Patek Philippe - Back to basics!

Back to basics!

Jan 29, 2022,23:38 PM

With the mania around sport watches in general, and the hysteria around the Tiffany pieces reaching a fewer pitch, let's take a step back a look at what Patek Philippe really is known for: timeless and understated elegance and top quality.

A good example of timeless elegance is the simple Calatrava 5120. A time only watch, ultra-elegant and classy, for those special occasions. With a clean dial, roman numerals and thin hands, this may be the ultimate dress watch.

For more daily wear, a Calatrava with a date may just be the thing. One example is the now discontinued 5127. This was the first Patek I bought, and I wear it often. Any Patek enthusiast should have at least one Calatrava in their collection.

But Patek is also known for complications. Patek invented the Annual Calendar complication, and a nice example is the 5146.

One step up in complication level would be a perpetual calendar, and this is perhaps the complication Patek is most known for. Here is an example in the form of a 5140. It’s truly amazing that they can fit such a complicated mechanism in such a small and thin package!

I’ve always been intrigued with the retrograde function – a retrograde perpetual calendar is in a way a complication within a complication. Below are some pictures of the 5059. It’s relatively small in diameter and thick, but the dial is in my view incredible.

Thanks for looking and have a great rest of your weekend!

More posts: 50595120512751405146calatravacomplicationsgrand complications

Comments: view entire thread

Impeccable selection. I really like the 5140 here.

By: amanico : January 29th, 2022-23:59

Superlative pictures,

By: InHavenPro : January 29th, 2022-23:59

I especially love your macros of the 5140 and 5146, the dial of which among those is my favorite! Much appreciated, Filip

Fantastic post

By: TeutonicCarFan : January 30th, 2022-00:04

I've always loved the 5059 quirks. Super cool piece.

First off, as moderator let me congratulate you on a truly nice and positive contribution to our forum! This is indeed a superb selection of what makes Patek....Patek in the eyes of all watch enthusiasts! ;-)

By: FabR : January 30th, 2022-00:14

The class, timeless beauty, and superb quality combined with the historical value of each of these timepieces are impossible to beat --- even more so when they are portrayed as beautifully as you did in these photographs! I already knew your value as a co...

Stunning collection of classic PP Thanks for showing

By: watch-guy.com : January 30th, 2022-00:35

Yes PP is much larger than the just Nautilus and Aquanaut Julian

+1, good points, which sometimes might be worth reiterating! ;-)) It's seriously a pleasure to see the remarkable variety of Patek's production on display in our members' collections --- and this one is no exception! ;-)

By: FabR : January 30th, 2022-04:17

DEFINITELY!

By: amanico : January 30th, 2022-07:59

For sure!

By: MTR : January 30th, 2022-08:42

We can only hope that PP sees it or at least starts to see it that way, too. At the moment their marketing seems heavily weighted to hyper-luxury watches and artificially hyped watches, which are relatively „simple“ pieces from an horological point of vie...

Agree with your thoughts. With my age increased, 5140 is growing on me for its simplistic design yet complicated function. Enjoy yours often! Henry

By: joenghenry : January 30th, 2022-06:25

This is the real Patek Philippe.

By: jlux : January 30th, 2022-08:32

These are all superb watches that really show what Patek Philippe is all about : timeless beautie and class! Many thanks for sharing these beautiful pictures.

A very nice post!

By: MTR : January 30th, 2022-09:01

I start to appreciate the 5120 with its beautiful enamel dial more and more. I have owned the 5246G for almost a decade but sold it because I couldn’t live with the white date window on a dark grey dial anymore. I know, this sounds ridiculous but I am … „...

Thanks for some nice wristshots of these beauties, Thomas! Let me just point out that while the 5120 dial was lacquered rather in enamel, you might be interested in the stunning ref. 5116...

By: FabR : January 30th, 2022-19:08

It was offered in both R and G, with a gorgeous enamel dial (it also overlapped with the 5119 in the catalog, and I remember the difference was quite visible between the two, at least side by side!). Obviously, not many 5116s were produced, but some still...

Thanks a lot for this tip, Fabrizio!

By: MTR : January 30th, 2022-19:24

I sm going to deal with the 5116 more closely now.

Pleasure😉👍👍

By: FabR : January 30th, 2022-19:32

Very good post with nice photos.

By: lm6 : January 30th, 2022-13:27

Hi w220, WOW ! Thank you for writing this post and sharing your great collection with us as a reminder of why we LOVE Patek !

By: GLau : January 30th, 2022-17:20

Your photos are so good ! Patek is truly diversified in terms of its line-up, classic DNA, complications, and understated elegance ! Please keep writing more posts.

Retrograde PC

By: Patekfinity : January 30th, 2022-18:02

This is definitely a reference overlooked by many. Patek just posted a IG story on it and looks very interesting. Could it be this will come back in a new reference for 2022??

Fantastic post, and wonderful photos!

By: KCLQMULKU : January 30th, 2022-20:12