Do you know why you love Patek Philippe watches?

Once again Basel time is coming. Once again I'm clear with myself about which current Patek Philippe watch could be my watch. Once again I know there's a risk (what a risk) of a new model replacing my current dream!

As I'm starting to think about what may come next, and starting again to try for instance to imagine if we'll see a new men's manual wind chronograph and how it will be, I wanted to try to define what I like in Patek Philippe watches, and not especially which Patek Philippe I like.

To begin I thought there were three aspects to examine. I could first think of other watches I like and look for common aspects, or also for differences.

Jaeger-LeCoultre is the other brand, the other watch manufacture that keeps appealing me, perhaps even more each year, and even if I already own 8 of them! I wondered if what I like in Jaeger-LeCoultre watches, what attracts me and keeps me hot could be common with what makes me love some PP watches. In full consciousness the answer is no. There are of course some bridges. A Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin collection 1833 in pink gold could be compared with a Patek Philippe 5098R among my dearest choices, or more directly to a Patek Philippe 5196R, another watch I really like.

Still what watch in the Jaeger-LeCoultre range could I compare to a Patek Philippe 6000G, a 5146G, a 5712/1A or a 5970P, to name my other favourites? Certainly none of the current Jaeger-LeCoultre watches I like, the Amvox 2 and the Amvox3, the Duometres, the Diving automatic or alarm Navy Seal, the Atmos Newson to name them!

How could I compare a Gyrotourbillon 2 with a 5959 split second chronograph? I love their common highest level of finish, but that's not what appeals me more in them!

I love Jaeger-LeCoultre watches because they offer a very modern vision of the classical manufacture, innovating on the basis of a long history of achievements, while forgetting all habits if necessary. It's somewhat a revolutionary manufacture.

I love Patek Philippe watches because they embody perfectly the continued and permanent improvement of the highest horology, the sacred fire aimed at perpetuating the excellence through invisible permanent change! They personify IMO the glory of understatement, the wished modesty of a respectful and deserved self-assurance.

Patek Philippe 5959

That leads me to the second aspect I wanted to explore. I wanted to try to state if there were common aspects shared by my favourite current Patek Philippe watches. I've named them above, here is the list again: 6000G, 5712/1A, 5098R, 5146G, 5970P (and a few more above in the range, that appeal nearly every watch nut looking at them). If there's a common point out of the brand, that can't be the case material or form, the dial colour, the complication, the overall style, or a style detail.

One common aspect: they all share a strong design, but it could be totally ignored by a non WIS! Maybe they share an extreme level of refinement of design each in their own style, while having the capacity to remain under the radar! I could wear a 5970P at work every day, nobody would notice it, while I would probably spend the day asking myself why I'm there with the most beautiful manual wind perpetual calendar chronograph on the wrist!

Many keep reminding the Oris calendar watches each time we see a picture of a 6000. But why have I never been appealed by an Oris calendar?

I had never been appealed by the 5712/1A before Nicolas put his own on my wrist. Why this watch felt so instantly perfect while I never thought about it before? What cocktail of beauty, form and function do Patek Philippe watches offer to become so rapidly obvious when you've found the one that catches you?

I tried to explore a third aspect to end my thoughts. I wondered if I could see why I was not as much appealed by many other Patek Philppe watches. Well I can just say now that I generally don't like much classical dressed watches. I generally like a little "cherry on the cake", a little something that would turn the deserving Cendrillon into a princess!

I'm impressed by many Calatrava references for their simple beauty and calibres, but I can definitely do without! They are like many paintings I love to look at in museums, but that I have no desire to ever put them in my house! I feel no need, no desire of ownership!

At the level of high horology watches, we need and deserve perfect watches, perfect to our own standards, what is certainly a defy for watchmakers! I need and desire beautiful Patek Philippe watches with beauty in all details. I need designs that strike me. I need watches that I can consider as masterpieces, as expressions of a statement or idea, expressed to myself and not expressed by myself!