’ve probably followed a pretty similar path to a lot of young collectors, in that I was obsessed with Tag, Swatch etc...
he he...Vlad on work....
& to be honest - this is the best version of 5196 one can get, period !
White gold?
Is the Patek not available in white gold? That could potentially solve your platinum problem. As far as the question: “is it too dressy for casual wear” is concerned: that’s entirely up to you. There can be only one judge of that and that’s you. Personall...
You're still very young (I'm 4 years older than you and still very young, so you must be young too..:-)), but I think it's great that you are considering your first Patek at this stage...
You simply cannot go wrong with a Calatrava. It's the way I (and I'm sure many others) first approached this unique brand (my first Patek was a 5119R in 2008), and I would have never imagined where this new journey would have taken me over time. While a 5...
i think its very versatile, definately more than your regular dress watch,
because the watch looks very sharp. Its 50s elegance, not the old-fashioned 70s-elegance. That said, the watch is pretty old. I would probably wait for the next generation of calatravas. Since you have a nice rotation, it might be good to have a longer po...
No one knows but there is strong indication that
The new generation is coming soon...
5196 is a great watch...i suggest if your heart beats for Pt - wait some time, save & get it...
the Pt version is much versatile - can switch face with a change of shoes ! good luck with your decision & looking fwd for a wrist shot in future !! Best, mahesh.,
It’s a more formal watch no matter which metal. But G would give you most range.
Are you losing your only true sports watch, the 5513, in this transaction? The ALS and the JLC are both on the dressier side, and the Patek would be along similar lines. Does that work for you day to day? Will you want something less formal but more than ...
Yes I'd lose the 5513
but this Rolex madness has just made me look at my collection completely differently. I’m obviously fortunate enough to be able to afford some nice watches, but I wouldn’t be in the market for a Calatrava, or been able to get my 1815, without cashing in o...
I had a 5196G when I was living in NYC a decade ago...
It’s a nice watch, wears bigger than the 37mm suggests. I eventually sold it for double what I paid for it, which I regret to this day because it’s a fine watch design wise. Continuing to use caliber 215 for the watch though suggests some design and manuf...
Great choice for sure
I understand your fascination with the 5196. In fact, I recently had the same fascination and ended up ordering the 5196G from my AD, and I am now awaiting delivery. So I can say with confidence: I highly recommend the 5196G. Like you, I have been an R (r...
The Patek 5196 is amazing PLUS more!!!
I am 47 and believe it the facination with gold dress quality watches is the meaning of collecting...... Steel is fine for everyday but GOLD is special...... I have 3 Calatravas and the 5196 is amazing....... DEFINATELY PULL THE TRIGGER ...
Great post but tough to answer your question
Certainly by today's standards, the 5196 is a dress watch. But it's also a beautiful, understated, timeless piece that works with more casual clothing. If you love it and it's a reflection of your taste and aesthetic, then you're going to love it, be comf...
This is as big as it can get
I hope, with the 215PS movement which was designed for the perfect watch size in the 3796. At 30mm, the 3796 is perfectly balanced and perfect in every way. The 5196 seconds register is too far up on the dial due to the tiny movement in the case. We shoul...
It’s a great watch
I bought my 5196r at the same age as you and absolutely love the watch. In my view it’s the quintessential watch: all watches are but a variation of it. Design wise, I find it super versatile. However, it is made of good and so quite soft. It also has “on...
I love the 5196p and 5196r.
I have been tempted for a while now with both of these watches. Go for it you can’t go wrong. M.
I tried it...
...but i don't think I'm going for it. My local AD called me and said he finally had a 5196G to look at, so I headed there yesterday. It's a truly stunning watch, but in WG it just looks a little too formal/dressy for me. If anything, I think the rose ver...
