Doctor
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Bezels & Crystals & Nicks & Scratches, Mrs. Stern Listen UP!
Kari, in another post of mine you lamented the marks of wear on your 5167 bezel.
I'd like to respond and ask all the readers to post a pic of your best scratch and proof of wear yet to be won on your Patek's skin, regardless of which model.
This message has been edited by Doctor on 2012-06-26 13:14:47
I nearly celebrated when I got my first scratch and nick on my Aquanaut bezel. You can't fret when a working watch reveals a few signs of age and wear vs. a museum piece, which far too many Pateks become! Bah! this is like putting a princess in a cage. I have a time piece ticking on my desk right now and she's over 90 years old. I still take her on an occasional date.
Like a good woman or good wine, let time work its magic and let her fulfill her mission.
After 5 kids, I hope my wife has a few changes. I'd wonder if she was plastic if she didn't. Overly perfect watches are either too new, unworn, or fake. Eschew perfection, embrace classic design and the aging of a great watch will reveal its true character. If our 5167's were really to become overly tattered I trust Patek would innovate the fix.
I have no doubt that in a few years with many more scratches on that classic bezel she (Ms. 5167) will still glimmer from across the room with that same distinctive unique reflection of light that her cheeks beamed on the first day I danced with her.
And for when her sensitive skin shows the marks of time, I still won't divorcer her.
Or when her cleaning, oil and adjustment is due, perhaps then I might just have her touched up and polished at the beauty parlor, but only if she's up to it, that's her choice. That said, a little ceramic on some Pateks would not make for a bad thing.
Now this is a message to Mrs. Stern, who is in charge of future design and innovation.
Listen up, many of us Patek fans are looking for improvements in durability and more options with timepieces ready for everyday life. Don't think Rolex owns the ceramic bezel position or any other facet of durability branding or technologies. I also think it is important to note that a key reason for Rolex success is the abundant choices they provided in underwater watches.
Patek needs more and more wet worthy and rugged wrist art.
Don't get me wrong I'm sick of Rolex branding and positioning and screaming loud designs and cliched ubiquitousness. Despite owning three, I eschew them now. They just can't behave in public. They are destined for a great fall. In my opinion Rolex has no consistent philosophy, no clear and consistent set of values.
Bottom line, far too many Patek lovers yearn for more variety in designs which are made for active lifestyles and the wet environment that this earth provides. Many of us need a more versatile ruggedness, balanced with humility, like the Aquanaut or Nautilus do so well. But keep innovating the complications and offerings and ensure that screw down crown is as good as you can make it! If the 5134J was more water worthy and a tad more readable (night and day) I would buy one.
For example, in the mid 90's Prince William was forced to wear an Omega because there weren't many automatics that could keep up with his lifestyle as well as provide a dose of humility. The more haughty pieces won't wear well on the royal image of royalty's most public faces.
In my experience if the Blanc Pain Leman 2585F wasn't so loud, I would have considered it. It had all the complications, nearly everything other than a tourbillion as well as the durability I wanted but it didn't have the humility and stealth needed for a more demure relationship.
Not all Patek wearers only don their pieces when clad in suit and tie or busy with office work. I'll bet most of us have families and active lifestyles. And more of us than you realize Mrs. Stern would rather not take a $20, $30 or $40k piece of art off our wrist to leave at the side of a pool. I think the popularity of the Aquanaut and Nautilus prove my point. I just hope that you don't let the few Nautilus complications available complete the royal menu from Patek.
I can't wait to see what Patek comes up with next. I just hope we don't have to wait too long. The complications are already all their, we just need a few more screw down options, gaskets, scratch resistant materials and design innovations ready for the real world of family life and fun.
I have faith in the future of Patek. As long as Patek stays true to their philosophies and values and most importantly their purpose, they cannot fail or fade.
Brother and sister Patek fans, let me know what your yet to be designed more rugged, water ready dream piece Patek would be...and let's see those beauty mark pictures as well!
Best to you all.
Dr.
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Bezels & Crystals & Nicks & Scratches, Mrs. Stern Listen UP!
Kari, in another post of mine you lamented the marks of wear on your 5167 bezel. I'd like to respond and ask all the readers to post a pic of your best scratch and proof of wear yet to be won on your Patek's skin, regardless of which model. I nearly celeb...
Interesting thoughts...
I must admit that I like my watches better with less scratches than with more scratches. The sad thing of both the Aquanaut and Nautilus lines is that the bezels of those watches are real scratch magnets. Just now I am wearing Blancpain Aqua Lung and this...
Have more faith in Mrs. Stern...
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Lucky you!
When Patek is concerned, you are an optimist. I am a pessimist but still love Patek. Anyhow, I hope that you are right and I'm wrong! Best, Kari
Good luck with that...
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Fan-boyism...??
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Hmmm...
Greetings Patrick. Considering the tone of your posts in this thread, if I didn't see your name attached I might have thought that I wrote them! When did you get so boisterous? LOL Best regards.
Not all of my posts are rosy...
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Ver-boyism...
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wow where do I even start
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doctor , just back from swimming 40 lengths
of the local community pool with the nautilus 5711 on the wrist. I couldn't contemplate taking it off whilst i swim and its now got its share of nicks from daily wear.Everyday the bond gets stronger from regular wear. regards darma
I agree...
I basically use my 5167 as a daily wearer. Although I wish it would come back from its regular service (it's been in Stern's care since late January). It has indeed been scratched in my usage and I declined to have the scratches polished out as part of th...
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Wrong on many points
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