Patek Philippe

Some weeks ago I asked "why Patek Philippe?"

Even if I don't have the pleasure to own a Patek Philippe yet I've been looking and learning as much as I could about them for 20 years. So I'll let you all happy owners share your owner's point of view but I've spent enough time thinking about them to know what I like about Patek Philippe and which models could do it for me.

The spring shows are now less than two months away. I'm sure we'll discover new objects of desire, no doubt. The questions about the potential replacement of the 5070/5970 are at least good reasons to hope for extraordinary pieces but I'm sure we'll get much more than that.

Although I'd be very happy to see a new chronograph in that range I'd be more interested to see a simple hand wound calibre of no less than 12 or even 13 lines, with classical chronometer features like a Breguet spring (already found on the Lemania hand wound chrono calibres, the automatic chrono calibre and some tourbillon models) and let's say why not a power reserve indicator on the back side. It should come without date, in a 38mm case. Of course it is just a dream, not a scoop!  :-)

In fact I'd be already happy with very simpler offers, like a more affordable Gondolo with the form calibre 25-21 REC launched in 2007 in the 5098. Even if this calibre doesn't add much technically speaking to the well known 215, I have to say that form calibres have a taste that I appreciate. I would be surprised to see such calibre reserved for only one reference so let's hope.

Of course my hope for a simpler watch is in no way meant to criticize the 5098 that I fell in love with immediately, but a 25-21 REC PS would be great too and to be honest a 5109 with this calibre and a see-through back would have been perfect!

It is not just an historical model, it makes me hysterical! Form case, form calibre, and a potential promise for many resurrections from the great past of Patek Philippe to write some new pages! 

Who will be the first here to get his 5098? :-)

The 5105 was a prior demonstration that simple lines have an irresistible power of seduction!

The 5105 back was already showing a form calibre that may have had its role in initiating the shape of the 25-21 REC?

The 5109 was (already was, what a pity) a very beautiful re-interpretation of a design from the past! This watch is my favourite recent design for a simple watch, like the perfect first Patek Philippe for my taste. I really appreciate the 5196 as a very appealing simple classical Patek Philippe too, but my heart is still more appealed by this 5109! A matter of personal choice.

Moving upward from the first simple beater, the obvious choice would be to get an automatic watch. We have appreciated the first "silicium" watches in the last years, and will certainly appreciate some more soon! My hope is to see the new features become the standard features. I'd love in that regard to know the owners' opinions about the 28800 vph calibre 324, especially from those who already know well the 21600 vph calibre 315! Is it a better beater?

You have to adapt yourself to manual wind calibres. You have to comply to their rhythm. Once it's time to wind you have to wind. Automatic calibres don't ask that. They adapt themselves to your rhythm or they die! We don't feel them as much as their manual wind brothers, at least at the beginning. In the long run we may discover their presence and finally appreciate their company.

The annual calendar version of the 324 below gives its greatness to the 5396! This once a year to settle watch may well be not perpetual, not a single watch is, or will be, as long as watches will have to be serviced! So this annual calendar seems to be a very realistic approach to perpetuity! This annual calendar presentation through the 5396 is also a very legible and obvious choice of display. I see it as a silent partner for years of everyday time. It could be mine, for my pleasure!

Those pictures don't do justice to this watch! Only your wrist can do justice!

We did not talk about the moon phase. Well you need it if you want to know Easter day! It can also be helpful if you live on the seaside, or…. In fact it is the romantic side of the watch!

Then we can go in the opposite direction. After the perfect functionality and usefulness we can go towards the complexity for the sake of it!  Patek Philippe is also looked after for its ultimate chronographs. The ultimate of the current Patek Philippe chronographs is probably the smallest ever made! Looking at this picture below you could think of a large pocket watch. What it brings from the large pocket watches of the past is the finish and tradition.

The split seconds chronograph reference 5959 is the ultimate complication for the simple ultra thin watch fanatics. The most understated complexity! 

It will never be fashionable like the other so appealing chronograph references, 3970, 5004, 5070, 5960, 5970 and the vintage options, but it is IMO the supreme art!

The future seems to be writing itself already and in two months' time it will be part of the past already. We don't care as we live in all times. We just hope for the music of a repeater to remind us the time!

Dje