Baron - Mr Red
14613
Ah, Edmond....
.....perhaps my style is a little more eclectic that you imagine.
From Reverso Rouge, to Patek 5070, from 1950s JLC to 2014 GMT. Maybe I don't have quite the narrowness of taste that my Sea-Dweller theme portends.
What I will say is that this watch is timeless. It has aged 50 years and yet looks totally comfortable on the wrist today as it did 50 years ago. Patek Calatrava, like Rolex Submariner, manage to capture timelessness in a way that virtually no other watches do. Add Reverso to that list. Name me a vintage Rolex that one can really wear appropriately at a Black Tie or evening event? Its actually hard. I think one could put forward one or two suggestions, but actually JLC and Patek do formal much much better. To think about why I would purchase such a watch as this?
1) 50s and 60s were a golden era for Patek watchmaking. The 27-460M is one of the finest automatic movements made by Patek. The 3541 is an unusual reference as it is effectively the 3445 but with an enlarged case....which of course makes it very usable today. Unlike today's watches, this was not mass-produced in any sense.
2) 3541 in yellow gold would not suit my taste. But in white gold, it is not only beautiful but in all likelihood I will never see another one for sale again...and certainly not in NOS condition from the original owner. Auction records show just one sold in the last decade. Procrastination is not a great skill when it comes to situations like this.
3) Timelessness is a theme in itself. To be able to find watches that are timeless is something that sits well with me. Yes, the adage that one buys a Patek to pass on as inheritance.....LoL...but with a timeless watch, that is actually true. True for Submariners too.
4) Variation of style is something I mention a lot when discussing collecting. As a vintage Rolex guy, I suffer the same fate as most in my position...namely the question from my wife..."Why have you got so many watches that look exactly the same?" LoL. So, as a foil to that process I look for my non-Rolex watches to add a certain variety and difference to the overall collection. 1960s, white metal Patek Calatrava offers a perfect balance to my mind. It makes total sense to me. You think that the 3541 is just an evening watch? That would be just wrong in my view. Ask Blomman..... it has a dial which offers something special and works just as well as a casual day watch or , with the white gold bracelet, as an evening watch.
Simplicity, timelessness, variety, history. This Patek is, for me, a really obvious part of my collection. It is one of the reasons that Patek is Patek. Yes, I know that the forum is populated with modern Patek wonders, super-complications, Nautilus, Chronos etc.... but actually, what is "central" to Patek derives from classic timelessness. Take a look at the 1950s and 1960s Calatravas. It is a treasure trove of discoveries.
I thought this link was funny... i thought i was completing a theme....I was just starting!!