Park
547
12-hour
JMan,
It's certainly not true that a 12-hour totalizer is necessary for a "true" chronograph, but it is true that it's necessary for those uses that require measurement of multile elapsed hours.
Traditional, manual wind chronographs by most of the finest brands have only a 30-minute totalizer, and no Patek Philippe had a 12-hour totalizer until the introduction of Ref. 5960, followed by Ref. 5980. The more recent and exotic Ref. 5708 also has a 12-hour totalizer, but one that is less useful because of the mono-pusher design (i.e., one cannot start, stop, and cumulate elapsed time, but rather must record elapsed time whenever the chronograph is stopped and restarted).
As a chronograph enthusiast and daily user who has little use for the 30-minute versions, I've come to think of the 30-minute chronographs as old-fashioned horse race timers, many of which are gorgeous and superbly made, and 12-hour chronographs as functional tools for working professionals. So far, I've only collected the latter, but this latest posting by the diabolical Vlad has tipped me over the edge to go for the 5070P.
Park
Available on the marketplace
The entire 5070 family.
As a starter, I posted this family picture. From left to right: J, R, G, P. Let's now focus on each of them. As a white metal fan, I naturally hesitated between two of these Fabulous Four, the White Gold or the Platinum: I ended with the G, and I am very ...
Fantastic post Nicolas
Love the write up and the pictures!! What an amazing reference and one to me which is a must own for any Patek Chrono fans. I am wearing my 5070 today and seeing this post was a nice confirmation to that choice and wake up thread! My sincere best and enjo...
Thanks for your kind words, Ken.
If you ever doubt of your Chrono, just look at it, and you will always have a smile on your face. ;) Best, Nicolas.
My first thought was
that you are merciless man Second one was that it would be indeed very nice to own all 4 aces but nightmare aside if I'm allowed to dream I think that I'll choose revelation one at least today... Best Damjan
Fantastic write up
coupled with gorgeous pictures, thanks very much. Totally agree with you that each one of them has its own character. Obtaining the collection of 4 would be every watch lover's dream. I started off with a humble "J" becasue of the retro feel you mentioned...
The " J " is not humble at all.
This was my last choice, things have changed... It has such a tempting Vintage look! Best, Ivan Nicolas
A valuable post...
A valuable post that compares all four 5070s along with legendary objective VLAD commentary. Thank you very much!
Thanks for the compliments, Patrick.
Even if, when it comes to taste, I doubt objectivity is the first virtue... ;) Best, my friend. Nicolas
Great post!
Thank you nicolas for your comments. Your passion for this particular reference is expressed intensely in every utterance that you made. By the way nicolas, thank you for your advise about the 5070. I hope you still remember the pm which i sent last time....
I am happy and honored to know that I have been of some help.
Please share with us these pics! ;) And welcome in the 5070 World, my friend. Nicolas
Beautiful pics and great write up! But......
I am not a huge chrono fan collector but I have always had a feeling that you need the third 12hr totalizer for the watch to be a true chrono. Is there any merit to that line of thinking Nicolas? If yes, why has PP not added it? J.
If that was the case....
You just knocked out 3 of the greatest Chronos in creation: 5070, ALS Dato, and the DS. Just this guy's humble opinion.
I agree with you and hence my question......
I think that the two mini dial on figuration is classic in its looks but I also get a feeling that the utility may be somewhat reduced. The three mini dial configuration is a bit more busy but the practicality is much greater. I was wondering if historica...
12-hour
JMan, It's certainly not true that a 12-hour totalizer is necessary for a "true" chronograph, but it is true that it's necessary for those uses that require measurement of multile elapsed hours. Traditional, manual wind chronographs by most of the finest ...
I think you have summarized the answer well......
Park, I couldn't agree with you more. It's a question of functionality vs classic looks. J.
Sorry for the delay, but you already had some great answers.
I was on to write: " Do we always use our chrono as a tool "? But Ken and Park gave you some strong arguments. Best, Nicolas.
Thanks for the journey through dreams ...
I never was a Patek watches afiscionados (more admiring their legacy and history though) but I yet have a special attraction for the 5070s and the Nautilus. Concerning the 5070, I completly agree on the fact that having the four of them is not nonsense at...
Colors and tastes, Mark...
Always bring some endless discussions. I surprised myself to love them all, even the colored gold versions. My first choice goes to the white metal, but resisting to the YG or the RG is inhuman. ;) Best, my friend. Nicolas
Nice post, open to debate... i agree and disagree
... i agree with most of your views on the 4 models. Just don't agree with your conclusion, on getting the 4 of them is the difficult approach. I think its the easiest solution, you just need the money... The hard approach is having to choose ( And the he...
You see? The choice is not that hard! ;)
I sincerely think that the choice is easy ( white metal for me ) , and that funding them all is quite inhuman. I find the colored gold charming and very interesting, but since I can only get one, I hesitated for a long time between WG and Pt... My 2 " nat...
I "feel" you will too...
... but your knees might shake when you'll see the platinum 5170P :)
Beautiful photographs.
What's not to like about any of them? I thought about your comment "end of an era" and wonder if it, in fact ushered in a new era by way of only producing one metal at a time. This was something quite different for them at the time. I remember when the ye...
Thanks for your input, Whit.
The good thing is that you can't go wrong with any of these 4! Best, Nicolas.
