Patek Philippe

Mark in Paris
[Purist]
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Interesting comparision

The size issue is always a dilema.

Generally speaking, I think that the size is not an absolute criteria and I think that it is what you summed-up well while saying this is also a matter of owner's wrist and tastes. You're totally right.

37mm on a big wrist might be much too small even a little feminin for some (though we can find owners wishing to have a small looking watch). The former 37 was 33mm some decades ago. Things change.

On the other hand, 40mm might seem too big for a 3-hander on paper but on a big wrist it might do as nice as a 37mm on a 16cm wrist.

And I see many members here from different cultures (not the usual Western Europe or North America guy but new collectors from Asia for instance) wanting bigger cases (whether it is Nautilus, complicated watches etc...). The younger half of collector/owners/admirers have also a very different opinion from the older half.


So, this is mainly for me a question of proportions the owner wishes to get.

All the aesthetical criteria dealing with balance and style are subjective and depend on what you've been used to seing. The 3940's layout is not, imho, better "in absolute" than 5140 but are today more "shaped" to the 3940's standard.

I am someone who came deeper in the Patek world a little less than 10 years ago, thus I like the 3940/5140's case (same than 5127, 5130 etc...) but prefer the 5227 much more (which I discovered only 6 months ago), though I love 5110 very much but this is because it is not a question of case only (what a dial!).


So, I think that there is also a very important demand for 39mm cases versus 37mm and find natural Patek answers that request.

I love the 5110 (37mm) and this size is perfect on my 16mm wrist (from my PoV of course) but think the 39mm is a good thing. If I want 37mm, then I still have 5127 or 5110 I can buy but the collection cannot just aim at 37mm people. That's why the 42mm 5905 is a good move too.

I know some people might prefer older sizes and design standards but we can't just please the same people only. As I said previously what did people think in the early days of the 36mm cases when they were used to 33mm?


That was a side not of course as I find interesting reading your own detailed feeling about this.


I noticed the 5140P from 2016 also has this date move from 1 day ccw (I didn't notice that ). As for the date, my need is to see the whole picture and to feel it is balanced and there is nothing "oddity".

For instance, you talk about the "5" smaller and the normal "27-29" but they are the same: The "27-29"are in fact smaller too as they are all 1/20th of a mm smaller.

This is not a problem to me (I even think it may be better as, with normal size, they would perhaps look "squeezed") but that's just my own feeling talking.


I think that the subdials look perfect that way (not to small or centered) but completely understand someone who has been used to admiring the 3940 sees the difference much more clearly than I do!

They have to remain there I think also because of the new numerals. Again, proportions between the numerals ring and the center of the dial which are different whether the observer is used to 3940 references or not.



I imagine, as a conclusion, that one is not better than the other in asbolute but that everyone will have his winner (I love 5127 and 5110 and am not fond of 3940 and 5140 for instance).

To be frank, I also don't look dials as much in the details as some other purists do and prefer looking at the whole picture. This shows how different we are all.


As I understand that you're a PC-only reference fan, you should wait to see it in the metal. Then you be able to feel which one gains your heart!

Thanks a lot for bringing the subject in a detailed way Jim. 3940, 5140, 5327, I hope you'll find the one that will meet your expectations in the end.


Cheers, Mark