Thanks
Incredible post , stunning pictures and the watches simply superb , thanks for posting
You should have called this post the theatre of dreams :)
Thank you di much for our visit into dreamland Now don't stop here How about the 5970 g r j p :) Best my freind Imran
If I have the opportunity, I will do it.
I know where to find the P and the G... I have to find the 2 others. :) Best, my good friend. Nicolas
I wish you could find the P in my collection!!
It would go sooooo nice with my 5070P my friend!!
Nico great post and one for the classics!
As to which one- . They are all stunning!! ;-) Thanks for the insight into one of PP classics Julian
By the way I would be remiss if I didn't post a wrist shot of my 5070P
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x400/Highlander65/d61acce9.jpg ...
Fabulous photos and post
I can't think of another reference that generates as much discussion and emotion as the 5070. A watch rooted in the past but with the bold modern case/size, even before we wanted big watches. A watch ahead of its time yet behind its time. I shied away at ...
" Ahead and behind its time "...
That is very well said. The charm of the 5070 lies in its blend of modern and vintage look... Its flaws are its qualities. Brilliant. Is there more horological Chrono in the modern production? Yes, certainly the Datograph and the Duometre? Is there a cool...
You also have said it very well
I think there are better chronos, but not a cooler chrono. Thanks again for such enjoyable photos/thread.
From this post, I am also struck what holds me back on the 5170
Great watch, but it is still not the best chrono, and also no longer the coolest chrono. The 5070 is rather in a class of its own.
Even when it got my attention ...
several times, it never got my heart. Looks much better on wrists of others :-) Nonetheless, to get them all is a a thought that I like a lot - for all who really love it. Nicolas, once more a well done post. Thanks! Oliver
That is something I totally understand.
For some reasons, there are watches which you only enjoy on others'wrist... As for getting the 4, this is a mad idea I love a lot. Thanks for your kind words, my friend. Nicolas.
Thank you Nicolas, as always.....
You are The Master for expressing the beauties and other attributes to/for aTime Piece, however and with all due respect, I am not agreeing with you on what you wrote about the white gold been Rhodium Plated is a "con" . Actually Rhodium is a Noble metal ...
The problem with rhodium is that with time passing ...
it goes away, and your case is turning into a yellowish color... Hence my preference for no rhodium plated case. That is what I observed, though, and I am far from being an expert, so please correct me if I am wrong. Thanks for your very kind words, my fr...
It depends...
it's like everything, you may have a good job or a bad job. If the rhodium plating is done properly by good/real professionals and of course it cost more..surprise, surprise! then you have a product which will last almost for ever and won't become yellowi...
Yeees !
Hi Nico, You always make stronger and higher : the 4 versions in one pic ! It is not the first time that I find interesting the YG version with a black dial. But I'have never seen it in real. But as you say, to own the 4 versions would avoid any hesitatio...
The more vintage looking is certainly the J.
And not the less appealing. Thanks for your kind words, Didier. Nicolas
Thanks a lot for the great post.
Within this fab 4, I made my clear choice: the PT version thanks to its awesome dial. Thanks to the happy owner who let me play with his watch. Fx ...
Thanks for the great post.........
I'm with you in that I would have gone with the 5070G as well then added a 5396R or G for the same as just owning the 5070P by itself. I do like the P slightly better but not 40k (give or take) better. Aside from that two Patek's are almost always better ...
Wonderful comparison report, Nicolas
I am not able to add anything new to what has already been discussed. I have never had the pleasure of examining or even seeing one in the flesh, so I am not able to comment on the practicality or beauty of the dial and movement. The 5070 has never been o...
We may meet, during one of my english trips. I will show it to you.
As for Bruno, he is at work, saving for his 2d 5070. He's the smartestr of us. :) :) :) Best, my friend. Nicolas
My friend....
It would be an honour and privilege to meet you :) And if you would like to bring with you, some of your fine collection then that would be an added bonus :) Regards Tony
Always was and always will be ...
BY FAR my favorite Patek always niice to see and read such a review :-) Now, which one is the best ? No idea and I'm pretty sure I'll never know. Today I would say the R but if you have the R and wear if for some time I'm sure you would want to try anothe...
When I think that I just answered to Topcat, who wondered when you were...
That you were the smartest of us, as you were at work, saving for your 2d 5070... Even it is my 4th favourite Patek ( 5110 P / 5100G / 3417 are my three first, in this order ), I would not under estimate the beauty of this Chrono, and have to agree with y...
"As for which one, Vivaldi wrote " The 4 Seasons,", Patek rewrote it."
That is a beautiful phrase sir. Patek need to borrow that for sure.........
5070
IF I HAVE TO CHOOSE IT WILL BE IN THIS ORDER. P,J,R,G. LOVE THE PLAT, BUT LIKE NIKOLAS SAY THE "j" IS VERY APPEALING. WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THEM ALL. IMAGINE HOW MUCH JOY IT WILL BE HUNTING THESE GEMS. THANKS NIKOLAS FOR AN GREAT POST...AGAIN!!!
Thanks Nicolas for your impressions.
I share them with some common feelings. First the 5070 in any version is a bold Patek compared to the usual production of the brand, a strong design, and a lot of personnality. Every version is quite different and has a lot of appeal, and every gives very...
